Carpaccio from Drago Centro

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t terrific Italian restaurants in South California. They’re just not all concentrated in one area. Which means that no matter where you are, there’s probably one that’s not too far away.

An unassuming little place that’s nearly always packed, Angelini Osteria serves some of the best Italian food in Southern California. Start your meal with Pumpkin Tortelli with butter, sage, and asparagus or Bombolotti all’Amatriciana with guanciale, San Marzano tomatoes, and hot pepper. If you love Roman food, there’s even warm tripe. The whole sea bass encrusted in salt and herbs is sensational, and the grilled bistecca here will remind you of your trip to Florence. Lasanga Verde, a homage to the chef’s grandmother, is the most popular dish. Topped with frizzled spinach, it’s a rich, dense block of meat, pasta, and cheese. Specials each day features Italian classics like saltimbocca, oxtail, and porchetta. The wine list has lots of affordable Italian wines.

Celestino Drago has several restaurants in Los Angeles, but Drago Centro is the best Italian restaurant on the Eastside. The sleek, stylish décor and downtown City National Plaza location make this one of the most sophisticated and expensive Italian restaurants in town. No spaghetti and meatballs here. The glass wine cellar displays some of Drago’s rare Italian wines. But don’t worry — there are plenty of reasonable selections and 100 wines available by the glass. The concept here is to take traditional Italian dishes and update them with modern techniques and ingredients. The six-course tasting menu is a good value at $75 per person. Dungeness crab tagliolini with tomatoes and basil and pappardelle with roasted pheasant and morel mushrooms are achingly good. If you can, save room for the little doughnuts called I Bomboloni.

Also owned by the Drago family, Il Pastaio is a popular Beverly Hills trattoria. There are three kinds of carpaccio to start your meal — beef, tuna, and swordfish, but regulars can’t resist the fried rice balls called arancini. Mussels and clams steamed in a garlicky tomato broth taste like you‘re next to the sea. There are more than a dozen salads, including a tasty panzanella made with leftover bread. With so many pastas and risottos to choose from, most diners never make it to the Secondi section of the menu. Their panna cotta provides the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

Burrata from Drago Centro

No discussion of Italian restaurants in Los Angeles can omit the Mozza trilogy. The brainchild of culinary stars Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton, and Joseph Bastianich, Pizzeria Mozza is actually the casual sibling of the more up-scale Osteria Mozza. But for our money, Pizzeria Mozza is the better choice. The pizzas here — baked at high temperature in a wood-burning oven — are miraculous with a thick, puffy crust that’s lighter than air. But there’s plenty of other great Italian food like fried squash blossoms, baked bone marrow, goat cheese with lentils, and oven-roasted pork ribs. Daily specials include crisp duck leg with lentils, chicken alla cacciatore, and lasagna. Make reservations or plan to wait. And don’t miss the butterscotch budino. It’s one of the most delicious desserts you’ll ever eat.

As the name implies, Trattoria Tre Venezia specializes in the cooking of Northeastern Italy. It’s tucked away in a cute little building in Old Town Pasadena. And from the outside, you’d never guess that it has been awarded a Michelin star. The dishes here are a far cry from what you’d find in Southern Italy, and Austrian influences are apparent in marinated venison and smoked pork chops with gorgonzola sauce and sauerkraut. From the Veneto region, there are seafood specialties like cuttlefish, black-ink ravioli filled with halibut, and chestnut tagliatelle with lobster. For desserts, the custards — such as Crèma del Gondoliere — are especially good.

Valentino has been the leading Italian restaurant in Los Angeles for thirty five years now. Its staying power can be attributed to attention to detail. From the elegant ambience of the four romantic dining rooms to the world-class service to the 140,000-bottle wine cellar, owner Piero Selvaggio provides an exceptional dining experience. Which explains why they have a Michelin star. The menu has delectable items like risotto with squid ink and mixed seafood, lasagna with duck ragu and porcini mushrooms, and ossobuco, but your best bet is to put yourself in the chef’s hands and order the tasting menu. Those looking for something lighter and less expensive can opt for the Vin Wine Bar, which offers an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for just $35. Affordable vertical wine tastings are also available. Dress up.

