Pasta is the ultimate feel-good food when the weather starts to turn cool. Served with rich sauces, proteins and vegetables, it makes for warming and comforting meals. And it’s often served in family-run Italian restaurants.
Whether you are seeking delicate flavors or massive portions, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are filled with places that serve memorable pasta.
Here are five time-honored restaurants and one newcomer.
Emilia
404 E State St, Redlands; 909-406-1006, emiliaredlands.com
Emilia is a new restaurant that’s generated some buzz in Redlands. It describes itself as inspired by Mexico and influenced by the world. The menu leans toward the cuisine of Veracruz with a focus on seafood and specialties that include grilled octopus with chimichurri.
It also makes room for Italy with Corn Agnolotti, a ravioli-like dish made with handmade pasta pockets stuffed with a creamy corn filling and served in a brown butter sauce. The restaurant also serves tonnarelli with a creamy poblano sauce.
Meals start in the $25-$30 range.
Gourmet Italia
27499 Ynez Road, Temecula; gourmetitaliatemecula.com
Founded by Sicilian immigrant Alessandro Prestifilippo, Gourmet Italia has been part of the Temecula dining scene since 1999, along with other eateries founded by his family. It’s a white-linen kind of restaurant that occupies a sprawling space in Tower Plaza Center.
Among the favorites on the menu, Gourmet Italia serves lasagna with ground beef, bubbling hot from the oven. Meals start at $25-$30. They come with bread and olive tapenade.
Gourmet Italia is currently home to the Poggio Leano wine club.
ALSO SEE: 6 LA County restauranhts that will take you to Italy during National Pasta Month
Joe’s Italian Restaurant
22308 Alessandro Blvd, Moreno Valley; joesmenu.com
Founded by Giuseppe “Joe” Sportelli in 1980, this eatery offers a relaxed experience in a dining room that revels in Italy, with jugs of wine hanging from the ceiling and lampshades crafted out of wine barrels.
Joe’s is known for its huge portions, with specialties including Mob Boss Pizza with five kinds of meat, chicken cordon bleu with mushroom sauce and carbonara made with ham, pancetta, caramelized onions and buttery spaghetti. A serving costs $19.99.
Joe’s offers lunch and early bird dinner specials on favorites such as spaghetti with mushroom sauce, rigatoni, meatball sandwiches and individual pizzas.
Leone Palagi, chef and co-owner at Mario’s Place, shows the oxtail-Chianti ragu that takes hours to prepare on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Penne Rigate is one of the signature dishes at Mario’s Place on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Penne Rigate, one of the signature dishes, at Mario’s Place on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
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Leone Palagi, chef and co-owner at Mario’s Place, shows the oxtail-Chianti ragu that takes hours to prepare on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Mario’s Place
3646 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; mariosplace.com
Mario’s Place, across the street from the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, has been a fine dining destination in Riverside since it was opened by Mario and Eleanora Palagi in 1981.
It’s known for its pizza, citrus risotto and warm polenta cake. Specialties include Penne Rigate with braised oxtail and Chianti ragu, served with shaved parmigiano and Italian parsley.
ALSO SEE: 6 very, very good spots for pasta in Orange County
Napoli Italian Restaurant
24960 Redlands Blvd., Loma Linda; napolilomalinda.com
This restaurant, founded by Santokh Singh Bhatti in 1994, is a place to go for all the Italian classics.
Specialties include chicken marsala, baked ziti, tiramisu and spumoni. And fans of fettuccine are in luck. They can get it just about any way they want, with Alfredo sauce or marinara, chicken, salmon, shrimp and primavera with broccoli, carrots and mushrooms. Prices are around $20.
Vince’s Spaghetti
1206 W Holt Blvd., Ontario; 909-986-7074, instagram.com/theoriginalvinces
Vince’s Spaghetti has been an Inland institution since 1945, when the original restaurant opened in Ontario. It grew into a regional chain with locations on Route 66 at 8241 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga and a takeout location at 28145 Jefferson Ave., Temecula.
Vince’s is known for its spaghetti with choice of meat sauce or tomato sauce. Meals include soup, salad and bread and cost around $10-$15. Its other signature item is French dip beef sandwiches.
