Italian cuisine is one of the most popular food types in the United States. In fact, according to National Geographic, out of 800,000 total restaurants in the U.S., a full 100,000 specialize in Italian food. In many ways, this cuisine has become as American as apple pie.
While this level of popularity is great, it can present some challenges for proprietors of Italian restaurants. If you own one of 8 or 10 Italian restaurants in your town, how can you make yours stand out from the crowd? Beyond offering great food and outstanding service, one way to achieve that goal is by picking a truly creative name.
At Budget Branders, we understand both the good and the bad of running your own business.
Our goal is to help our clients increase sales through marketing with custom-branded cups, bowls, bags, and more. Once you have your great restaurant name, we’ll help you make it known in your community with our high quality disposable products.
Ready to get started? Check out our guide to the best Italian restaurant names!
Why Is Having a Great Restaurant Name Important?
When you decided to open your own restaurant, its name may have been an afterthought. With so much else on your plate – like picking a menu, finding the right space for your establishment, and figuring out how to pay for it all – you may have been tempted to just pick something easy. For example, if you come from an Italian-American family, you may have decided to just name your restaurant after your family name or even your grandma.
There is nothing wrong with this – and there is actually a lot of benefit to naming your restaurant after yourself or your family! Famed Italian chef Lidia Bastianich named a number of her restaurants after herself, which was a great way to take advantage of her fame as a television star. Using a family name also allows you to tell a story, which can be compelling for guests.
But there are certain benefits to choosing a unique name. Not only will it help you stand out from a crowd, but it is often more memorable for guests. Having a fun or cool restaurant name can also play a role in marketing, allowing you to play around with colors, logos, and even your slogan.
So how exactly do you choose a unique restaurant name for your Italian joint? Below, we have come up with a list of more than 200 creative names for Italian restaurants. They should help you start to think outside of the box so that you can choose a name that truly reflects your mission and values as a business.
200+ Creative Italian Restaurant Names
Pun-Based Names for Italian Restaurants
One of the easiest ways to make an impact is with a well-timed pun. A clever play on words will make customers remember your restaurant’s name – and can be a great way to advertise your business!
- Tirami-Su
- Pizza My Heart
- Cheesy Does It
- The Dairy Godmother
- The Great Impasta
- Basic Kneads Pizza
- Wisepies
- Bread Zeppelin
- Pastabilities
- Planet of the Grapes
- Meat & Greet
- Rasta Pasta
- The Cal Zone
- TinyTalian
- The Sunday Sauce
- Ragu for You
- Al Dente
- Fatti a Mano
- The Pope’s Pantry
- In Vino Veritas
- Pizza You
Pop Culture Based Names for Italian Restaurants
Italian culture is huge in our cultural landscape, from Rocky to the Godfather to the Soprano’s. If you’re a fan of a particular movie, TV show, or book, why not translate it to your restaurant? It’s a great way to build a theme – and to attract potential customers!
- The Italian Stallion
- Afternoon Delight
- That’s A Spicy Meatball
- That’s Amore Pasta
- Tony’s Restaurant
- Mystic Pizza
- Gino’s Cafe
- Sal’s Famous Pizzeria
- Salerno’s Restaurant
- Adrian’s
- Soprano’s Italian Eatery
- Louie’s Restaurant
- Alcapone’s
- The Godfather Restaurant
- Casa Nostra
- Mamma Mia Trattoria
- Earth, Wind, & Flour
- Power Puff Pasta
- Carmine’s Pasta and More
- Vito’s Pizzeria
- The Codfather
- Anthony and Cleopatra’s
- Caesar’s Ghost
- Goodfella’s Pizza
- L’Ultima Cena
Funny Names for Italian Restaurants
Making people laugh is always a good thing (as long as they aren’t laughing at your food!). If you can give people a chuckle when they see your restaurant’s name, that can be a great way to increase name recognition. It is also a good way to get customers to check in or tag your restaurant on social media, which is a tremendous source of free advertising for most businesses.
- The P’sghetti Bar
- House of Carbs
- American Pie
- Dishy Pizza
- Garlic, Garlic, & More Garlic
- Saucy Girls
- Lucifer’s Pizza
- Eat Some Ziti!
- Incognito Bistro
- The Crispy Crust
- Crazy about Calories
- Live to Eat
- Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted
- Ti Amo, Pizza!
- Meet the Sauces
- The Baked Italian
- The Tipsy Italian
Catchy Italian Restaurant Names
Don’t want a punny or pop culture name for your Italian restaurant? You can still take advantage of these catchy names that will almost certainly stick in patrons’ minds – and stay top of mind when they’re deciding where to eat.
