Italian restaurants in North America
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A
Bizzarro
With a name like Bizzarro you’d never guess that this Wallingford hotbed is an excellent neighborhood Italian cafe. When you learn that it’s actually someone’s garage crammed with kitschy art and weird antiques, the name makes sense. Deliciously buttery pasta dishes, a good wine list and frequent live music add to the experience.
reviewed
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B
Pagliacci’s
At Pagliacci’s, unlimited baskets of fresh focaccia bread are delivered to the marble-topped tables. Generous pasta servings from the cinema-themed menu almost defy devouring; try the Hemingway Short Story (beef-stuffed tortellini).
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C
Pink Door Ristorante
Beloved for its atmosphere at least as much as its food, the Pink Door is an old-school favorite – on a nice evening, stopping for dinner and drinks on the deck overlooking the market is hard to beat. The menu is traditional Italian, and the vegetarian lasagne comes highly recommended.
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D
Vittore Italian Grill
This elegant spot with romantic patio seating features delicious calorie-rich pasta dishes and memorable seafood and beef dishes. The service is rather formal.
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E
’Inoteca
It's worth joining the crowd waiting at the cramped bar of this airy, dark-wood-paneled corner haven to choose from tramezzini (small sandwiches on white or whole-wheat bread), panini (pressed sandwiches) and bruschetta options, all delicious and moderately priced. The truffled egg toast, a square of bread hollowed out in its center and filled with egg, truffles and fontina cheese, is a signature favorite.
But you can’t go wrong, whether you choose the beet-orange-mint salad, vegetable lasagna built with layers of eggplant rather than pasta, or a plate of garlicky mussels. There’s also a list of 200 wines, 25 of them available by the glass. The West Village post is…
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F
Pascucci
Don't let the sight of tourists deter you from palazzo-style Pascucci. Despite occasionally spotty service, locals love the filling pastas, pizzas and paninis here, not to mention the bargain prices. For a taste of Italian heaven, try the Bellagio: smoked chicken, mushroom, red onions and sun-dried tomatoes in a roasted garlic-parmesan cream sauce over bowtie pasta. Sit at the bar for the quickest service.
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G
Conti Caffe
Set on busy Rue St-Louis, the handsome Conti Caffe features an impressive selection of flavorful Italian classics. Start off with prosciutto and melon or the house antipasto, before moving on to penne with gorgonzola, apples and walnuts or the grilled halibut with mango salsa. The dining room is a warmly lit retreat, with exposed brick walls trimmed with art and big windows overlooking the street.
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H
Babbo
Celebrity chef Mario Batali has multiple restaurants in Manhattan, but everyone has a sneaking suspicion that this two-level split townhouse is his favorite. Whether you order mint love letters, lamb's brain francobolli (small, stuffed ravioli) or pig's foot milanese, you'll find Batali at the top of his innovative, eclectic game. Reservations are in order.
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I
La Lanterna
This smart Italian restaurant has an intimate feel with its low ceilings, dark wood-and- tile decor and shelves lined with fine wines. Businessmen from the nearby Four Seasons Hotel can forge deals over a fiery dish of penne all’arrabbiata (spicy chili and tomato sauce) or get heavy with a fillet of steak with all the trimmings.
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J
Il Fornaio
Feast on wood-fired pizzas, salads and pastas, or make a meal of the antipasti platter with scallops wrapped in pancetta, baked eggplant, truffled cheeses and more. Delectable, fresh-baked breakfast goodies such as lemon-pecan scones are also available at ll Fornaio Paneterria, near the hotel lobby.
reviewed
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K
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
California flair pervades this ultra-contemporary bistro just off the casino floor. The truffled potato chips with blue cheese, skirt steak skewers with celery salad, wood-fired pizzas and ricotta gnocchi with sweet fennel sausage thrill, just like the New World wine list.
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L
Pizza Rolandi
Below the Hotel Belmar, between Abasolo and Madero, it bakes very good thin-crust pizzas and calzones in a wood-fired oven. The menu also includes pasta, fresh salads, fish, good coffee and some Italian specialties – definitely don’t come here looking for Mexican.
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M
La Galería
At the west end of El Adoquín, La Galería is one of Puerto’s best Italian spots, with art on the walls and tasty fare on the tables. The pizza and homemade pasta dishes are original and flavorsome, and the jumbo mixed-greens salad (M$49) is a treat.
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N
Vittorio’s
For years this cozy Italian restaurant has been serving generous portions of reasonably priced pizza and pasta. Head to the back and you’ll feel like the Godfather in the plush leather booths with dim lighting. Daily specials cost only M$80.
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O
Cafe Bernardo
This is a Midtown favorite serving all meals. Stop by for strong coffee or have a full-on meal with pasta, a grilled skirt steak and wine. There's an outdoor seating area and an adjacent martini bar that's popular around happy hour.
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P
Il Vicino Pizzeria
Sure, you can come for simple Italian fare like wood-fired pizza, salads and pasta. But the real bread and butter here is spectacular, award-winning microbrewed beer, including the Wet Mountain IPA and Slow Down Brown.
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Q
Pane e Vino
This Italian-run joint serves tasty antipasti and salads (with olive oil and balsamic vinegar if you wish), lasagna, fish, meat and a selection of respectable wines by the glass or bottle.
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R
L'Amante
Sleek yet engagingly informal, L'Amante serves upscale northern Italian cuisine such as squash-blossom fritters with truffle oil, and swordfish with saffron-encrusted risotto. Perfect for a memorable night out.
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S
Vaccaro's Pastry
Vacarro's serves some of the best desserts and coffee in town. The cannoli are legendary, and the gelato and tiramisu are also quite good.
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Trattoria La Siciliana
An Italian hotspot south of campus among the restaurants of the charming Elmwood District.
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Los Pelícanos
This friendly eatery is lauded by locals as the best restaurant in town.
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Cucina Italiana Il Piccolo
Italian comfort food that’s simple yet downright delectable.
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Bar La Grassa
Chef Isaac Becker won the 2011 James Beard award for 'best in the midwest,' so expect great things from the small plates menu of fresh pastas, bruschetta and secondi. It is located about a mile northwest of downtown's core.
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Ideale
Expat Italian regulars are stunned that a restaurant this authentic borders the Pacific, with proper bucatini ammatriciana (Roman tube pasta with tomato-pancetta-pecorino sauce), seafood risotto made with superior Canaroli rice, a well-priced selection of Italian wines, and wisecracking Tuscan waitstaff.
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X
A Voce
Inside the swanky Time Warner mall, light, airy and modern A Voce combines sweeping views of Central Park with high-end interpretations of Italian classics – think caramelized onion-filled ravioili with foie gras, balsamico and breadcrumbs; or grilled swordfish with chickpeas, broccoli and a sucker-punch nduja (spicy salami spread) vinaigrette. The well-versed wine list includes almost 20 drops by the glass. Book ahead.
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