Boise is not exactly known for their Italian population or food, but there are some amazing Italian restaurants in the Boise area. If you are looking for the best Italian restaurants in Boise, here are some of our favorites.
*We did not include traditional pizza restaurants on this list — you can find the best pizza in Boise here.
Click the links below to skip to any of the following sections:
Luciano’s
Álavita
Asiago’s
Papa Joe’s
Cucina di Paolo
Luciano’s
Luciano’s is one of my favorite Boise Italian restaurants. Their food is fresh, authentic, and from scratch every day. Luciano’s Boise restaurant has plenty of comfort food that is also very authentic, but they also have healthy options (like zucchini noodles with salmon) if you are looking for something a little healthier.
Luciano’s menu includes traditional meals like spaghetti, lasagna, and fettuccine alfredo, and they also have more adventurous items like parmesan-crusted cod, Italian sausage penne, and seafood linguine.
Luciano’s also recently opened a second location, Caffe Luciano’s, which is more of a mix of American and Italian dishes that you would find at a cafe.
Visit the Luciano’s website here.
Luciano’s Address
11 N Orchard Street
Boise, ID 83706
Álavita
Álavita Boise is one of the newer additions to the Boise Italian scene. The downtown Italian restaurant is located on the corner of 8th and Idaho, and features fresh pasta, antipasto, and Battilardo, a “choice of cured meats served with coffee aioli & crostini or, jars served with crostini, or cheese served with jam and crostini.”
Álavita also offers pork chops, potatoes, cod, and chicken meals on their menu. The Italian restaurant also prides themselves in using mostly local Boise suppliers and farmers.
Visit the Álavita website here.
Álavita Address
807 W Idaho Street
Boise, ID 83702
Asiago’s
As of 2023, Asiago’s is no longer open in downtown Boise.
Asiago’s is another staples of the Boise Italian restaurant scene. They have been in Boise for more than 20 years, and are located in downtown Boise at 10th and Main.
Asiago’s Boise offers very traditional Italian fare, with options like lasagna, gnocchi, chicken, and risotto. While the traditional options are mostly non-vegetarian, tou can find plenty of vegetarian options as well, including Brussels Sprout with Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese, Eggplant Gremolata, and Triofante, “a spring primavera of sautéed mushroom, zucchini and broccoli with gluten-free linguine in an earthy roasted shallot-balsamic vegan cream sauce.”
Visit the Asiago’s website here.
Asiago’s Address
1002 Main Street
Boise, ID 83702
Papa Joe’s
Papa Joe’s is another Boise staple, although they are known mainly as a pizza restaurant. However, the Boise Italian restaurant is so much more than pizza (even though their pizza is delicious too).
Papa Joe’s has been open for decades, but they remodeled their building in 2006. They are located near Boise State University just down the hill from the Boise Train Depot.
Menu items at Papa Joe’s Boise include Pesto Tortellini, Jambalaya, Smoked Salmon Alfredo, and more traditional meals like Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna, and Chicken Marsala.
Visit the Papa Joe’s website here.
Papa Joe’s Address
1301 S Capitol Blvd.
Boise, ID 83706
Cucina di Paolo
Cucina di Paolo has been open in Boise for nearly 30 years. They own a small building on the Boise Bench, which is pretty inconscpicuous, but it was some of the best Italian food in Boise.
Cucina di Paolo Boise is known for their lasagnas, and that is mainly what they make. They make 14 different types of lasagna, and serve their four most popular ones by the piece for lunch. Those four lasagnas are: Italian Sausage, Traditional, Chicken & Spinach, and Chunky Vegetable.
Cucina di Paolo also offers salads, desserts, and sandwiches.
Visit the Cucina di Paolo website here.
1504 S Vista Ave Address
11 N Orchard Street
Boise, ID 83706
