Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco has some of America’s top Italian restaurants. Acquarello, Quince, and Incanto have been wowing Bay Area diners with authentic Italian cooking, great wine, and attractive ambience for some time now.

But the competition didn’t keep several new Italian restaurants in San Francisco from opening. Although not exactly filling a void, the newcomers are a welcome addition to the dining scene, and they’ve been warmly received.

Michael Tusk, the owner of Quince, has opened Cotogna in an adjoining space on Jackson Square. The name means quince in Italian. Less formal than its sibling, Cotogna has a three-course, prix fixe for just $24. The brick and beam space features an open kitchen, and it’s a casual, cozy place. Diners can enjoy incredibly succulent meats from the rotisserie, inventive pizzas from the wood-fired oven, or perfect pastas like lamb pappardelle or tagliatelle with duck Bolognese. An innovative, fixed-price wine program offers some lovely selections for $10 a glass or $40 a bottle. If you have any room left, try the milk chocolate and almond budino. At Cotogna, you can get a very good Italian meal without spending a lot.

You’ll find casual, inviting ristobars all over Italy. A cross between a tratorria and a bistro, they offer unpretentious food and good wine in a convivial atmosphere. Gary Rulli’s new Ristobar replicates the successful formula in this new Marina-area Italian Restaurant. One of the best-loved Italian restaurants in Los Angeles, Valentino, lost its chef — Angelo Auriana — to Ristobar. And he’s turned his talent to making incredible pizzas and superb pasta dishes. Start with some fabulous salumi and cheese, much of which is imported from Italy. If you want something more than pizza or pasta, duck confit, osso buco, or pan-roasted quail are terrific options. Rulli’s background as a pastry chef makes dessert a must-have. Try warm hazelnut and walnut budino.

Pizza lovers who have been flocking to Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur can satisfy their cravings in SOMO at Zero Zero. Owner Bruce Hill has brought the thin, perfectly charred crust, the inventive toppings — try home-made salumi — and the Zero Zero Neapolitan flour for which the restaurant is named. But he’s also turning out excellent crudo, starters like fried Brussels Sprouts with Asian pear, gnocchi with pork belly, and skillet-fried chicken thighs. Soft-serve ice cream sundaes with ricotta doughnuts and bacon brittle are a yummy way to end your meal.

With an emphasis on farm-to-table provisions, Seven Hills offers a seasonal menu that makes the most of local ingredients. Chef Alexander Alioto worked in Sicily and in Yountville at The French Laundry. He opened Seven Hills on Nob Hill after leaving the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. Starters might include seared sweetbread, wild mushrooms, or Niman Ranch pork riblets. A variety of fresh pastas are whipped up each evening. Alioto’s father Nunzio created the amazing wine list.

Find more Italian Restaurants in San Francisco.

Legend:
1) Cotogna
2) Ristobar
3) Zero Zero
4) Seven Hills

View New Italian Restaurants in San Francisco Map in a larger map

Golden Gate Bridge Image Flickr: Salim Virji

Volpetti in Rome

Rome is one of the world’s great food destinations. Whether you’re savoring a slice of pizza bianca at Campo de Fiori or enjoying a gelato on the Spanish Steps, eating great food is an integral part of Roman life.

In addition to world-class Italian restaurants, charming trattorias, and homey pizzerias, Rome also has wonderful food store, bakeries, and markets where you can sample incredilble meats, cheeses, sweets, produce, and more.

Here’s our list of the best places to pick up Italian food in Rome:

Ai Monasteri
Here, they sell products produced by monasteries and convents all over Italy. “Products from the beehive” are a specialty, but you’ll also find wines, cordials, teas, liqueurs, chocolates, candies, jams, oils, vinegars, beauty and health products. The shop was founded in 1894 and has been run by the same family for four generations.

Angelini
Not far from the Opera House, Angelini opened in 1880. It’s one of Rome’s best old-school wine shops, and you can have them pour you a jug of Castelli Romani wine right from the barrel. It’s one of the top three DOC wines from Lazio.

Buccone
This historic wine shop near the Piazza del Popolo has an incredible selection of vintages, Italian and imported beers, and epicurean products. They stock wines in all price ranges and the staff can help you find just the right bottle. With its old wooden beams, this cozy coach house is an atmospheric spot for lunch. And dinners are served on Friday and Saturday nights. If you request it a week in advance, you can have a wine tasting before your dinner.