- Pizza Perfection
- Slice of Italy
- Pizza Squad
- Insta Italy
- The Italian Affair
- Bella Italia
- House of Pasta
- Capri Café
- Pasta Romance
- An Italian Affair
- The Pasta Queen
- Pasta Bella
- The Italian Oven
- Pasta-Roni
- Lasagna Hut
- Fettuccine Delight
- The Spaghetti Shack
- Anchovy and Meatballs
- Restaurant Roma
- Tuscan Oven
- The Organic Pasta Co.
- Delightfully Italian
- Made in Italy
- Spaghetti Warehouse
- Bella Luna
- Spaghetti Speciality
- Ciao! Caboose
- Italia Mania
- The Quick Bolognese
- Pizza Passport
- The Pasta People
- Wine Me, Dine Me
- The Tasty Tortellini
- Ziti the Great
- Pizza Pazza
- The Sardinian Sage
- Bella Bella
- Primi Piatti
- The Tuscan Tomato
- The Main Macaroni
- Pasta Villa
- Pipin’ Hot Pizza
- Pizza Mania
- Fresco del Forno
- Bruschetta’s
- Salami Bonanza
- Neapolitan Nights
Food-Based Italian Restaurant Names
Italian food uses a number of core ingredients that most people absolutely adore (onions, garlic, and tomatoes, anyone?). Play off of this love with a name based on the type of food that you serve, and you can create great associations in your customers’ minds.
- Cacio e Pepe
- The Lasagna Lowdown
- Penne The Pie
- Zesty Pesto Italian Restaurant
- Basil and Olives
- Bella Oregano
- Penne Magic
- Noodle Nation
- Oregano’s
- Mozzarella Meals
- Little Macaroni
- Hot Tomatoes
- Ribollita
- Pappardelle’s
- Penne with a Twist
- The Butcher’s Ragu
- The Saucy Affair
- Asiago Italian
- Luigi’s Lasagne
- Rigatoni Flavors
- On the Grapevine
- Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Sale e Pepe
- Formaggio e Vino
- Romano’s Pasto
- Terra & Mare
- Aroma Italiano
- Bella Mozzarella
- Penne with a Twist
- The Pasta Emporium
- Basil & Thyme
- Bubbling Pizza
- Truffled Up
- The Sunday Gravy Spot
- Anchovy and Meatballs
- Tomatoes with a Twist
- La Torta del Topo
- Paninaro
- Dolce
- Uptown Olive
- The Herbed Olive
- Presto Pomodoro
- Garlic & Love
Fancy Italian Restaurant Names
If your restaurant is more of a white tablecloth type of place, then you may want to go a little more formal. The good news? Almost any name sounds fancier if you translate it to Italian. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Al Prato
- Da Nella
- Molto Italiano
- Al Postiglione
- Zafferano
- Primavera
- Castello di Saraceno
- Casa Oliva
- La Villetta
- La Fazenda
- Ristorante L’Oso
- La Bulesca
- Tarantola
- Giorgione Alla Villa
- Sapori
- Palazzina
- Il Messaggero
- Gustamente
- Civita Nova
- Il Latini
- La Terrazze
- Del Borgo
- Il Portico
- Osteria La Rocca
- Basilico
- Novelli
- Bravo
- Mangia Tutto
- Gran Quadri
- Della Porta
- Vecchia Roma
- Aglio
- Papa Razzi
- Gregorio de Ferrari
- La Macina
- Da Zero
- Gandolfi
- Bonsignori
- Clemente da Urbino
- Il Riccio
- Mantegazza
- Bellini
- Spinelli
- Baldovinetti
- Toscanini
- Busoni
- Cosimo
- Caldo del Forno
- Asiago Italian
- Asti Olives Italian Cuisine
- La Dolce Vita
- Aglio Olio
Want to Come Up with a Cool Restaurant Name of Your Own? We Have a Tool for That!
Now that you have some examples of creative Italian restaurant names, it is time to develop a name for your own place. Even with these lists as a starting point, it can be hard to come up with a name that is both memorable and unique. To help you along the way, we created a free restaurant name generator.
To use the generator, just input your location, name, cuisine type, and a signature dish. Then click the button and let the software do its magic! You can generate as many names as you would like until you find the perfect name for your Italian restaurant.
Already Picked Your Restaurant Name? Give Budget Branders a Call!
Whether you have a long-standing name for your restaurant or just came up with something new and exciting, one of the best ways to market your business is by using custom-printed disposable products. If you’re already using cups, bowls, and bags for your restaurant, adding your name and logo can increase your reach. Each time that your customers get take-out or take something home with them, they’ll be carrying around an advertisement for your restaurant – at little added cost to you!
Budget Branders understands the pressure that many restaurant owners face on a daily basis. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it can be challenging to stay profitable in such a competitive market. We offer a full range of custom branded disposable products for restaurants, bars, and coffee shops at prices and in quantities that make sense for independently-owned businesses.
To learn more about how we can help your business grow, submit a contact form or a quote request for one or more of our products. Our branding experts are always available to answer questions. Simply press the live chat button to get started.