Let’s be honest: Italian food tastes better with a side of salty air and harbor views. In Plymouth, where history meets the Atlantic, enjoying handmade pasta while watching fishing boats bob is practically a local birthright. From cozy trattorias tucked along cobblestone streets to waterfront spots where you can practically taste the sea breeze, here are 14 places that prove la dolce vita is alive and well in Massachusetts.
Plymouth House Pizzeria & Pub
$ | (508) 746-0444 | WEBSITE
Not only does Plymouth House Pizzeria & Pub serve some of our favorite Italian food in Plymouth, but this local spot also has a fantastic shaded outdoor seating area – which is exactly why we’re so excited about their dining experience. If eating unbelievable pizza while enjoying the pleasant atmosphere isn’t on your Things I Enjoy In Life list, perhaps you need to reconsider some things.
The menu offers reliable classics like chicken parm and shrimp marsala with linguine, so just ask Rochelle what’s good that day and you’ll be in great hands.
Monte Christos Restaurant
$ | (508) 224-7000 | WEBSITE
This cozy Italian restaurant in Plymouth has always had a nice family atmosphere, but now it has a really nice family atmosphere. Taking advantage of their kid-friendly focus, Monte Christos provides crayons and coloring books at every table. The setting kind of feels like you’re back in a simpler time, and that’s ideal when there are pastrami subs and Greek salads on the table.
Tuscany Tavern
$$ | (508) 747-9291 | WEBSITE
Tuscany Tavern is a delightful, quiet spot that serves incredible food with a limited menu. They have an abbreviated selection that includes chicken saltimbocca and veal and eggplant dishes, plus fantastic wine pairings that are great to have on the table all evening for occasional sips, along with their usual atmosphere of old-world charm. If you’re looking for a casual favorite in Plymouth, this is a great option.
Open daily with excellent service, and they aren’t currently accepting reservations.
Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant
$$ | (508) 747-1187 | WEBSITE
Bertucci’s is the dependable classic of Plymouth’s Italian dining scene, and while it doesn’t always make the loudest noise, it’s consistently there when you crave it. Especially with its romantic dining atmosphere, this local spot maintains its welcoming, neighborhood restaurant feel, and remains pleasantly accessible.
Order from the heart of the Italian menu (we particularly enjoy the Chicken Parmesan that comes with perfectly melted mozzarella), and definitely share the Five Cheese Rigatoni for the table. The discounted cannolis during lunch hours are a nice touch, and the generous portions mean you’ll likely have leftovers for tomorrow. While some dishes might not reinvent the wheel, the overall experience—helped by attentive staff like the rockstar server Janel—makes you already plan your next visit.
JoeK Music Piano Bar at Toscana’s Plymouth
$$ | (774) 773-9525 | WEBSITE
If you ever need a reminder of why you put up with Plymouth’s off-season quiet, the occasional tourist crowd, and the fact that everything closes early in winter, JoeK Music Piano Bar at Toscana’s Plymouth is it. All you need to do is make the drive, settle into this cozy Italian spot that’s always buzzing, and let the fantastic service and amazing food wash over you.
Get the calamari or the Veal Marsala, sit at a table where you can hear the pianist but still have a conversation, and wonder why you’d eat Italian anywhere else.
Long Pond Pizza Factory
$ | (508) 747-7227 | WEBSITE
This casual pizza joint sits in a convenient Plymouth location and offers both quick counter service and a Brazilian buffet section that debuted alongside their regular menu. Their pizzas – which you can get with classic toppings or more creative combinations – are some of the best value in the area, and anything from their wing selection will be satisfying.
The all-you-can-eat buffet runs $30 and includes items like skewered pineapple, making it a solid choice for those looking for variety without breaking the bank.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
$$ | (508) 746-5043 | WEBSITE
Located in Plymouth, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant serves some of our favorite Italian food in the area. From the comforting Chicken & Gnocchi Soup to the hearty Tour of Italy and Chicken Parmesan that have no business being as satisfying as they are, Olive Garden makes exactly what you want to eat while enjoying a casual night out with friends or family. The energetic staff and warm atmosphere are a must.
