Best Palm Beach County restaurants: Essential Italian ones serve comfort, crowd-pleasers
As someone new to Palm Beach County, I haven't tried all of our 3,000 restaurants, but I've found reliable crowd-pleasers. These are the spots I'm excited to take visiting friends or turn to when I can't decide where to eat.
Last time, we dived into essential Asian restaurants. Over the coming weeks, we'll highlight the area's must-visit newcomers, steakhouses and Michelin picks.
This week we tackle Palm Beach County's Italian dining scene. These standout spots blend authenticity, innovation and — judging by the crowds — serious local love.
Andiamo! (That's Italian for let's go.)
La Sirena in West Palm Beach
When chatting with the Palm Beach Gardens DMV staff during a license and registration transfer, its team sang high praises of the seasonally-opened La Sirena (as have hundreds of you, dear readers), our most famous Italian spot owned by Marcello and Diane Fiorentino with name recognition beyond the county. Described as a "Florida institution" by Wine Spectator magazine, it's among the publication's rare global Grand Award winners, a designation given to the 97 restaurants boasting the world's best and most comprehensive wine lists; a feat repeated 10 years running.
Details: 6316 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-585-3128, lasirenaonline.com
Lynora's
Where did I eat after my interview at The Palm Beach Post? Lynora's in Palm Beach Gardens—a two-minute stroll from my cousin's home. Since moving within walking distance, I too pass it daily and can confirm: this place is always buzzing. No matter the season, there's a line out the door from 4 p.m. on. It's the very definition of a crowd-pleaser.
Founded by Ralph and Maria Abbenante and family-owned for nearly 50 years, Lynora's began as a humble by-the-slice pizza joint in Lake Worth. Their son, Angelo, has since grown it into a mini Roman empire with six locations, including four in Palm Beach County, plus a Delray Beach spot opening in 2026.
Known for wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta and signature sauces (now sold at Publix, Whole Foods and at their restaurants), Lynora's is a local staple. Pro tip: Dinner's usually packed, so consider going at lunch to avoid the rush.
Four locations: 1548 U.S. Highway 1, Jupiter, 561-203-2702; 5320 Donald Ross Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561-249-1822; 207 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, 561-899-3117; 9560 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561-235-5096; lynoras.com
Tavolena
This heartfelt Italian restaurant blends tradition, family and culinary passion. Opened in 2023 by Chef Michael Rolchigo, the restaurant takes its name from his grandmother Lena Bello, whose recipes and spirit shape the menu and ambiance. The restaurant features an intimate, elegant space peppered with family photos and Lena's original kitchen table in the private dining room. There's also a chef's table in the kitchen where celebs seeking privacy might be found on any given night.
The menu is a refined take on Italian comfort food, with highlights like pork spedinis, handmade meatballs and rich Sunday sauce—all rooted in Lena's legacy. Rolchigo, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, brings both heart and technique to every dish.
I'm an even bigger fan of Tavolena Bakery, his much less expensive cafe next door. Open for lunch, it offers rustic sandwiches, fresh-baked breads, Italian quiches, pinsas and a swoonworthy array of pastries and gelato. The bakery's nostalgic treats, including addictive almond cookies which I could fist-pound all afternoon, reflect Rolchigo's childhood memories and culinary roots.
: 185 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter, 561-850-4156, tavolena.com
Gabriella's
It was a toss up in two categories as this new Italian spot fuses sumptuous flavors in a gorgeous, high-energy setting that's both stylish and welcoming. Opened in March by Brooklyn-born/Staten Island-raised Frankie Brusco, the restaurant is a tribute to his roots; he spent childhood vacations in Delray Beach and calls it 'the sixth borough.'
Brusco became an accidental restaurateur in 2015 after purchasing a neighborhood spot in Holmdel, New Jersey. Gabriella's, named for his hardest-working employee turned business partner, features house-made pasta, premium Pat LaFrieda steaks and a stunning circular bar that blooms like a treehouse and anchors the space with elegance and energy at lunch and dinner. Just off Atlantic Avenue, it's already a celebrity magnet: 50 Cent, NFL star Jason Pierre-Paul, Mob Wives' Carla Facciolo, and even Jon Bon Jovi's dad have been spotted.
Details: 40 NE Seventh Ave., Delray Beach,: 561-916-3001, gabriellasfl.com
More: New upscale Italian restaurant with New Jersey roots opens in Delray Beach: What we know
Sicilian Oven
Sicilian Oven has become a go-to spot for many on our team, with four locations across Palm Beach County. It's all about bold flavors, wood-fired pizzas (you can watch them being tossed) and a laid-back, welcoming vibe.
The menu puts a fresh spin on the classics — everything's made to order and comes out hot. Fan favorites include the Corleone and Captain pizzas, homemade meatballs, eggplant Parmesan and mussels. If you're watching carbs, there's pasta-free lasagna or cervellata with broccoli rabe.
Each location has its own charm. One coworker swears by the patio in Wellington, while I was into the open kitchen setup there. And our executive editor? Totally hooked on the sauce. It's a family-friendly go-to for locals craving authentic Italian comfort food with a modern twist.
Four locations: 2460 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561-940-0770; 10610 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, 561-770-1966; 8862 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-639-0099; 21170 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, 561-750-9772; sicilianoven.com
What's your essential Italian restaurant?
Did we miss your favorite? Vote here to let us know.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's new food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County's best Italian restaurants for every budget
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