How does TastyPals choose the best italian restaurants in Winnipeg?

We evaluate italian restaurants in Winnipeg on food quality, room tone, price, and whether the experience holds up for real dining plans — not just the places with the most Google reviews. This list is anchored by Bellissimo alongside Frankie's Italian Winnipeg and Nicolino's, chosen through editorial review and cross-referenced against neighbourhood context and guest ratings. Read our full methodology at tastypals.com/methodology.

GuideUpdated July 15, 2026

7 Best Italian Restaurants in Winnipeg

Q: What are the best italian restaurants in Winnipeg?

Bellissimo is our top pick in Winnipeg. Bellissimo doesn't do much to flag itself from the street, and that's apparently been the operating philosophy for over two decades. What started as a 25-seat dining room has grown into a 140-seat operation with a lounge and a patio — the kind of expansion that only happens when the regulars keep showing up and bringing people with them. Anthony Gagliardi's restaurant has built that following the slow way, and the room reflects it: dark, moody, and confident in a way that doesn't need to advertise itself on the sidewalk. This is the pitch for mid-price Italian in Winnipeg that's aimed squarely at people who've aged out of chains and aren't interested in pretending minimalist tasting menus are a good time. The kitchen is known for making everything in-house daily — sauces, soups, breads, doughs, desserts — which is the kind of detail that tends to show up in the specifics rather than the headlines. The Pesce Asiago is the dish that diners and the menu both lead with: mussels in a tequila cream sauce, a combination that reportedly threads the needle between rich and sharp, the liquor pulling the cream back from heaviness. It's consistently described as the dish that signals this kitchen has its own point of view rather than just running through the Italian canon. The Frutti di Mare takes a different angle — pasta in a white wine sauce that reads lighter and more acidic, the kind of preparation that keeps the seafood at the center rather than burying it. Practically speaking, the room is reportedly better later in the week when the lounge gets some momentum and the main dining room fills out. Request the interior rather than the perimeter tables — the atmosphere the place is known for apparently concentrates toward the darker core of the room. Start with the Pesce Asiago; it's the dish that sets the tone for what Bellissimo is actually about. Other strong options include Frankie's Italian Winnipeg and Nicolino's.

The 7 best italian restaurants in Winnipeg, sorted by rating and curated by TastyPals editors.

The best italian restaurants in Winnipeg are Bellissimo, Frankie's Italian Winnipeg, Nicolino's, and more. Start with Bellissimo if you want the strongest overall first pick.

By Giovanni Ricci•7 ranked picks•Published July 15, 2026•Updated July 15, 2026

Methodology•Editorial team

Bellissimo Frankie's Italian Winnipeg Nicolino's

Google

Top picks at a glance

#1BellissimoItalian • Winnipeg • $$#2Frankie's Italian WinnipegItalian • Winnipeg • $$$$#3Nicolino'sItalian • South Winnipeg • value

Who this guide is for

This guide covers the highest-rated italian restaurants in Winnipeg. The picks are sorted by Google rating and review volume to give you a reliable shortlist. Picks span Winnipeg, South Winnipeg and The Forks.

Quick picks

Bellissimo

Italian • Winnipeg

Bellissimo doesn't do much to flag itself from the street, and that's apparently been the operating philosophy for over two decades.

Frankie's Italian Winnipeg

Italian • Winnipeg

Out in the Seasons of Tuxedo development, where strip-mall sprawl rarely promises much, Frankie's makes a quiet case for taking family cooking seriously.

Nicolino's

Italian • South Winnipeg

Thirty-three years on Pembina Highway is the kind of tenure that doesn't happen by accident.

Browse all Winnipeg restaurants Back to Winnipeg hub

Editorial details

Author: Giovanni Ricci

Published: July 15, 2026

Last updated: July 15, 2026

How the restaurants compare

Frankie's Italian Winnipeg

South Winnipeg • Italian

The Old Spaghetti Factory

How we chose

We looked for restaurants that feel like a strong fit for the guide topic, not just the most obvious names in the city. The shortlist favors rooms with clear mood, dependable pacing, and enough distinction to help someone decide faster. Read our full methodology →

Room tone

Lighting, pace, and general energy all need to support the reason someone clicked this guide.

Food fit

We favored restaurants that feel best suited for the moment, not just restaurants with broad reputation.

Useful range

The final list tries to give readers enough variation in neighborhood, price, and style to compare real options.

7 ranked picks

Bellissimo — Bellissimo doesn't do much to flag itself from the street, and that's apparently been the operating philosophy for over two decades. What started as a 25-seat dining room has grown into a 140-seat operation with a lounge and a patio — the kind of expansion that only happens when the regulars keep showing up and bringing people with them. Anthony Gagliardi's restaurant has built that following the slow way, and the room reflects it: dark, moody, and confident in a way that doesn't need to advertise itself on the sidewalk. This is the pitch for mid-price Italian in Winnipeg that's aimed squarely at people who've aged out of chains and aren't interested in pretending minimalist tasting menus are a good time. The kitchen is known for making everything in-house daily — sauces, soups, breads, doughs, desserts — which is the kind of detail that tends to show up in the specifics rather than the headlines. The Pesce Asiago is the dish that diners and the menu both lead with: mussels in a tequila cream sauce, a combination that reportedly threads the needle between rich and sharp, the liquor pulling the cream back from heaviness. It's consistently described as the dish that signals this kitchen has its own point of view rather than just running through the Italian canon. The Frutti di Mare takes a different angle — pasta in a white wine sauce that reads lighter and more acidic, the kind of preparation that keeps the seafood at the center rather than burying it. Practically speaking, the room is reportedly better later in the week when the lounge gets some momentum and the main dining room fills out. Request the interior rather than the perimeter tables — the atmosphere the place is known for apparently concentrates toward the darker core of the room. Start with the Pesce Asiago; it's the dish that sets the tone for what Bellissimo is actually about. View restaurant →

Google

Italian•Winnipeg•$$

Bellissimo

Bellissimo doesn't do much to flag itself from the street, and that's apparently been the operating philosophy for over two decades.