Campo de Fiori
Rome’s best food market is a must-visit for foodies. During the day, the piazza is packed with vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and flowers. At night, it’s the home of some of Rome’s most popular bars. Because it’s a popular tourist destination, prices are high. But you’ll come away with great photos. There are delis, wine, and cheese shops. If you’re hungry, grab a delicious slice of Pizza Bianca at Forno Campo de Fiori.

Castroni
You’ll find meats, cheese, oils, vinegars, herbs, coffee beans, and other delicacies from all the regions of Italy here, as well as food from around the globe. If you’re renting an apartment and trying to make a home-cooked meal, this is also the best place buy British, and American packaged foods. There’s a nice selection of organic products, and you can have coffee, sandwiches, or pastries at the bar.

Artichokes at Campo de Fiori

Mercato di Testaccio
Although Testaccio isn’t the best neighborhood in Rome, food lovers find the market here worth the extra effort. Covered stalls sell fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, seafoods, breads, and everything else you’ll need for a fabulous picnic or delicious dinner.

Moriondo e Gariglio
The finest chocolatier in Rome, Moriondo e Gariglio opened in 1850. The more than 80 kinds of confections they sell are made from fiercely guarded family recipes. The shop is lovely – and packed – around Easter and Christmas. Specialties include truffles, candied chestnuts (marrons glace), liqueur-filled chocolates, and confections made with nuts.

Panella
In the know tourists come here for the mortadella-stuffed pizza bianca, but there are also delicious breads of all kinds, regional Italian cheeses, preserves, and pastries. You can have your sweet with a coffee at the tiny bar inside.

Trimani Vinai a Roma dal 1821
No mystery about how long Trimani has been in business. In fact, it’s the oldest wine shop in Rome, and many would say the best. Stocking thousands of Italian, French, and sparkling wines, Trimani also hosts wine tastings and lectures.

Volpetti
Arguably the best food store in Rome, is located in the working-class Testaccio neighborhood. Volpetti has all kinds of salumi, including prosciutto, coppa, mortadella, speck, bresaola, salami, soppressata, guanciale, and pancetta. The list of Italian cheeses is equally impressive, and there’s a nice selection of French cheese too. Wines, prepared salads and pasta dishes, smoked fish, breads, pastries, chocolates, coffee, and vinegars make this your one-stop-shop for gourmet foods in Rome.

Read more about Italian foods here.

View Best Rome Food Stores in a larger map

1) Ai Monasteri
2) Angelini
3) Buccone
4) Campo de Fiori
5) Castroni
6) Enoteca al Parlamento
7) Mercato di Testaccio
8) Moriondo e Gariglio
9) Panella
10) Trimani
11) Volpetti

Volpetti in Rome Image Flickr: Meg Zimbeck
Artichokes at Campo de Fiori Image Flickr: Maggie Hoffman

Bottega Yountville

Although wine country is best known for its French restaurants, there are also some great Italian restaurants in the valleys.

Napa Valley Italian restaurants

With a more ambitious menu than most Italian restaurants, Bistro Don Giovanni is a popular spot in downtown Napa. Starters include an excellent Pumpkin Ravioli in brown butter sauce with sage, Carpaccio, a cheese plate, and a salad of beets and haricots verts. Pizzas emerge from the wood-fired oven thin and crispy. Try fig, caramelized onion, gorgonzola, arugula, and Balsamic vinegar. Paccheri with a Sonoma duck Bolognese and rabbit cacciatore are just the thing on a cool, fall evening. Or you could opt for grilled California sea bass or steak frites.

If you can, grab a table on the outdoor terrace near the fireplace. Bisto Don Giovanni’s owners run Scala Bistro in San Francisco and they change the menu with the seasons. As you’d expect, the wine list is very good. Reservations are a good idea, especially on weekends.

Uva Trattoria & Bar is usually jumping. In fact, they have jazz five nights a week. So this isn’t the place for a quiet, romantic dinner for two. But it’s a convivial place with good food and a lively bar. The little fried rice balls called arancini are an addictive starter. Weekly specials might include baked gnocchi with burrata cheese and pomodoro sauce, bucatini al’amatriciana, and pan-roasted sea bass. In addition to the specials, there are usually five or six pizzas, ten pasta dishes, and three or four entrees.

