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Food & Drink / Restaurants & Dining

Where to Find Really, Really Good Lasagna Across America

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A slice of the best lasagna in America, with melted cheese and meat sauce, garnished with a basil leaf, sits in a black cast iron skillet next to roasted cherry tomatoes.
IgorDo/istockphoto

Lasagna is one of those dishes that sounds simple until you try to do it really well — and the best lasagna in America proves just how much technique and care it takes. The pasta has to hold together without turning mushy, the sauce needs depth, the cheese has to melt into every layer, and the whole thing should arrive bubbling, comforting, and impossible to eat politely. In other words, great lasagna is not just pasta and sauce; it’s architecture.

Across the country, plenty of Italian restaurants serve the classic dish, but some make it a true signature. From old-school red-sauce spots to modern Italian kitchens rolling, stacking, or reimagining the dish, these restaurants are known for lasagna worth ordering. Menus can change, so it’s always smart to check before you go — but these spots have earned attention for doing lasagna especially well.

New York: Don Angie

A close-up of a ceramic dish with rolled pasta in tomato sauce, garnished with herbs and cheese, placed on a wooden table alongside a restaurant menu, silverware, napkin, and wine glasses.
Tina C/Google

New York

Don Angie’s famous lasagna for two is one of the country’s most recognizable modern takes on the dish. Instead of traditional stacked layers, the West Village restaurant rolls its pasta into pinwheels with bolognese, béchamel, mozzarella, and Parmesan for crispy edges and a dramatic presentation.

Florida: Si Papa 3190

A close-up of baked lasagna topped with grated cheese in a white oval dish on a wooden board, with a glass of red wine and a glass of water in the background on a set dining table.
Keni/Google

Miami

This Coconut Grove restaurant goes all in: Si Papa 3190 serves just one entrée — lasagna. Its meat version features thin noodles, silky béchamel, and slow-cooked ragù, while a vegetarian version layers in basil, peas, and green beans.

California: Pasta Sisters

A close-up of a slice of lasagna on a white plate, showing layers of pasta, meat sauce, and melted cheese browned on top.
Lin Cheng/Google

Los Angeles

Pasta Sisters is known for affordable, housemade pasta, and its oven-baked lasagna is made with homemade pasta sheets, Bolognese sauce, Béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano cheese. Eater LA has also highlighted it as one of the city’s great lasagnas.

Washington: The Pink Door

Baked lasagna topped with a thick layer of red tomato sauce, served in an oval white ceramic dish on a white plate, with part of a glass of water visible in the background.
Viki/Google

Seattle

A Pike Place Market favorite since 1981, The Pink Door serves Lasagna Pink Door with fresh spinach pasta, Béchamel sauce, pesto, and marinara. It’s a lighter, greener spin on the comfort-food classic, but still rich enough to feel indulgent.

Oregon: Mama Mia Trattoria

A serving of cheesy baked lasagna sits in a white bowl with a blue rim, topped with herbs and surrounded by rich tomato sauce on a wooden table.
Jim Smith/Google

Portland

Mama Mia Trattoria’s classic beef lasagna is made with fresh pasta and six layers of ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, Reggiano, spinach, mushrooms, onion, and tomato basil sauce.

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Oregon: Piazza Italia

A baked dish of lasagna topped with melted cheese and fresh herbs, served on a white plate beside a glass of water and a glass of red wine on a wooden table.
Jess R./Google

Portland

Also in Portland, Piazza Italia serves a baked lasagna with beef-and-veal meat sauce and Béchamel. The Daily Meal noted that it’s a favorite among regulars, and the restaurant also offers a gluten-free option.

Arizona: Caruso’s Restaurant

A serving dish filled with baked pasta topped with melted cheese and tomato sauce sits next to a small plate of rigatoni pasta with meat sauce on a maroon table. Silverware and a basket of napkins are nearby.
Vicki Petrillo/Google

Tucson

Caruso’s has been family-run since the 1930s, and its lasagna recipe has remained largely unchanged. The Tucson institution serves both meat and vegetarian lasagna, and you truly can’t go wrong with either of them.

Texas: Kenny’s Italian Kitchen

A close-up of a serving of lasagna topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with parsley, in a white dish with tomato sauce visible around the edges.
JJ SR/Google

Dallas

This home-style Dallas restaurant leans classic, with red gingham energy and a lasagna layered with ground beef, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and red sauce.

Arkansas: Bruno’s Little Italy

A serving of lasagna topped with rich red marinara sauce and fresh chopped basil, served in an oval dish on a dark table with a glass of water and a red napkin in the background.
Jason Doyle/Google

Little Rock

Bruno’s Little Italy has been serving Little Rock since 1949, and its Lasagna Imbotito is loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, Romano, Italian sausage, meatballs, and cured meats.