Read restaurant page

Frankie's Italian Winnipeg — Out in the Seasons of Tuxedo development, where strip-mall sprawl rarely promises much, Frankie's makes a quiet case for taking family cooking seriously. The name honors proprietor Raffaele's grandfather, Francesco Raffaele Aiello, and the kitchen leans hard into southern Italian roots—specifically Calabria, the source of Nonna Maria's Lasagna. That dish is the one to anchor your table: house-made pasta sheets layered with bolognaise, fresh ricotta, and a slow-simmered tomato sauce that tastes like someone meant it. The mushroom ravioli runs creamy and generous, and the tagliatelle alfredo with chicken carries more flavor than its plain look lets on. Pizzas are built on imported Caputo 00 flour given a 24-hour rest, which is the kind of detail that separates a genuine neighborhood staple from a quick conversion. Worth noting: there's a dedicated gluten-free prep area with separate pans and sauces, a real accommodation rather than a menu asterisk. At CA$30–40 a head, it's honest mid-range value. Start with the calamari fritti or arancini. This isn't a destination so much as a dependable room that earns its regulars. View restaurant →

Google

Italian•Winnipeg•$$$$

Frankie's Italian Winnipeg

Out in the Seasons of Tuxedo development, where strip-mall sprawl rarely promises much, Frankie's makes a quiet case for taking family cooking seriously.

Read restaurant page

Nicolino's — Thirty-three years on Pembina Highway is the kind of tenure that doesn't happen by accident. Nicolino's is the south Winnipeg anchor that a certain kind of diner — the one who wants house-made pasta and a proper room without crossing the Assiniboine — has been quietly counting on since Nick Zifarelli brought his Muro Lucano, Italy-rooted recipes to the 'burbs. The concept sits squarely in the contemporary Italian lane: a kitchen that leans on in-house technique, a dining room with statement lighting that reads more polished than its strip-mall address suggests, and a lounge-plus-patio setup that actually earns the word "neighbourhood" rather than just wearing it. This is not a downtown-tourism play; it's a regular's restaurant that has survived long enough to become a local institution on its own terms. The kitchen makes its pasta in-house — that's the foundational commitment here, and it shapes what's worth ordering. The chili cream and prawns pasta is described across multiple sources as the restaurant's most popular pasta dish, which tells you something about the house style: flavour-forward, not austere, Italian technique inflected with a willingness to push richness. The famous house breadsticks — made fresh, served six to an order — are the kind of detail that signals a kitchen that cares about the whole table, not just the entrée. The Chèvre Salad has surfaced in recent social posts as a current menu point of pride, and the calamari draws consistent praise in diner reviews as a standout appetizer. The through-line is a kitchen working from tradition while staying loose enough to keep a multi-decade menu feeling current. The move here is straightforward: start with the breadsticks and calamari, commit to the chili cream and prawns pasta as your main, and if you're coming on a night with live music, book ahead — the combination of patio, lounge, and a room that fills up reliably means you don't want to show up and wing it. Reservations via OpenTable are available; use them. View restaurant →

Google

Italian•South Winnipeg•value

Nicolino's

Thirty-three years on Pembina Highway is the kind of tenure that doesn't happen by accident.

Family dinnerfamily dinnertakeout

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Italian•The Forks•value

The Old Spaghetti Factory

The Old Spaghetti Factory is a sensible italian call in The Forks in Winnipeg when you want something that usually lands well.

Lunch by the riverlunchgroup dinner

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Italian•Corydon•moderate

Confusion Corner Drinks + Food

Confusion Corner Drinks + Food is the kind of italian room in Corydon you reach for when the evening is meant to matter a little more.

Italian dinnerdate nightgroup dinner

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Cafe 22

Cafe 22 is the kind of italian room in Corydon you reach for when the evening is meant to matter a little more. Trio of Dips and Antipasto also give you a decent sense of the menu.

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Italian•Corydon•moderate

Colosseo Ristorante Italiano

Colosseo Ristorante Italiano is the kind of italian room in Corydon you reach for when the evening is meant to matter a little more. Frittura di Pesce and Cozze Pepate also give you a decent sense of the menu.

Italian dinnerdate nightgroup dinner

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The Forks South Winnipeg Corydon Italian date night lunch group dinner

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Save these spots to your Winnipeg list in the TastyPals app, then explore similar restaurants when you want a tighter shortlist for the night.

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TastyPalsTonight

Your taste. Our picks.

Smarter follow-through after the guide: better restaurant context, quicker narrowing, less second-guessing.

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Date night spots with warm rooms and polished service

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7 Best Italian Restaurants in Winnipeg

Top picks at a glance

Who this guide is for

Quick picks

On this page

How the restaurants compare

How we chose

7 ranked picks

Bellissimo

Frankie's Italian Winnipeg

Nicolino's

Save these spots to your Winnipeg list

The Old Spaghetti Factory

Confusion Corner Drinks + Food

Cafe 22

Colosseo Ristorante Italiano

Explore next

Related guides

Best Restaurants in Winnipeg 2026

The 15 Best Date Night Restaurants in Toronto

Same guide in other cities

Save these spots to your Winnipeg list