When it comes to authentic Italian dining in Fairfield, opinions run as deep as a well-aged Chianti. Red sauce or white? Classic trattoria or modern ristorante? Hand-tossed Neapolitan or thin-crust Roman? And the possibilities for culinary discovery are endless: handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, regional specialties from Sicily to Piedmont. Here are the establishments that truly deliver la dolce vita.
Mary’s Pizza Shack
$ | (707) 422-2700 | WEBSITE
With crunchy yet soft crust and toppings like pineapple and jalapeño, the pizza at this Italian spot in Fairfield is both satisfying and adventurous, with lots of fresh-baked goodness. It comes with a cold beer from their good selection of taps, guaranteed to make you feel refreshed after a hike or soccer game.
Napoli Pizzeria Vacaville
$ | (707) 446-8400 | WEBSITE
Napoli Pizzeria Vacaville makes a particularly perfect Classic Napoli Cheese Pie. Generous pools of melted-then-browned mozzarella take up most of the surface area, and the rest is filled out by a crisp, charred crust. It’s wonderful—rich, a little bit tangy from the sauce, and with a great depth of flavor from the quality ingredients.
The customizable toppings like Anchovies, Pineapples, and Red Onions are excellent additions, and the solid vegan pizza option with its vegan cheese add-on is just as satisfying. The service is flawless and friendly, making you feel like you’re coming home, even if the space feels slightly cramped. At prices comparable to Domino’s, the quality here is easily twice as good.
Slanted Tree Kitchen & Taproom
$$ | (833) 566-3037 | WEBSITE
As described, the Macaroni and Cheese at this Fairfield spot has an impressive amount of cheese in it—possibly more cheese than pasta. Take a bite and you can taste the creamy layers. It’s a dish for people who pick the cheese off their nachos, and if that’s you, order this one up.
Pizza Guys
$ | (707) 452-1200 | WEBSITE
Pizza Guys’ fresh, hot pizza could easily be split into more than one meal, though we’re not positive we’d want to eat it again so soon. This is best suited for the pizza lover who enjoys a reliable, satisfying delivery experience, and one that’s consistently tasty—preferences that most of us happen to share, making it a solid choice.
Cenario’s Pizza of Vacaville
$ | (707) 449-1900 | WEBSITE
The pesto on this pizza is so subtle it’s like it’s not even there. That’s not a complaint, just an observation. Mostly what you taste are the abundant pepperoni slices and the tangy tomato sauce spread across the crust. Bonus points for the freshly baked personality and exceptionally crispy bottom.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
$$ | (707) 448-2715 | WEBSITE
Almost the exact dimensions of a hockey puck, this uniformly cylindrical breadstick from Olive Garden in Vacaville is a bit jarring at first glance. But a bite of the warm, buttery interior and crisp outsides will ease your mind. The generous sprinkling of garlic salt throughout doesn’t hurt either. The staff, especially waitress Laura, go above and beyond to make sure guests have a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.
Laura’s kindness and attention to detail made a special 1-year anniversary celebration memorable. The restaurant serves fresh, quality food that suits parties of all sizes. It can get busy on holidays, but parking is usually available. The management team, including Jennifer, is known for their friendly and caring approach. Many customers appreciate the welcoming atmosphere, with staff accommodating special needs such as privacy for breastfeeding.
Overall, Olive Garden is a popular choice for a nice, affordable meal.
La Borgata Italian Deli
$ | (707) 685-9406 | WEBSITE
If you love meatballs in your sandwich, La Borgata might be the one for you. It’s loaded with savory meatballs, marinara sauce, and melted cheese on a French roll. There are also interesting, unexpectedly bright notes to this hearty, well-soaked, and densely flavorful sandwich. It’s definitely one of the more authentic options in town.
Vicini’s New York City Pizzeria
$ | (707) 425-2600 | WEBSITE
At first glance, the thin, unassuming crust didn’t promise much excitement. But we’re completely won over by the perfect balance of tangy, rich vodka sauce to crisp, chewy dough. It must be close to equal parts. And we hear the classic cheese slice is just as satisfying.
Fuso | Fusion Italian Restaurant
$$ | (707) 447-5560 | WEBSITE
The eggplant parmigiana from this fusion Italian restaurant in downtown Vacaville is a masterclass in Not Too Heavy (it practically deserves its own slogan). The dish’s crispy breaded exterior, tender interior, and generous layering of melted cheese are truly special, and it pairs very well with their warm spinach salad. The attentive and friendly service, along with delicious options like lamb lollipops and spaghetti with Salsiccia, make it a highly recommended dining spot.
With fresh and flavorful meals at reasonable prices (around $18-25 for entrees) in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, Fuso is a must-visit for a memorable dining experience in Solano county.
Evelyn’s Big Italian
$ | (707) 421-9000 | WEBSITE
Evelyn’s Big Italian brings to mind a family feast in a cozy New York kitchen. That’s probably because this Fairfield restaurant uses a classic passage oven for their impressively large pizzas, which have generous toppings peeking through the cracks of their golden brown crusts.
Pietro’s No. 1
$$ | (707) 446-1771 | WEBSITE
This Fairfield institution (with its quaint atmosphere and reasonable prices) serves a beautifully presented caprese salad, combining a very flavorful, large lasagna with surprisingly mediocre chicken parmigiana and spaghetti. Pietro’s straightforward burger proves there’s no need to reinvent the Italian-American wheel.
Cenario’s Pizza of Fairfield
$ | (707) 425-1000 | WEBSITE
The most intriguing pizza in our tasting—with fresh bacon, pepperoni, and chicken toppings layered over authentic Italian-style dough—and the most satisfying. The vegetarian pizza, considered one of California’s best, isn’t for everyone, but if you crave unique and delicious options, definitely check out Cenario’s for yourself. In terms of quality and value, it hits a perfect middle mark, and there’s some great crisp-to-chewy action as you move from the crust to the center.
Cenario’s Pizza of Cordelia
$ | (707) 864-6400 | WEBSITE
Cenario’s Pizza of Cordelia does an exemplary pizza. Their service, on the other hand, could use some work. The staff, the atmosphere, and the overall flow do what they can, and we certainly wouldn’t turn away a meal here, but overall it’s a bit of a letdown. The pizzas are the real stars, with options like the personal cheese, the medium chicken garlic, and even the stuffed crust that are among the best in Fairfield.
The crust is crispy and tender, and the toppings are generous and fresh, with the sausage being particularly noteworthy. The hot and fluffy breadsticks are also a highlight, although the service can be hit or miss. Despite the occasional hiccup, it’s a great choice for pizza lovers, with reasonable prices around $15-$25 for a medium pie and fast delivery.
Pietro’s No.2
$$ | (707) 448-4588 | WEBSITE
This Fairfield Italian spot is primarily a pizza restaurant, but they also make a great house salad. It’s one of those standout versions, with ingredients that somehow stay fresh even hours after serving, and lots of authentic flavor throughout.
Johnny Carino’s
$$ | (707) 438-1801 | WEBSITE
The unanimous standout of our Italian restaurant tour in Fairfield comes from Johnny Carino’s, where they incorporate an almost imperceptible amount of spice into their ribbon firework pasta. That subtle heat, plus a generous portion of alfredo sauce, complements the perfectly cooked shrimp beautifully. The only downside to this dish is that once you’ve tried it, you’ll compare every future pasta you eat to it.