In the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa, just a block from Temerson Square, sits an authentic Italian restaurant where college students, business professionals, and families gather for handcrafted pasta and wood-fired pizza. 🍝
Since becoming a Tuscaloosa staple, Depalma’s Italian Cafe has proven that fresh ingredients, time-honored recipes, and genuine hospitality create the kind of dining experience that keeps customers returning for three decades.
How DePalma’s Italian Cafe won Tuscaloosa’s hearts
For three decades, Depalma’s has been a staple of downtown Tuscaloosa, serving the community with consistent quality and authentic Italian flavors.
Walking past the restaurant, you can smell their food before opening the door—the intoxicating aroma of garlic, fresh basil, and oregano pulling hungry diners inside.
What set Depalma’s apart from other Tuscaloosa restaurants was its unwavering commitment to traditional Italian cooking methods.
Every pasta dish starts with quality ingredients, every pizza gets hand-tossed fresh, and every sauce simmers with authentic herbs and spices.
Game days transformed Depalma’s into a gathering spot where Alabama fans celebrated victories over plates of Pasta DePalma and wood-fired pizza.
The cozy atmosphere encouraged new friendships to form, with strangers bonding over shared tables during busy lunch rushes.
Depalma’s success in Tuscaloosa came from understanding what the community wanted: honest, delicious Italian food without pretension, served in an atmosphere that welcomed everyone from broke college students to celebrating families.
Food Highlights
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Pasta DePalma: The restaurant’s signature dish featuring angel hair pasta baked in fresh rosemary cream sauce with garlic, ricotta, oregano, mushrooms, and mozzarella, topped with your choice of chicken, ham, Italian sausage, or artichoke hearts.
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Gorgonzola Filet: An 8oz barrel-cut Black Angus filet mignon grilled to perfection, topped with beef reduction sauce featuring yellow onions, mushrooms, and Marsala wine, then finished with gorgonzola cheese and served with garlic parmesan mashed potatoes.
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Veal Marsala: Tender top round veal sautéed with mushrooms and onions in Marsala wine, served with a side of angel hair marinara.
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Shrimp Scampi: Gulf shrimp sautéed with garlic, Italian parsley, roasted red pepper, white wine, olive oil, butter, bread crumbs, and lemon zest served over angel hair pasta tossed in garlic butter and parmesan.
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Pizza Rotti: An appetizer-sized pizza brushed with olive oil and topped with imported gorgonzola and walnuts, this starter perfectly balances creamy, tangy, and nutty flavors.
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Pesto-Chicken Pizza: A hand-tossed New York-style pizza featuring chicken, mushrooms, black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes on a basil pesto base that showcases why locals consider this among Tuscaloosa’s best pizzas.
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Veal Scaloppine: Top round veal sautéed with garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, capers, lemon juice, and white wine served with angel hair marinara for a bright, Mediterranean-inspired dish.
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Tiramisu: The classic Italian dessert featuring espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream.
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Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken: Fresh spinach fettuccine tossed in classic Alfredo sauce made with cream, parmesan, butter, and a touch of nutmeg, topped with tender chicken.
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Portabella Mushroom Ravioli: Oversized house-made ravioli filled with portabella mushrooms, mascarpone and ricotta cheeses, sautéed in browned butter with walnuts and fresh sage.
Atmosphere
The downtown Tuscaloosa location provides an Italian treasure where great food meets warm conversation in a cozy trattoria setting.
Candlelit tables create the perfect ambiance for intimate dinners, while the casual atmosphere welcomes groups celebrating game days or catching up over lunch.
The open layout allows you to watch chefs crafting handmade pasta and tossing fresh pizza dough, connecting diners to the cooking process.
It’s the kind of neighborhood spot where locals feel comfortable treating clients to afternoon coffee or lingering over a bottle of wine with friends. 🍷
Bottom Line
Experience authentic Italian cuisine at a Tuscaloosa restaurant that’s been perfecting handcrafted pasta and wood-fired pizza for three decades.
Fresh, house-made ingredients and recipes rooted in Italian traditions ensure every dish delivers genuine flavors.
Address:
2300 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
📞 (205) 759-1879
🕔 Tue-Thu: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM | Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM | Sun: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM | Mon: Closed