The heart of Vincenti is the wood-burning oven and rotisserie. You can watch all the action in the exhibition kitchen. Starters include a warm octopus salad, tuna carpaccio, and stuffed zucchini blossoms. Tagliolini with clams and potato gnocchi with shrimp, lobster, and asparagus are delicious. But it’s the roasted meats that steal the show. Try sea bass or Dover sole, quail, leg of lamb, or pork tenderloin. The six-course tasting menu is $60. And excellent pizzas are also available.

1) Angelini Osteria
2) Drago Centro
3) Il Pastaio
4) Pizzeria Mozza
5) Trattoria tre Venezia
6) Valentino
7) Vincenti

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Find more Italian restaurants here. And find great Pizza restaurants in Los Angeles here.

Puerto Madero

Buenos Aires was heavily influenced by the waves of immigrants who came from Italy in the 1860s and 1870s. The Portuguese that’s spoken here blends Spanish and Italian. In fact, you’ll hear “ciao” more often than “adios.” And Italian food is served all over the city.

Some of the best Italian restaurants in South America are here. And there are also plenty of great pizza restaurants.

Italian restaurants in Puerto Madero.

An outpost of the well-regarded Milan restaurant of the same name, Bice serves meat and fish, but it’s the pasta dishes that really stand out. Ravioli quattro formaggi, fettuccini with spinach and shrimp, and tri-colored gnocchi with Parmesan are all winners. The wine list is affordable, and there are tables outside along the Puerto Madero riverfront promenade.

Based on the success of their Puerto Madero location, the owners of Sottovoce decided to open a second restaurant in Libertador. The chef here trained at the Ritz in Paris and Cipriani in Venice before returning to Argentina and going into business with his brother. Starters include bresaola with burrata cheese and prawns, beans, and arugula salad. Veal rolls and rabbit with mustard sauce compete with pastas like pappardelle with chanterelles and portabellos. Have a glass of late harvest Torrontes with rice pudding with dulce de leche ice cream.

One of the first restaurants to open in Puerto Madero in 1995, Sorrento del Puerto is still the only two-story restaurant at the port. If you can’t get a table on the patio, opt for a second-story spot with a view of the waterfront. Sorrento is a great choice is you’re tired of Argentina’s ubiquitous beef because the seafood is really good. There’s a variety of fresh fish available grilled. Or you can opt for a more imaginative preparation like trout stuffed with crab. Although it’s not Italian, the Paella Valenciana is very good.

Italian restaurants in other Buenos Aires neighborhoods.

With its red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Broccolino — which is a corruption of Brooklyn – would be equally at home in New York City. Not far from Calle Florida, it’s a favorite of actor Robert Duvall. Start your meal with calamari sautéed in wine and garlic. Try one of the wonderful pastas or a spicy pizza from the brick oven. You can choose a pasta, a sauce, and a variety of toppings like grilled vegetables. But save room for the wonderful Italian-style gelato.

Piegari restaurant in Recoleta

Filo is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Buenos Aires. And we’re not alone. The place is usually packed with attractive professionals and fashionistas who come to see and be seen as much as to eat. The décor is chic and modern and the walls are hung with work by local artists. Gourmet, thin-crust pizzas are the big draw here – there are a couple dozen to choose from. And they emerge from the brick oven crispy and slightly charred. If pizza doesn’t strike your fancy, the pastas, salads, and pannini are excellent, and the antipasto is especially good. Filo is conveniently located near the center of Buenos Aires.

Located in the happening Palermo Viejo neighborhood, La Baita fills up at lunch and dinner with locals craving great Italian food. Start with beef carpaccio or the antipasto with local prosciutto and salami. Risotto with squid ink, baked lasagna, and saltimbocca are popular choices. And the crepes filled with crab then baked with parmesan cream are wonderful. Wine is available by the bottle or glass.

Tucked away under a freeway in Recoleta, Piegari serves huge portions of leg of lamb, short ribs of beef, spaghetti, and other hearty dishes. It’s a good ideas to go with others so you can share them family style. In addition to the homemade pastas, there’s fresh seafood, risottos, and deep-dish pizzas. The wine list here is quite extensive.

1) Bice
2) Sottovoce
3) Sorrento del Puerto
4) Broccolino
5) Filo
6) La Baita
7) Piegari

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Find more Italian restaurants here.

