For some reason, a lot of the Italian restaurants in Vancouver are quite expensive. For example, if you choose Cioppino's, Don Francesco Ristorante or Il Giardino, expect to pay about $100 per person for dinner.

If you love Italian food but prefer something less upscale, take a look at Cafe Luxy for old fashioned pasta dishes or Lombardo's Pizzeria and Ristorante for wood fired pizza.

Lombardo's Pizzeria and Ristorante
1641 Commercial Drive
604-251-2240
Lombardo's has been around forever; they were the first pizza place in Vancouver to use a wood fired oven and they know how to use it. Pizzas are made with only the best fresh local ingredients and they are hardy without being heavy.

Cafe Luxy
1235 Davie Street
604-669-5899
Traditional pasta dishes made with fresh pasta are the things that keep customers coming here.

Amarcord Restaurant
1168 Hamilton Street #104
604-681-6500
An institution in Yaletown, Amarcord serves traditional Northern Italian food always made with fresh pasta. Try their gnocchi with Italian sausage, fresh tomato, and basil, or linguini with mussels, scallops, and tiger prawns. In fact just about everything is excellent, the service is good and the place is not pretentious. It's been around too long for that.

Il Giardino
1382 Hornby St
604-669-2422
Il Giardino has been around for years and it still considers itself Vancouver's best Italian restaurant despite the stiff competition it's received in recent years. It's wine list is unsurpassed.

Cafe Presto Panini
859 Hornby St
604-684-4445
The food and the price is great but the service and ambiance are not. It all depends on what's important to you.

CinCin Ristorante + Bar
1154 Robson Street
604-688-7338
Upstairs on Robson, this beautiful restaurant serves some of the very best food in Vancouver. Great for special occasions and treats. This is our favourite high end Italian. It's been around for years, the staff is friendly and the ambiance is beautiful.

Cioppino's
1133 Hamilton Street
604-688-7466
Some people say this is the best Italian restaurant in Vancouver. Others say it's overpriced and over rated and that complaints may result in a visit by the chef. Read about the restaurant at some of the restaurant review sites online and then decide for yourself.

Don Francesco Ristorante
860 Burrard Street
604-685-7770
Another expensive Italian restaurant. Look at reviews online and then decide.