Top 13 Italian Restaurant Chains In The US

I’ve never met anyone in the US who doesn’t love a meal out at an Italian restaurant.

You’d find it very difficult to find a town in the US that doesn’t have an Italian restaurant in it.

There are many Italian chain restaurants all over the US. 

In this article we are going to explore the best Italian restaurant chains in the US. Read on to find out what they are!

1. Olive Garden 

There are hundreds of different Olive Garden restaurants all over the US and it has been around for many years. This Italian chain restaurant has 800 restaurants across the US.

You can get unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks for a low price and then you can choose from the delicious Italian menu.

You can get all of the expected Italian dishes such as lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo and chicken parm. You can also get carbonara and lots more dishes. 

In the last few years, Olive Garden has undergone some changes to their branding and menu. They have added some small plates to the menu.

You can also order online on Olive Garden. The workers get paid quite a high wage in comparison to other restaurants of its kind, so they have quite a low turnover rate in comparison. 

2. Bertucci’s 

This Italian restaurant has been around since 1981. It specializes in pizzas that are cooked in brick ovens.

There are 88 locations in the US as the chain grw during the 1990s. You will find most of Bertucci’s locations in the Northeast of the US, but they do spread down into Virginia. 

Bertucci was founded by Joseph Crugnale who is an Italian man who was born in Sulmona. This is why the chain prides itself on authentic Italian foods. 

3. The Spaghetti Warehouse 

The Spaghetti Warehouse has 14 locations across America. Many of the restaurant buildings for the Spaghetti Warehouse are located in old warehouses.

Every restaurant has a trolley car in the middle of the dining room and these restaurants are very large in size. Some of the restaurants seat up to 800 people which make them very unique. 

This restaurant has quite a few non-traditional items on their menu, such as baked pepperoni spaghetti. They do also sell some of the more classic dishes – such as the 15 layer lasagna.

4. The Old Spaghetti House 

This is one of the oldest Italian chains out there. It started in 1969 in Portland and has since opened over 45 restaurants over the country.

Most of these restaurants are in old warehouses and they are decorated with stained glass and antiques. 

This restaurant prides itself on making everything on the menu from scratch, meaning the food is of very high quality. It is a family owned restaurant and it continues to be family operated.

This menu is vast and has a lot of different options, including garlic shrimp fettuccine and crab ravioli.

At the Old Spaghetti House, there is also a children’s menu and there are plenty of options for gluten-free. 

5. Carrabba’s

Carrabba’s has over 250 locations across the US. Most of these restaurants are in Florida but there are restaurants across 32 of the US states.

This is a very popular chain restaurant with plenty of different dishes on the menu. You can get Chicken Bryan which is topped with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon and basil.

You can also get pizzas at Carraba’s. This restaurant is very affordable and can be tailored to a lot of different dietary requirements.

You can also get certain dishes that are low in calories if you are looking for a lighter meal or a lunch. 

6. Maggiano’s 

Maggiano’s Italian restaurant originated in 1991. It was initially opened by Rich Melman, a famous restaurateur.

There are lots of different Maggiano’s restaurants all over the country, in 22 different states. 

In Maggiano’s, you can get a lot of classic Italian-American favorites and this restaurant gives you this menu whatever you want.

This restaurant also has lots of private event spaces. The menu contains Rigatoni D which is a classic Italian-American dish that contains Marsala cream sauce, caramelized onions, mushrooms and chicken. 

7. Romano’s Macaroni Grill 

This restaurant was founded by Philip Romano. It first opened in 1989 and there are now over 200 locations all over the world.

This restaurant is not just in the US, but there are also restaurants in countries all over the world. For instance, there are restaurants in Egypt, Mexico and Japan. 

This menu has a great selection of dishes including lots of great salads and antipastos. You can also choose a ‘create your own pasta’ option.

They also do fantastic Calabrese steak and chicken Marsala. This menu also offers low calorie options and some dishes that are only available seasonally. 

8. Bravo! Cucina Italia 

This is a great chain restaurant that is owned by the same people as Brio Tuscan Grille. These restaurants are from over 23 different states and it is very popular.

It is a creative and fun menu that includes calzones and fried ravioli.

There are also items on the menu that are less than 650 calories, so you can choose from a wide range of options that ensure that there is something for everyone on the menu! 

9. Buca Di Beppo 

Buca di Beppo is a huge chain restaurant in the US. It has been open since 1993 and there are over 96 of these stores in the US.

The recipes on this menu are both Southern and Northern Italian food and it is loved by everyone.

It specializes in Italian-American foods and it has even got 5 franchises in the UK as well as the US.

Planet Hollywood is also owned by the same company who own Buca Di Beppo. This name Buca Di Beppo means a small room or small place, it is a dialectal word that is used in Tuscany.

10. Uno Chicago Grill 

This is a great chain restaurant that, unlike most of the restaurants on the list, specializes in pizza rather than pasta.

Uno Chicago Grill specializes in deep dish pizzas. It opened in 1943 and has been going ever since. 

This company started franchising in 1980. Since then, they have over 102 restaurants in the US over 21 states. They also have stores in South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Honduras and Saudi Arabia.

It has been ranked very highly in lots of different magazines over the years and it offers a huge variety of different dishes on the menu.

11. Carino’s Italian 

This restaurant opened in 1997 and was started by Johnny Carino. It has over 90 restaurants open in the United States and it also has 10 in the Middle East.

It is based in Texas. This restaurant has had many different problems over the years but it is still going strong. 

12. Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano 

Biaggi’s Italian restaurant is a bit more formal than some of the other Italian chains on the list. It is still a casual restaurant and it has reasonable prices but it is slightly more formal.

It opened in 1999 and has since opened 23 restaurants across the US. The most popular items on this menu are butternut squash ravioli and black fettuccine with lobster.

You can also get some low calorie options and gluten-free options, so there is something on the menu for everyone. 

Biaggi’s is known for providing chef specials that are not available all of the time. These dishes are sold sometimes but not all of the time.

These are usually done monthly. You can also get lunchtime specials in Biaggi’s, including the lunchtime half and half. You can choose things like half a pizza or a soup and half a salad. 

13. Brio Tuscan Grille

Owned by the same people as Bravo! Cucina Italia, this restaurant is also very successful. There are many different restaurants in the US across 22 states.

There are many different pasta dishes and Italian entrées on the menu. 

At this restaurant, there are many gluten-free options available on the menu so there is something on the menu to suit everyone.

This is a great family restaurant as there is something on the menu that your kids will love and you don’t have to sacrifice your favorite dishes for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do Americans Love About Italian Food?

Italian restaurants are a big part of the culture of the US, and Americans absolutely love Italian food.

According to statistics, more than 1 in 5 Americans prefer Italian foods over any other foods when they dine out. The only food above Italian was American food, which is things like burgers, hot dogs and steaks.

1 in 8 restaurants in the US serve Italian food and so there is definitely no shortage of this food in the US. 

Americans have such a strong connection to Italian food because there is such a big Italian presence in the US. In the late 1800s, lots of Italians migrated to the US and this is how the food became so commonplace.

When they first arrived in the US, the cultures did not integrate very much, however, later in the 1900s, as more and more Italians were gaining more prestigious roles in the country, they began opening up restaurants and sharing their food with the US. 

Italian food is delicious and the nation instantly fell in love with it. From pasta to pizza to wine, you really can’t go wrong with Italian cuisine.

It has become the ultimate comfort food and is now found in so many restaurants all over the world.

Why Do People Love Olive Garden?

Olive Garden provides great Italian food at very low prices. They appeal to the masses as they provide the comfort food that everyone is seeking but they don’t charge high prices for the privilege of having the food.

It has become a go to for a lot of people in the US as they feel very comfortable and assured that they will get the food they want.

What Is an Olive Garden Known For?

Olive Garden is known for lots of different things, including the chain’s salad dressing. In some locations, you can purchase a whole bottle of the salad dressing so that you can recreate the Olive Garden salads at home. 

It is well known for its brilliant food and the fact that it offers unlimited breadsticks and salad to everyone who dines there.

As a very casual restaurant chain, Olive Garden was opened in 1981 and it was first seen in Orlando.

You can still visit the site of the original restaurant which remains an Olive Garden. Since then, it has become an international chain with stores all over the world.

What Is The Largest Italian Chain Restaurant In The US?

Olive Garden, which features on this list of the best Italian chain restaurants in the US, is also the leading Italian restaurant chain in the US.

This is in relation to its success and the amount of money that it makes every year. In 2021, the chain made 4.18 billion US dollars.

It is a very well known restaurant and it is also one of the most successful.

The name Olive Garden is known all over the world and it is famous for offering unlimited breadsticks.

For a lot of people, when they visit the US, Olive Garden is somewhere that they want to visit because they have heard so much about it. 

What Is American Food?

There are lots of different foods that are considered to be American. If you go to an American restaurant, you can expect to see meat on the menu and things such as burgers and hot dogs. 

BBQs, hamburgers, steaks and peanut butter are all staple US foods. They are found in American diners both in the US and in other countries around the world. American food is very popular. 

Which Restaurant Has The Most Locations In The US?

Subway has the most locations in the US. A sub is a very American food, and in the United States there are 24,500 Subway stores (see also ‘The 10 Must-Try Items From The Secret Menu At Jersey Mike’s‘).

There are more Subways than McDonald’s in the US, which comes as a surprise to a lot of people. The reason for this could be that Subway restaurants don’t require as many specific things in their buildings.

While McDonald’s requires a drive through and they need to be in free-standing buildings, Subway does not need this. 

Subway also has very low startup costs as the layout of the store is very simple and there is not much equipment necessary. 

McDonald’s has the second most stores in the US, however, Subway have been closing quite a few stores in recent years, meaning that the gap between the two is getting smaller.

Why Are Italian Chains So Popular In The US?

Travel is a big reason that Americans are so into Italian food. Italy is a very popular destination and a lot of Americans love to go to Italy on holiday.

They find the food exciting and it reminds them of their trips to the beautiful country. 

They are exposed to a lot of Italian cultures and foods because a lot of Italian people emigrated to the US during the late 1800s.

These people have since opened restaurants and started businesses in the US and have shared their food with the people of the US. 

Since then, Italian restaurants have always been very affordable and they are a great place to take a family. They are casual and there is always something on the menu to please everyone. 

Italian culture has always been very attractive to American people, and so they are drawn in by the glamor of the Italian culture and lifestyle. Italian-American culture has become a huge part of the US. 

Italian food is also a great comfort food, and restaurants that offer this type of food do very well in the US.

Final Thoughts 

Now that you’ve seen a list of the best Italian restaurant chains in the US, you can go out and try them all.

There will always be something on the menu that you will enjoy and all of these Italian restaurant chains (see also ‘The Greatest Chain Restaurant Desserts You Need To Try!‘) are great for the whole family to enjoy.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to restaurants, but I believe that there is something on this list for everyone.