Missouri: Trattoria Marcella

A baked dish of lasagna topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese, chopped herbs, and sliced olives, served in a rectangular ceramic dish on a table with an empty plate, glasses, and a bottled drink nearby.
Tom Viscomi/Google

St. Louis

Opened by brothers Jamie and Steve Komorek in 1995, Trattoria Marcella serves a lasagna packed with Italian sausage, ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, béchamel, and fresh tomato.

Iowa: Baroncini

A plate of baked lasagna topped with melted cheese, tomato sauce, breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, and chopped parsley, served on a white dish.
Spencer Owen/Google

Iowa City

Baroncini’s Lasagne alla Bolognese is built around house-made meat sauce, giving this Iowa City restaurant a standout Midwestern entry on the list.

Ohio: Marcella’s

A close-up of a rectangular slice of lasagna with melted cheese and tomato sauce on top, served on a round metal plate. The edges are slightly browned and crisp.
kkar602/Tripadvisor

Columbus

Marcella’s Lasagna alla Bolognese features slow-cooked sausage ragù and marinara, making it a hearty choice for anyone craving a rich, red-sauce version.

Illinois: Volare Ristorante Italiano

A close-up of a baked dish, likely lasagna or eggplant parmesan, in a white oval dish with a golden, crispy breadcrumb topping, on a white tablecloth with glasses and cutlery in the background.
Kent Miller/Google

Chicago

Volare’s Lasagna al Forno is done in traditional Bolognese style and has long been a favorite among regulars at the Chicago restaurant.

Illinois: Sapori Trattoria

A serving of cheesy baked lasagna sits on a white plate, topped with a fresh basil leaf and surrounded by tomato sauce. Melted cheese is slightly browned, and the lasagna layers are visible with meat and sauce.
sesha/Google

Chicago

Sapori Trattoria’s house specialty, Lasagna di Antonio, is an individual meat lasagna made with beef Bolognese, fresh mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan, and ricotta.

North Carolina: Mama Ricotta’s

A close-up of a baked lasagna in a white ceramic dish, topped with melted, golden-brown cheese and garnished with parsley, sitting on a decorative plate on a wooden table.
John/Google

Charlotte

Mama Ricotta’s serves a Southern Italian-style lasagna made with ground beef, veal, homemade sausage, and a blend of three cheeses.

Washington: Filomena Ristorante

A serving of lasagna topped with melted cheese, shredded Parmesan, and fresh basil leaves, sits on a white plate surrounded by marinara sauce.
Gino Abbate/Google

Washington

Filomena’s Lasagna alla Bolognese is a heavyweight version, layering fresh pasta with ricotta, mozzarella, and a thick meat sauce made from beef, Italian pork sausage, and veal.

Maryland: Amicci’s

A close-up of a serving of lasagna topped with melted cheese in a white dish, with layers of pasta, meat, sauce, and cheese visible, sitting in a pool of rich red marinara sauce.
Michelle S./Google

Baltimore

This family-owned Little Italy restaurant has been around since 1991 and serves lasagna with ground beef, ricotta, homemade marinara, and mozzarella baked on top.

Connecticut: Rossitto’s Ristorante

A slice of lasagna topped with grated cheese and fresh basil sits on a white plate, surrounded by a generous serving of tomato sauce. A glass and cutlery are partially visible in the background.
James Barton/Google

Branford

Rossitto’s is a family-owned restaurant known for Italian classics, and its lasagna is layered with ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce.

Florida: Macchialina

A rectangular piece of lasagna topped with grated cheese and chopped chives sits in a white dish with a pool of sauce, on a wooden table.
Jaime Camacho/Google

Miami Beach

Macchialina’s lasagna is a more decadent South Beach option, filled with braised short rib and taleggio cheese.

California: Miceli’s

A plate of lasagna topped with marinara sauce and grated cheese sits on a white plate, on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth, with a glass of iced tea and utensils nearby.
Jhonny Miranda/Google

Los Angeles

Miceli’s “Aunt Angie’s Original” lasagna is listed as a house favorite on the restaurant’s menu, made with ricotta, mozzarella, Romano cheese, beef, pasta, and meat sauce.

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Meet the Writer


Julieta Simone

Julieta Simone is a journalism graduate with experience in translation, writing, editing, and transcription across corporate and creative environments. She has worked with brands including Huggies and Caterpillar (CAT), and has contributed to editorial and research projects in the healthcare and entertainment industries.