Italian Restaurants in Flint, Michigan

Flint has plenty of places that serve up great Italian food.

Despite the fact that there are not many people with Italian heritage in Flint, Mich., a hot, hearty Italian meal is always popular among hard workers in cold weather. Flint's best Italian restaurants use traditional recipes and local ingredients to serve up substantial portions of pasta, pizza and other Italian dishes.

Italia Gardens

Italia Gardens opened in 1931 and has worked hard to keep the traditions of the past alive. The restaurant has changed locations a few times, and in 1994 and 2008 they opened two new locations. Italia Gardens caters off-site to weddings and special events like graduation parties. Appetizers include mussels marinara, garlic bread, wine cheese spread and barbecued ribs. The pizzas and calzones are available during dinner hours and all day on Sunday and include a traditional margherita, barbecued chicken, sausage diavolo and vegetarian. The menu also offers a spitini, a dish created by the restaurants founder. The spitini is a lightly-breaded, pounded-thin steak on a skewer served over pasta. Diners can choose between spaghetti, fettuccini or lasagna. Aside from other traditional Italian dishes, Italia Gardens serves barbecue---ribs, chicken and sausage. And on Tuesdays, Italia Gardens offers a lasagna feast.

Italia Gardens
G3273 Miller Road
Flint, MI 48507
810-720-4112
italiagardens.com/index.html

Salvatore Scallopini

Salvatore Scallopini, a chain of six restaurants, has a homey, rustic feel with checkered tablecloths and Italian regalia. Salvatore Scallopini won The Detroit News' "Best Italian Restaurant" in 2005. The wine list features Italian, in addition to domestic and other international selections. Pasta dishes include homemade ravioli, linguine with clams, and gnocchi with meat sauce. Baked pasta dishes include cannelloni and lasagna. The menu also features chicken francese, steak siciliaano, veal piccata, and shrimp scampi. All entrees are served with salad and bread. Salvatore Scallopini also provides catering services.

Salvatore Scallopini
3227 Miller Road
Flint, MI 48507
810-732-1070
www.salvatorescallopini.com

Pesto's

Pesto's, a small, quaint restaurant, serves Italian dishes such as pasta, pizza and Caesar salads, as well as some items that stray from Italian cuisine, like chicken Waldorf salad, reuben sandwiches and chicken pot pie. Pesto's is relatively inexpensive; large pizzas and pastas are priced around $15 and sandwiches are $8. Sandwiches at Pesto's are served on homemade bread. Among pasta options are sirloin pesto meatballs, crab meat-stuffed salmon over linguine, and beef stroganoff pasta. Pesto's also offers catering.

Pesto's
5275 Miller Road
Flint, MI 48507
810-732-4390
pestos.com

References

• Italia Gardens
• Salvatore Scallopini
• Pesto's

Resources

• Flint Dining Guide