If you’re looking for a reliable, consistently good East Valley restaurant that nails the food, the service, and the atmosphere, this North Italia Mesa Review is exactly what you need. North Italia quickly became a spot I genuinely love in the Mesa/Gilbert area. It’s a true farm-to-table restaurant where most dishes are made in house, and you can taste the difference in every bite.
I’ve been to the Gilbert location (they have several in Arizona), and the vibe is that perfect mix of stylish, warm, and buzzy. Modern Italian without being stuffy. Cozy enough that you can sit with a cocktail forever, but nice enough that you can also bring your parents or go on a date. It works for brunch with friends, date night, family dinner, or the “I need something good tonight” kind of night. Their brunch is incredible, their dinner is even better, and my personal must-orders never change: the White Truffle Garlic Bread (house-made ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano, and fresh herbs), the Italian Farm Salad with that oregano vinaigrette that will absolutely change your life, and the Strozzapreti pasta, where I always swap the chicken for the short rib because it turns the already-creamy mix of roasted mushrooms, spinach, parmesan cream, and toasted pine nuts into pure magic.
If you’re planning a bigger Arizona itinerary around your meal (highly recommend), check out my guide to A Weekend in Tucson: Desert Views, Saguaro Magic & Seriously Good Eats for more foodie inspiration.
The first time I walked into North Italia, I immediately understood why people talk about it like it’s a lifestyle choice. The lighting is warm, the kitchen is open, the bar is always busy (in a good way), and the patio is basically made for perfect-weather days.
It has that “yes, carbs are happening” feeling. The “we’re ordering dessert, right?” feeling. Relaxed but still special. Not trying too hard, but very much delivering.
Let’s get straight to the point.
My table always starts with the White Truffle Garlic Bread. Always. The combo of house-made ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano, and fresh herbs is ridiculous in the best way. If you go and don’t order this… I don’t know how to help you.
Next: the Italian Farm Salad. I know — talking about a salad at an Italian place sounds unnecessary. But this one is loaded: salami, speck, provolone, pepperoncini, olive, heirloom cherry tomato, cucumber, pickled red onion, piquillo pepper, herb breadcrumb, and that oregano vinaigrette. It’s a full meal and somehow still addicting.
The Strozzapreti pasta is my forever favorite. The menu lists it with herb-roasted chicken, roasted mushroom, spinach, parmesan cream, and toasted pine nut — and it’s great that way — but swapping the chicken for the short rib takes it to another level. If pasta isn’t your thing (cannot relate), the Burrata with warm ciabatta, the Meatballs, the classic Margherita pizza, and the Bolognese are all solid.
They rotate seasonal dishes too, and when they had that strawberry orange panna cotta, I absolutely thought about ordering more than one.
Here’s the truth: this place fills up fast. Reservations are a very good idea during peak hours, the patio is great when the weather cooperates, and the service is consistently excellent. Whether you’re a local or visiting the East Valley, North Italia in Gilbert is one of those restaurants you can count on to be good every single time.
If you’re planning a bigger Phoenix-to-Tucson adventure, learn more in my post about Best Places to Stay in Tucson — it pairs perfectly with a food-focused trip.
Their brunch is so good that choosing between brunch and dinner is impossible. You shouldn’t choose. You should go to both.
Expect lemon ricotta pancakes, baked eggs, good cocktails, and all the prosciutto-cheese-carb combinations you could hope for. If you go and don’t order at least one bread or one cheesy item, I’m just going to assume you accidentally read the wrong menu.
Dinner is where North Italia really shines. Between the warm lighting, the clinking glasses, and the steady stream of dishes floating by that make you lean over and whisper, “Wait — what did they order?”, the whole experience just feels special.
It’s the perfect pre-movie dinner. The perfect I-just-got-a-promotion dinner. The perfect “it’s Tuesday but I want to feel alive” dinner.
Mid-meal tip: if you want to explore even more great stops during your Arizona trip, check out my Phoenix to Tucson Road Trip Itinerary for ideas you can easily add before or after your meal.
I mean… yes. Absolutely yes. I’ve eaten my way through the East Valley, and North Italia stays at the very top of my list. Whether you’re going all-in on pasta, treating yourself to a cozy brunch, or simply looking for a guaranteed great meal, you’ll find it here. And if you do the short-rib swap on the Strozzapreti, please report back so we can collectively celebrate.
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