Puerto Madero Image Flickr: Pedro Angelini
Piegari restaurant in Recoleta Image Flickr: blmurch

Roman Coliseum

Some of the best Italian restaurants in the world are in Rome. The cuisine of Rome is rich and rustic, with hearty meat dishes and terrific pastas. Two of the best known are Spaghetti alla Carbonara with pancetta, eggs, and Parmesan cheese, and Bucatini all’Amatriciana with tomatoes, pancetta, and onions.

Other Roman specialties you should try include stuffed fried zucchini blossoms, Saltimbocca, which is veal stuffed with prosciutto, cheese, and sage, and porchetta, or roast suckling pig. You’ll also find traditional Italian foods like gnocchi and pizza on most menus.

The best expensive Italian restaurants in Rome.

The proud recipient of three Michelin stars, La Pergola is generally acknowledged to be the best Italian restaurant in Rome. Located in the roof garden atop the Cavalieri Hilton, La Pergola has sweeping views of Rome and a beautiful frescoed ceiling in the elegant interior. Chef Heinz Beck is actually German, but he has wholeheartedly embraced Italian culinary tradition and used it as a launching pad for his creations. You’ll find everything here from the simplest tortellini or tomato salad to an ambitious duck-liver scallop with crisp pigeon. The 48,000-bottle wine cellar and the service are both superb. Make reservations well in advance and take a credit card with a high ceiling.

Pantheon

Conveniently located near the Pantheon, Il Convivio is one of the best Italian restaurants in Rome. It’s a traditional, formal place with old-world elegance and service. The clientele leans heavily toward affluent Italian executives. The kitchen’s attention to detail is apparent even in standards like risotto and fava beans. Roasted pigeon and duck dishes are top notch. And organ meats, which are popular in Rome, are as good as you’ll get.

Although fish is not as popular in Rome as it is in Naples or Sicily, Rome does have a very good seafood restaurant called Quinzi & Gabrieli. It’s in a 16th-century building not far from the Pantheon, and the terrace opens onto a small square. The fish couldn’t get any fresher – chances are, it was swimming in one of the tanks before it made its way to the kitchen. Clams (vongole) in a garlicky wine broth or calamari are a great way to start your meal, which could be perfectly cooked swordfish or sea bass. The three rooms are painted with frescoes of Portofino, Capri, and Elba. If you love seafood, this is your best bet in Rome.

The best affordable Italian restaurants.

Piazza Navona

Located on Piazza della Coppelle, not far from Piazza Navona, Maccheroni serves traditional Roman dishes and specialties from other regions of Italy as well. The most popular dish here is the Spaghetti Carbonara. But triofie al pesto, which originates in Santa Margherita Ligure, is another standout. The rustic interior is cozy in winter, and if you’re seated inside, you can watch the chefs at work. On a nice day, take one of the tables outside and enjoy the action on the piazza.

Owned by married couple Agata Parisella (who cooks) and Romeo Caraccio (who manages the dining room), Agata e Romeo has all the charm of a family-run place. The cooking here is modern, but steeply routed in tradition. Expect dishes like oxtail stew, rabbit croquettes, and inventive pastas. The modern décor is a nice change, and the restaurant is centrally located near the Vittorio Emanuele Monument (the dentures). Try to save room for the especially good desserts.

For the price, Antico Arco serves some of the best food in Rome. Above Trastevere on the Gianicolo Hill, Antico Arco serves imaginatively prepared rabbit, duck, and pheasant, in addition to the expected meats and pasta dishes. Chef Patricia Mattei uses lots of fresh vegetables and herbs, and her flavors are clean and bright — the duck breast starter is a must have. Antico Arco has a good wine list, and service is friendly and professional. There’s no terrace, but the attractive interior was redone in 2007. Reservations are required.

Located in the old courtyard of a 16th-century palazzo, Casa Bleve is the most elegant wine bar in Rome. It has one of the best selections of wine – both by the bottle and the glass – in town. But the lunchtime antipasto bar here is equally appealing. Platters filled with rolled veal tonnato, braciole, turkey rolls, marinated vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, and Sicilian desserts beckon. Indicate what you want to one of the servers, and he’ll compose a plate for you. It’s a great way to sample lots of Italian foods without breaking the bank.

Read more about food in Italy here.

Find the best Italian restaurants in Florence here.