Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This neighborhood family-owned Italian restaurant with a menu full of traditional Italian dishes has been a staple of the community for 25 years.
La Famiglia is known for its selection of pizza and pasta, made fresh in the kitchen every single day. Executive Chef Emilio Badalamenti cited the penne vodka pasta as their most popular dish but also says you "can't go wrong" with any of their thin-crust pizzas. "I've been making pizzas for over 35 years," Badalamenti said. "We try to have everything on the menu made in-house. You can taste the difference."
La Famiglia prides itself on expanding on old traditions and making new ones, and "Check, Please! Arizona" guests highly praised the traditional elements of the food and restaurant. Guest Gloria Brancaccio has used La Famiglia as a longstanding family spot where she has celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and more, and her favorite dish is the Pizza Bianco. "What makes it special is that ricotta is just so creamy," Brancaccio said. "It's just mouth-watering."
Guest Josh Kelman enjoyed the Caprese salad with thick, juicy tomato slices and rich mozzarella pieces, additionally praising the kids' meal options for their affordability. Guest Dennis Weaver described the garlic knots as "perfectly prepared" with a rich kick of garlicky flavor to it. Weaver also noted the large and generous portions that give you plenty of leftovers to take home.
You can finish off your meal with one of the Italian desserts they offer such as their cannoli, which Weaver said was "perfectly made, it wasn't too sweet, and it was crispy." Brancaccio's pro tip: Try the Pizza Bianco with its creamy ricotta and mozzarella.
Featured in this episode:
La Familglia Pizza & Pasta: lafamigliapizzanpasta.net
Connect with us:
Learn more about "Check, Please! Arizona" and sign up for Arizona PBS newsletters: azpbs.org/checkplease
You can even sign up to be a guest on the show!
Arizona PBS on Instagram: instagram.com/arizonapbs
Arizona PBS on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonapbs
Support our work: azpbs.org/donatenow
Check, Please! Arizona is made possible through generous support from:
Whitfill Nursery @whitfillnursery
Hospice of the Valley @HospiceofValleyAZ
Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers @IronwoodCancerResearchCenters
Copenhagen copenhagenliving.com
Albertsons / Safeway @albertsonscompanies8103 / @SafewayInc
This neighborhood family-owned Italian restaurant with a menu full of traditional Italian dishes has been a staple of the community for 25 years.
La Famiglia is known for its selection of pizza and pasta, made fresh in the kitchen every single day. Executive Chef Emilio Badalamenti cited the penne vodka pasta as their most popular dish but also says you "can't go wrong" with any of their thin-crust pizzas. "I've been making pizzas for over 35 years," Badalamenti said. "We try to have everything on the menu made in-house. You can taste the difference."
La Famiglia prides itself on expanding on old traditions and making new ones, and "Check, Please! Arizona" guests highly praised the traditional elements of the food and restaurant. Guest Gloria Brancaccio has used La Famiglia as a longstanding family spot where she has celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and more, and her favorite dish is the Pizza Bianco. "What makes it special is that ricotta is just so creamy," Brancaccio said. "It's just mouth-watering."
Guest Josh Kelman enjoyed the Caprese salad with thick, juicy tomato slices and rich mozzarella pieces, additionally praising the kids' meal options for their affordability. Guest Dennis Weaver described the garlic knots as "perfectly prepared" with a rich kick of garlicky flavor to it. Weaver also noted the large and generous portions that give you plenty of leftovers to take home.
You can finish off your meal with one of the Italian desserts they offer such as their cannoli, which Weaver said was "perfectly made, it wasn't too sweet, and it was crispy." Brancaccio's pro tip: Try the Pizza Bianco with its creamy ricotta and mozzarella.
Featured in this episode:
La Familglia Pizza & Pasta: lafamigliapizzanpasta.net
Connect with us:
Learn more about "Check, Please! Arizona" and sign up for Arizona PBS newsletters: azpbs.org/checkplease
You can even sign up to be a guest on the show!
Arizona PBS on Instagram: instagram.com/arizonapbs
Arizona PBS on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonapbs
Support our work: azpbs.org/donatenow
Check, Please! Arizona is made possible through generous support from:
Whitfill Nursery @whitfillnursery
Hospice of the Valley @HospiceofValleyAZ
Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers @IronwoodCancerResearchCenters
Copenhagen copenhagenliving.com
Albertsons / Safeway @albertsonscompanies8103 / @SafewayInc
