Where to find the best Italian food in New Mexico

Classic Meatballs are spicy nuggets swimming in a simple red sauce.

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Andy Glickman Andy Glickman Andy Glickman Special to the Journal

Published August 5, 2024 - 7:57 a.m. Modified August 5, 2024 - 7:57 a.m.

There’s no question about it – Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the country. The beauty is you don’t have to live in a big city with its own “Little Italy” part of town to find great Italian restaurants.

Throughout New Mexico, you have great options that rival even the finest establishments in classic Italian enclaves like New York and Chicago.

Here are just a few of the places to get the best Italian food in New Mexico.

Scalo

Address: 3500 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque

Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Website: https://www.scaloabq.com/

Phone: (505) 522-3800

Scalo provides Italian food of the finest order, matched with great wines and impeccable service. Standouts include the Pizza Fritta from the Antipasti menu, the truffle pizza, the homemade gnocchi with shrimp, seafood and wild mushroom sisottos, and cannoli for dessert.

Luigi’s Restaurant & Pizzeria

Address: 6225 4th St. NW, Albuquerque

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Website: https://luigisitalianfood.com/

Phone: (505) 343-0466

This Italian spot grows its own fresh ingredients and special flavors on their own property. They are known for putting care and quality into the preparation of favorites like the Chicken Parmigiana or the Veal Marsala or even the Fettucini Alfredo with New Mexican Green Chile.

Piccolino

Address: 2890 Agua Fria St, Santa Fe

Hours: Friday 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Saturday – Thursday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Website: https://www.piccolinosantafe.com/

Phone: (505) 471-1480

Piccolino is the quintessential Italian restaurant, right down to the family operation and the checkered tablecloths – and the loyal customers that keep it busy almost every night until closing. They come for multiple veal options, the special calzones, or the bolloco with shrimp pizza.

Lorenzo’s

Address: 1753 E University Ave, Las Cruces

Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Website: https://www.lorenzositalian.com/

Phone: (575) 521-3505

There are a handful of commonalities among all great Italian restaurants. Aside from the great-tasting standard fare, they’re usually owned by a family with involvement from multiple generations and dedicated to providing the freshest and most authentic ingredients. This describes Lorenzo’s to a tee. Everything about them screams authentic, and the diners in Las Cruces who have become regulars and fill the dining room nightly will tell you try the Siracuse pizza, the Green Chile Meat Lasagna, and the Spumoni for dessert.

Joe’s Pasta House

Address: 3201 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Website: https://joespastahouse.com/

Phone: (505) 892-3333

Despite its unassuming name, Joe’s Pasta House continues to wow Rio Rancho residents with its authentic, traditional menu of Italian food – plated with a New Mexico flare. The popular Chicken Parmigiana (also available as Eggplant Parmigiana) is topped with Joe’s classic red sauce while the Chicken Fra Diavolo features a spicy marinara. As a reminder that you’re in New Mexico, the Southwestern Fettucine Alfredo takes an Italian classic and tosses in certified New Mexican hatch green chile.