The 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Windsor, Ontario (2026)

Windsor has one of Canada's oldest Italian communities, and you can taste it on Erie Street East, the stretch locals call Little Italy or Via Italia, and in the city's own style of pizza. This list covers the full range: white-tablecloth dinners, family trattorias and the pizzerias Windsor is known for.

We checked each restaurant's address, hours and menu in October 2026. No restaurant paid to be included or to change its position.

1. Bacchus Ristorante

Best for: anniversaries, celebrations and business dinners

Where: 614 Erie St E, Little Italy

Bacchus is the most polished Italian dining room on Erie Street, with modern takes on continental Italian classics and a steakhouse side to the menu. Diners regularly mention the chicken parmesan and the beef shank.

What to order: lobster-stuffed ravioli, ossobuco or the Bacchus tenderloin.

Good to know: mains are mostly $30 to $42. Open Monday to Saturday from 5 pm. It isn't on OpenTable's booking system, so call 519-977-7306 to reserve.

2. Spago Trattoria & Pizzeria

Best for: classic family-style Italian

Where: 690 Erie St E (Little Italy), plus Dougall Ave and inside Caesars Windsor

Spago cooks from family recipes: homemade pasta, veal and chicken dishes served with fresh bread, plus pizza. It's a dependable choice for family dinners and groups.

What to order: spaghetti polpette (spaghetti with meatballs) or potato gnocchi with shrimp, which you can have in tomato, rosé, pesto cream or roasted garlic sauce.

Good to know: the Little Italy location is the original. Go to the Caesars location if you're making a night of it downtown.

3. Nico Taverna

Best for: modern Italian and date nights

Where: 501 Erie St E (Little Italy), with a newer second location in Walkerville

Nico is the more contemporary side of Little Italy, an upscale kitchen known for house-made gnocchi and sourdough pastas.

What to order: the ricotta gnocchi with wild mushrooms and an herb rosé sauce.

4. The Cook's Shop

Best for: an intimate, romantic dinner

Where: 683 Ouellette Ave, downtown (at Wyandotte St)

A small, candlelit dining room a few steps below street level, where some of the pasta dishes are finished at your table. It's been one of downtown Windsor's go-to spots for a special dinner for years.

What to order: the made-at-the-table spaghetti carbonara, Nonna's lasagna or the rosemary rack of lamb.

Good to know: dinner only, and reservations are strongly recommended because there are only about 15 tables.

5. Antonino's Original Pizza

Best for: Windsor-style pizza

Where: 4350 Howard Ave (South Windsor flagship) and 5410 Wyandotte St E (Riverside), plus LaSalle

Antonino's says it has been making Windsor-style pizza since 1957, and it was named Top Pizzeria in Windsor at the Top Choice Awards. If you're visiting and want to try what makes Windsor pizza different, start here.

What to order: a classic with shredded pepperoni, canned mushrooms and green peppers. That's the Windsor combination.

6. Terra Cotta Pizzeria

Best for: a casual lunch or pre-show dinner downtown

Where: 318 Pelissier St, downtown

A small downtown spot for thin-crust, Italian-style pizza and salads, close to the theatres and the riverfront.

What to order: the Margherita or the salsiccia (sausage) pizza.

Good to know: 12-inch pizzas start at about $12.

7. Armando's

Best for: groups and takeout

Where: several locations across Windsor, including Ouellette Ave, Cabana Rd and Walker Rd

Armando's is a long-running Windsor pizza and pasta chain whose Windsor-style pizza placed third at the 2013 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. The menu is broad and easy for groups.

What to order: a Windsor-style pizza with a side of pasta for the table.

8. Vito's Pizzeria

Best for: a relaxed family meal

Where: 1731 Wyandotte St E, near Walkerville

Vito's is family-run, with a long menu of antipasti, soups, salads, pizzas and pastas. It's comfortable, generous and unfussy.

What to order: any pizza, then the apple pizza pie for dessert.

9. Capone's Grill & Pasta Shop

Best for: a small, neighbourhood dinner out east

Where: 5880 Wyandotte St E, Riverside

A small, quaint Italian dining room in Riverside, good if you live in east Windsor and want a sit-down pasta dinner without driving downtown.

Good to know: hours are limited, Thursday to Saturday from 4 pm to 9 pm. Reservations are recommended.

How we picked

We considered:

• Food quality and how well each place does its own style, from fine dining to pizza
• A long local track record and consistency
• Recognition from awards, local food writers and tourism listings
• Value for the price
• A spread of neighbourhoods and occasions

We checked every address, menu and set of hours against current listings in October 2026. Restaurants can't pay for a place on this list. If something has changed, tell us and we'll correct it.