Stevie’s Pizza Plymouth
$ | (508) 830-0555 | WEBSITE
Stevie’s Pizza Plymouth is a fantastic pizza and Italian spot in the heart of Plymouth. The well-known restaurant, which has been satisfying discerning diners for years, has more delicious options than it knows what to do with. This all-day eatery has the best flavors in the whole place – it’s right at the top of our list, with an impressive array of textures that look like they came from a gourmet kitchen.
We love the Brazilian pizza, the Buffalo chicken Caesar wrap with crunchy and fresh lettuce, and the BBQ chicken pizza, which is made with high-quality ingredients. The raspberry donut cheesecake is also a standout, with its unique taste that resembles a raspberry donut, and the antipasto salad is huge and better than expected. At around $15-25 per main dish, it’s a great choice for families and individuals alike, with a cozy, casual atmosphere that feels welcoming and unpretentious.
Mamma Mia’s Restaurants
$$ | (508) 747-4670 | WEBSITE
This classic Italian eatery on Water Street in downtown Plymouth is arguably the most popular waterfront spot in the entire area. Is it the most authentic Italian cuisine on the coast? Probably not. But there’s still something special about being surrounded by a sea of umbrella tables on that wrap-around deck and going to town on a thick, gravy-like red sauce over pasta – all while staring out at the beautiful Plymouth waterfront.
Mamma Mia’s is a bonafide local favorite, and a great excuse to get out for the day and soak up some of those sweet traditional Italian-American vibes.
Stracco’s Subs And More
$ | (774) 343-5968 | WEBSITE
What do you get when you combine the fresh bread from a local bakery and the generous portions from a classic deli? Stracco’s Subs And More. The family-owned sandwich shop right in the heart of Plymouth often gets overlooked by its more touristy competitors, but that’s a mistake because Stracco’s has quality Italian subs at good prices – including the massive and massively excellent Italian sub piled high with fresh ingredients – without all the crowded tables.
The charming outdoor seating is where you want to be.
Rose & Vicki’s of North Plymouth
$ | (508) 746-6066 | WEBSITE
Rose & Vicki’s of North Plymouth is a welcoming, single-story restaurant in North Plymouth filled with the aroma of fresh dough and simmering sauce. This is the kind of build-your-own meal we fully endorse, where you pick your pizza toppings and decide whether you want it as a pie or a calzone. We love ordering the Chicken, broccoli and ziti and a cheese pizza, and then finding a seat at one of their family-friendly tables where staff entertain kids with dough tricks.
Cafe Strega
$$ | (508) 732-9996 | WEBSITE
One of our favorite hidden gems in Plymouth, Cafe Strega offers a charming patio overlooking a park in the North End. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu is filled with spaghetti with seafood, chicken parmesan, veal bracioletina, and more. You’ll definitely want to make a reservation beforehand, as wait times can stretch to an hour even with one. The red sauce on the pastas tastes fresh and homemade, and desserts like tiramisu, lemon almond tart, and orange gelato are worth saving room for.
While some dishes can run around $25-35, making it feel a bit pricey at times, the attentive staff and pleasant atmosphere make it a solid choice for Italian dining in the area.
Leena’s Kitchen
$$ | (774) 404-7470 | WEBSITE
This Italian spot in a convenient Plymouth strip mall off Route 3, with easy parking and mobility access, serves fresh, fantastic cuisine. You can’t go wrong with any of the perfectly cooked dishes, but make sure the artichoke appetizer and beet and arugula salad hit the table as well. The restaurant is now open with an excellent designer-touch atmosphere.
Toscana Restaurant
$$ | (774) 773-9525 | WEBSITE
Toscana Restaurant is a hidden gem in Plymouth and home to some of the best and most comforting Italian food in town – think chicken Miele, Chicken Parm, Caprese, and cheese pizza. That said, don’t you dare leave without hearing the live piano music – each performance adds to the cozy feeling with melodies flowing from the dome piano before being complemented by the relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. Enjoy it all at the nice new bar where bartender Gary makes you feel right at home.
