Unearth The Voyage
Louisiana is famous for gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish, but tucked between the bayous and jazz clubs are some seriously delicious Italian spots most tourists never find. These family-run restaurants have been feeding locals for decades, serving up red-sauce classics, fresh Gulf seafood with an Italian twist, and recipes passed down through generations. Ready to eat like a true Louisianan? Here are ten hidden Italian treasures worth the drive.
1. Vincent’s Italian Cuisine (Uptown, New Orleans)
Nestled in the Riverbend neighborhood, Vincent’s has quietly fed Uptown families for years with the kind of red-gravy comfort food that feels like a Sunday dinner at Nonna’s. No flashy signs or tourist hype—just locals who know where to find perfectly paneed chicken and cannelloni that melts on your fork.
The menu leans into Italian-American classics done right: tender veal specials, rich tomato sauces, and portions that’ll have you packing leftovers. There’s also a Metairie location if you’re on that side of town. Both spots keep the same warm, family-friendly vibe that makes you want to linger over dessert and one more glass of wine.
Reservations are smart, especially on weekends when neighborhood regulars pack the place.
2. Gendusa’s Italian Eatery & Market (Kenner – Historic Rivertown)
Minutes from the airport but worlds away from chain restaurants, Gendusa’s is where Kenner locals grab lasagna trays for family gatherings and muffulettas piled so high you need two hands. It’s equal parts sit-down eatery and Italian market, so you can eat in or stock up on imported olive oil and homemade sauces to take home.
The menu covers all the hits—lasagna with layers of cheese and meat sauce, po’boys with an Italian twist, subs loaded with deli meats. Don’t skip the market side; the dessert case alone is worth a detour if you’re flying out of MSY and need a sweet send-off.
Family-run and proudly old-school, this place has fed generations.
3. Gino’s Restaurant (Baton Rouge)
Since 1966, Gino’s has been Baton Rouge’s go-to for the kind of Italian cooking that wraps you in a warm hug. Walk in and you’ll feel the decades of history—the kind of place where regulars have “their” table and the staff remembers how you like your pasta cooked.
Mama’s meatballs are the stuff of legend here, tender and rich in a sauce that’s been perfected over half a century. Chicken Parmesan comes out golden and bubbling, and the baked lasagna is layered with love. It’s not fancy, but it’s exactly what you want when you’re craving honest, soul-satisfying Italian food.
Reservations recommended on weekends—locals pack this cozy room fast.
4. Mosca’s (Westwego, just outside New Orleans)
Cash in hand, appetite ready—that’s how you approach this legendary roadside spot that’s been family-run since 1946. Sitting in what looks like someone’s house (because it basically is), you’ll find no frills, just incredible garlic-drenched Italian-Creole cooking that makes people drive from all over.
Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5pm, the kitchen cranks out platters meant for sharing: oysters so garlicky you’ll taste them for days, crab salad piled high, and chicken à la grande that’s become the stuff of local legend. The vibe is old-school Louisiana—no credit cards, no reservations for small parties, just honest food in generous portions.
Bring friends, bring cash, and prepare to leave smelling like the best garlic bread you never ordered.
5. DiGiulio Brothers Italian Café (Baton Rouge)
Over on Perkins Road since 1987, DiGiulio Brothers keeps things low-key and delicious—no pretense, just solid Italian cooking in a neighborhood spot locals treat like their kitchen away from home. The fried eggplant appetizer alone has a cult following, crispy and addictive with marinara for dipping.
Baked Oysters DiGiulio marry Gulf Coast seafood with Italian flair, while the Veal Avezzano showcases how well this kitchen handles classic techniques. House salads are fresh and generous, and the osso buco—when it’s on—is fall-off-the-bone tender. Portions are hearty without being overwhelming, and prices won’t make you wince.
Perfect for a Tuesday night dinner when you want something better than takeout.
6. Marcello’s Wine Market & Café (Lafayette)
Date night in Lafayette? Marcello’s is where locals go when they want to impress without the drive to New Orleans. This spot doubles as a wine market, so you’re surrounded by bottles you can buy retail or enjoy with dinner—often at prices that make wine lovers do a double-take.
The menu leans Sicilian, with mussels in white wine broth, chicken and veal parms that hit all the right notes, and house sauces that make you want to sop up every drop with bread. The vibe is intimate and warm, perfect for lingering over a second glass while you decide on dessert.
Bring your appetite and maybe grab a bottle to take home—you’ll want to recreate the magic.
7. Nuvolari’s (Old Mandeville)
For over forty years, Nuvolari’s has been the Northshore’s answer to “Where should we eat tonight?” Tucked in Old Mandeville, it’s evolved from red-sauce staple to a modern, seasonally inspired Italian spot that still respects the classics while playing with Gulf ingredients and fresh ideas.
House pastas change with what’s available, and the chef’s seafood specials often feature the day’s catch prepared with Italian soul. The patio is a gem when the weather cooperates, and Thursday happy hours draw a lively crowd. Wines by the glass are well-curated, and the service makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit.
Reservations are a good idea, especially on weekends.
8. Genusa’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Cellar (Monroe)
North Louisiana isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a candlelit Tuscan hideaway, but Genusa’s has been proving people wrong since 1967. This is Monroe’s special-occasion spot, where anniversaries and milestone birthdays get celebrated over wine and pasta in a room that feels like you’ve been transported across the Atlantic.
Dinner-only service keeps the focus intimate. Cannelloni is rich and comforting, seafood lasagna layers Gulf shrimp and crab with béchamel, and chicken pomodoro balances bright tomatoes with tender meat. The wine cellar isn’t just for show—ask your server for pairing suggestions and they’ll steer you right.
Dress up a little; this place deserves it.
9. Cristiano Ristorante (Houma)
Way down in Houma, Cristiano marries Northern Italian technique with Gulf Coast bounty in ways that make perfect, delicious sense. Truffle tortellini stuffed with Louisiana crab? Chargrilled oysters with an Italian accent? Yes and yes. This isn’t your red-sauce joint—it’s refined without being stuffy, creative without being weird.
Risotto frutti di mare showcases the freshest seafood the Gulf offers, cooked with the kind of patience real risotto demands. The menu and hours are posted clearly on their site, and locals treat this place like their secret weapon when out-of-town guests need impressing. Service is attentive, and the kitchen clearly respects both its Italian roots and Louisiana location.
Worth the drive, wherever you’re coming from.
10. Tony’s Pizza (Lake Charles)
Since 1968, Tony’s has been Lake Charles’s multigenerational hangout—the place where grandparents took their kids, who now bring their own children for pizza and spaghetti on Friday nights. It’s not fancy, and that’s exactly the point. This is comfortable, familiar Italian-American food that hits the spot every single time.
The Super Deluxe pizza is loaded with toppings and has a crust that’s just the right amount of crispy. Spaghetti and meatballs tastes like childhood, and toasted ravioli (a St. Louis transplant that found a happy home here) are dangerously addictive. Prices are reasonable, portions are generous, and the vibe is pure nostalgia.
Cash or card, just come hungry and ready to relax.
