A new national study has crowned San Antonio’s Dough Pizzeria Napoletana as one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in the United States, ranking it second overall based on customer reviews.

The analysis, conducted by Cooking School Italy by Accademia Italiana Chef, reviewed thousands of Tripadvisor posts for restaurants across large U.S. cities. Researchers looked for words like authentic, traditional and genuine to gauge how closely each establishment reflects true Italian cuisine, based on diners’ experiences.

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana earned 597 mentions tied to authenticity, placing it just behind the top restaurant in the country. The San Antonio favorite holds a 4.40 rating from more than 1,000 reviews, outperforming many restaurants located in historically Italian-influenced regions.

Nationally, New York City dominated the rankings with seven restaurants in the top 20. Boston claimed four spots, while Wisconsin’s Naples 15 and San Diego’s Parma Cucina Italiana tied for the highest overall Tripadvisor rating at 4.70.

For San Antonio, the recognition highlights the city’s growing profile as a destination for high-quality international cuisine.

Top 10 most authentic Italian restaurants in America

Rank	Restaurant name	Location	Authenticity mentions in reviews	Rating	Reviews
1	Al Dente Ristorante	Boston, MA	634	4.30	1,079
2	Dough Pizzeria Napoletana	San Antonio, TX	597	4.40	1,043
3	Naples 15	Madison, WI	561	4.70	1,671
4	Parma Cucina Italiana	San Diego, CA	525	4.70	1,197
5	Il Canale	Washington, DC	459	4.30	1,305
6	Kesté Pizza e Vino	New York, NY	416	4.50	1,236
7	Capizzi	New York, NY	399	4.40	1,846
8	Benito One	New York, NY	386	4.20	1,544
9	Filomena Ristorante	Washington, DC	378	4.40	2,834
10	PizzArte	New York, NY	377	4.40	1,467

Boston's Al Dente Ristorante takes the crown for authenticity, with 634 mentions of traditional Italian qualities in customer reviews. The restaurant maintains a solid 4.30 rating on Tripadvisor from over 1,079 reviews, showing consistent quality alongside its commitment to traditional Italian cooking.

Madison, Wisconsin, proves that great Italian food isn’t limited to coastal cities. Naples 15 ranks third nationwide with 561 authenticity mentions and boasts one of the highest rating at 4.70 from 1,671 reviews, the highest rating on the list, tied with Parma Cucina Italiana in fourth place. The Midwestern state is the only non-coastal state to land in the top 5 for authentic Italian dining.

In San Diego, the authenticity score for Parma Cucina Italiana reached 525 mentions, earning an impressive 4.70 rating from 1,197 reviews and the fourth place. The California establishment was praised for capturing genuine Italian flavors through traditional cooking methods and imported ingredients.

The nation's capital appears twice in the top 10, with Il Canale ranking fifth (459 mentions) and Filomena Ristorante taking ninth place (378 mentions). In Washington, DC, these establishments maintain strong ratings of 4.30 and 4.40, respectively.

New York City shows its Italian food excellence with four restaurants in the top 10. Kesté Pizza e Vino (6th place and 416 mentions), Capizzi (7th and 399 mentions), Benito One (8th, with 386 mentions), and PizzArte (10th, 377 mentions) all offer authentic experiences that New Yorkers clearly appreciate. On top of being among the most authentic restaurants in the city, all of these establishments are located in Manhattan, highlighting the borough’s role as a central hub for high-quality Italian dining.

Tripadvisor ratings show that authenticity correlates with customer satisfaction across all regions. Nine of the top 10 restaurants maintain ratings of 4.20 or higher, with Naples 15 and Parma Cucina Italiana leading at 4.70. This indicates that adherence to Italian traditions resonates strongly with diners regardless of location.

Regional distribution among the top restaurants is striking. East Coast dominance is clear in the findings, with Boston, New York, and Washington, DC collectively claiming seven of the top 10 spots.

Andrea Rocchetti, National Director of Cooking School Italy, commented on the findings, "The study highlights that diners notice and value the elements that make Italian cuisine feel authentic, from traditional cooking methods to the flavors and presentation that reflect Italian culinary traditions. It also shows that restaurants that focus on these qualities are recognized by their customers across the country, suggesting that attention to authenticity is something diners consistently appreciate, no matter the region or city."