Italian cuisine is a global favorite, and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives has showcased some of the best examples of this ever-popular cuisine. Hop in Guy’s famous Camaro and prepare to take a trip across America, sampling the best Italian food the nation offers.

Trapani Pizza

Saucy Sicilian in Oklahoma City has captured the hearts of pizza enthusiasts with its exceptional Trapani Pizza. This creation stands out with its meticulously handcrafted dough. On top of the pizza, you’ll find fresh figs, roasted garlic, and roasted red peppers. It’s adorned with a unique balsamic maple glaze and a generous blanket of Caputo cheese and whole milk mozzarella.

King Crab Pappardelle

At In Bocca Al Lupo in Juneau, Alaska, an inventive Italian culinary creation awaits—King Crab Pappardelle. This dish harmoniously marries the richness of Alaskan wild king crab with freshly made pappardelle crafted with low-gluten flour and a touch of sea salt, ensuring a heavenly, al dente texture in every bite.

The magic is in the sauce: a light, aromatic seafood bisque that incorporates intriguing spices like ginger and cardamom, complemented by a hint of fish sauce for complexity.

Linguine With Crab Gravy

At Stogie Joe’s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a family-owned neighborhood bar showcases its culinary prowess with an iconic dish: Linguine with Crab Gravy.

Starting with a foundational sauté of aromatic ingredients in olive oil and butter, the chefs incorporate blue crabs to the mix, letting them simmer together before deglazing with white wine. Crushed tomatoes are then added to create a robust sauce that’s left to cook slowly for hours.

Once the sauce is imbued with rich crab flavor, it’s meticulously strained, leaving behind a smooth and sumptuous gravy. This attention to detail and quality results in a linguine dish that’s generously coated with savory crab gravy, a dish that Guy Fieri described as “really, really good.”

Ravioli With Garlic And Butter Sauce

At Catelli’s, a cozy eatery nestled in Geyserville, California, a plate of ravioli is turning heads.

Each ravioli is filled with a savory blend of pork, roast beef, chicken, and homemade sausage, enveloped in a delicate dough. Coated in a simple yet sublime sauce of melted butter, fragrant garlic, and Parmesan, this dish captures the essence of Italian comfort food.

Italian Meatball Sub

At Indy’s Historic Steer-In, located in the heart of Indianapolis, IN, the Italian Meatball Sub is a fan favorite, celebrated for its robust flavors.

Ground chuck and sweet Italian sausage are combined with an array of seasonings and herbs, baked to perfection, and nestled in a hearty marinara sauce with a subtle anchovy twist.

Baked Ziti Pizza

At Sal’s Gilbert Pizza in Gilbert, Arizona, an innovative dish merges two Italian-American classics. This Baked Ziti Pizza starts with a crispy crust, heaped with perfectly al dente ziti pasta swirling in a rich, creamy marinara sauce, and generously blanketed with melted cheese.

Guy Fieri heralded this hearty fusion as the “optimum bite” for those torn between the comforts of pizza and pasta.

Prosciutto Bread

At Dolce & Clemente’s in Robbinsville, New Jersey, you’ll discover a bread that turns the Italian deli experience up a notch.

The famed prosciutto bread is stuffed with an impressive blend of Italian meats – prosciutto, ham, mortadella, soppressata, pepperoni – and rounded off with sharp provolone cheese.

Lobster Ravioli

At Rino’s Place in Boston, Massachusetts, the Lobster Ravioli stands out as a quintessential Italian delight. Fresh lobsters are boiled and their meat is expertly sautéed with shallots, then mixed with creamy ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

This rich filling is enveloped in delicate, handmade pasta dough to create ravioli that’s true to Italian tradition. When served, the ravioli are bathed in a luxurious lobster cream sauce, elevating the dish to new heights of flavor.

Jumbo Lasagna

At Grammy’s Goodies in Wheat Ridge, CO, the Jumbo Lasagna steals the show with its six hearty layers.

Each serving is stacked with a rich homemade sauce, a blend of savory meats including sausage and meatballs, and a mix of cheeses and fresh herbs.

Guy Fieri praised this dish for its exceptionally tender meatballs and robust sauce, reminiscent of authentic family-style Italian cooking.

My-Sharoni Pizza

At Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the My-Sharoni Pizza is a testament to culinary creativity, crafted in a distinctive copper-covered wood-fired oven.

The base of this pizza is no ordinary dough; it’s a masterpiece created through the poolish method, which entails a slow fermentation process that significantly enhances the flavor.

Topped with rich San Marzano tomato sauce and Berkshire pork house-made fennel sausage, the My-Sharoni is more than just a meat lover’s dream—it’s a flavor-packed homage to the classic hit “My Sharona.”