Troy L. Milliron 
I love Italian food. I could eat it every day. If pasta weren’t loaded with carbs and sugar, I could eat it every day. Growing up in Longview 25 years ago, I had no idea where to find good Italian food. Many restaurants have come and gone during this time, but I’ve found 10 that I think you’ll enjoy in the Longview area.
The best part about this list is that these restaurants are locally owned. They offer you delicious family recipes and do it with the passion of entrepreneurs!
Let’s start in the heart of the city in Downtown Longview where you will find two Italian restaurants.
Roma’s Italian cuisine
The first one you’ll see on Tyler Street is Roma’s Italian Kitchen. They are relatively new to Longview, opened in 2019, but they serve a variety of Italian dishes and served house fettuccine alfredo at the table as a specialty. Check it out!
The Tuscan pig
Miriam and Rodolfo Stefano opened The Tuscan Pig in 2016 after participating in Longview’s Market as Chef Vendors in 2013. They source their ingredients locally and believe quality is at the heart of a great meal. Their top-selling dish is pork lasagna, and it was the dish that started it all in 2013. It seems worth a try!
The Tomboni bistro
Tucked away a bit from Judson Road is a small house that has been converted into a delicious restaurant. Their menu reflects the changing seasons with their entree choices, and they also offer weekly dinner specials. They are open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday and their Facebook page is frequently updated with the latest menu items.
Restaurant in Milan
Milano’s Ristorante is on Loop 281 in Longview. It’s a small local business that serves homemade Italian food. They even have acoustic music in the restaurant for special occasions. They have a loyal Facebook and certainly seem worth a visit.
Aviano’s
With menu items like lobster stuffed mushrooms, bufala caprese and pappardelle bolognese, they caught my eye. Located in the old location of Corner Bakery near Target, Aviano’s is one I’m definitely going to try soon!
by Pietro
For those of us born in the 1980s in the Longview area, you’ll probably remember Pietro’s Pizza as a staple of the Longview Mall food court. I know I spent many Friday nights walking around the mall in the early 90s with my best friend, and we both begged for a slice of pizza at Pietro’s Pizza. About 20 years ago the family moved their restaurant to Gilmer Road where they continue to serve delicious pizza and pasta.
By Italy
Just west of Longview in my hometown, you’ll find a new Italian restaurant across from White Oak ISD serving authentic Italian food, and I heard they even make their own fresh pasta. If you’ve never eaten fresh pasta, it’s a delicious experience worth every carb! The pizza dough is also fresh daily. I will definitely go back to my hometown to try this place!
At Gino’s
Located east of Longview in Hallsville, in the old El Sombrero building, you’ll find Gino’s Italian cuisine. They were recently featured in ETX view Magazine where I learned that they are the owners of Uncle’s Joe’s, formerly Joe’s Pizza and Pasta in Longview. They took over the restaurant when their Uncle Joe was about to close, but a fire destroyed the restaurant in 2019. Now you can find the same menu favorites at Gino’s that you enjoyed at Joe’s!
Don Giovanni
Head north from Longview towards Gilmer, TX and find an Italian restaurant formerly located in White Oak, Don Giovanni’s. According to their facebook page, they represent four generations of genuine Sicilian and authentic Italian cuisine, and everything is made from scratch. It’s been a while, but I’ve had a lot of pizza from this restaurant when they were in White Oak. I enjoyed them all.
Coffee Italy
Consider Cafe Italia an honorable mention, as it’s a bit east to enjoy in Marshall. Reading this menu makes my mouth water. I see some of my favorites including vodka rigatoni and bolognese tortellini. In addition to the favorite pastas, they also offer pizzas and salads. It seems worth the detour.
Want to try some more delicious Italian food, head west to Tyler and check out ten of the best places to get Italian food in Tyler.
Hey Food Network, these East Texas Best East are worthy of an episode
We’re sending a message to the Food Network – it’s time to bring some of those cameras from your shows and feature our fantastic restaurants on many of your shows.
East Texas is full of fantastic restaurants owned by extremely talented chefs, pitmasters and bakers. For years you, the Food Network, have been creating shows featuring local hotspots and we think it’s about time some of our favorite hotspots were featured on one of your many shows.
The Longview and Tyler restaurants that should be resurrected
Popular dining joints once served thousands of East Texans. Sadly, they’re just a memory now and East Texans want them back.
Incredibly gorgeous Longview Home boasts 8,000 square feet. ft.
As a Texan (and non-Texan too) we’ve heard the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas and that phrase fits that house in Longview perfectly.”
