For a long time, the state of Italian dining in metro Phoenix was overshadowed by a handful of aging stalwarts, still serving the same dishes they were 30 years ago. That can be good, particularly with a cuisine so deeply rooted in tradition. But in this case, the scene was starting to get a little musty.

Thankfully, times are changing. To get a sense of how rapidly Italian cuisine is evolving in the Valley, consider the fact that nearly half these restaurants didn’t exist a few years ago. Here, in alphabetical order, are the 12 best Italian restaurants in Phoenix.