Celebrity chef/Food Network TV host Michael Chiarello opened Bottega in the old V Marketplace in Yountville a year ago. Zagat named Bottega the top newcomer of the year and Esquire included it in their list of the Top 20 new restaurants. The design is casual but modern with brick walls, stone fireplaces, and plenty of couches for lounging. Although it’s a huge space, it’s divided into more manageable areas, and the patio is very inviting. This is not the place to watch your figure. The soft boiled egg in the Pecorino cheese flan is deep fried. And green eggs and ham comes swimming in Cambazola crema. The salumi is made in house and the crudo is sensational. All the pastas are made from scratch and sauces made with duck, rabbit, and chanterelles are hearty and filling. Braised lamb shanks, short ribs, duck confit, and whole, wood-oven roasted fish are the stars of the secondi.

Green Eggs and Ham

Ten years ago, Chiarello was the partner/chef at Tra Vigne in St. Helena. One of the most romantic restaurants in the valley, it has a lovely vine-covered patio that seems like it was plucked from a Tuscan hill town. It’s magical at night when the trees are dressed with little white lights. Inside, the stylish dining room has brick walls, high ceilings, and a hand-carved bar. Papperdelle with rabbit ragu and wild mushrooms, carbonara with guanciale and organic eggs, and duck confit risotto pave the way for wood-oven roasted Dungeness crab and pan-seared Quinault River steelhead. The 200-wine list changes frequently.

Just around the corner on Main Street, Pizzeria Tra Vigne serves authentic Neapolitan pizzas in a casual setting. The garlic rolls are perfect for taking the edge off while you wait for your pizza, but they’re hard to stop eating. There are several salads, pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs and shrimp fettuccini, and a nice selection of oven-baked flatbread with salad on top. But it would be a shame to come here and not order pizza. Traditional pies like Margherita and Ducati with Italian sausage, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes compete with unconventional pizzas like Positano with gulf shrimp and fried lemons, and Gardiniere with brocolli, cauliflower, and spicy garlic soffrito.

Sonoma Valley Italian restaurants.

Red Grape Pizzeria

Sonoma is one of the most charming towns in California Wine Country. Shops, hotels, and restaurants line its 19th-century plaza and there’s a farmer’s market on Tuesday evenings in summer.

The Della Santina family comes from Lucca, Italy, and they’ve been serving Tuscan-inspired cuisine in Sonoma since 1990. They found a beautiful old stone building to house their restaurant. You’ll find all the usual pastas and entrees — the gnocchi della nonna is especially good — but what’s really special here are the spit-roasted meats. You can choose from chicken, pork, rabbit, or duck. Or if you can’t choose, you can order skewers with three different meats. The 3-course dinner special is a good value at $30 per person. On Tuesdays, they have a prix fixe menu that features Italian wine pairings. If the weather’s nice, opt for a table out on the brick patio. There’s a nice selection of wine for less than $40 a bottle.

It’s hard to visit wine country without enjoying all the world-class restaurants. But sometimes, you just want a pizza and a cold draught beer. If you’re in Sonoma, Red Grape Pizzeria is a great spot. They have dozens of wines by the glass and many bottles for around $30. You can start with an antipasto, one of the tasty flatbreads, or a salad. If you don’t want pizza, there’s a nice selection of wraps and Panini — who doesn’t want pork and brie with caramelized onions and sliced green apple. The imaginative pizza list include clams casino with apple wood-smoked bacon, roasted duck and gorgonzola with a Cabernet reduction, and shrimp scampi.

1) Bistro Don Giovanni
2) Uva Trattoria
3) Bottega
4) Tra Vigne
5) Pizzeria Tra Vigne
6) Della Santina’s
7) Red Grape Pizzeria

View Italian Restaurants in Napa and Sonoma in a larger map

See our list of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco here.

Zucchini blossoms

The best way to experience Roman cooking, aside from eating in all those fabulous Italian restaurants, is to do it yourself at one of Rome’s lively cooking classes. Not only will you learn to make Italian foods like fried zucchini blossoms, risotto, and panna cotta, you’ll also make new friends and have a terrific meal.

From a half-day cooking class to a week-long culinary program, there are plenty of options to choose from. And many include field trips to local food purveyors.

Diane Seed has written several best-selling Italian cookbooks, including The Top 100 Pasta Sauces and Roman Kitchen. Although British, she has lived in Rome for 30 years on the top floor of a Renaissance Palazzo overlooking the Forum.

She knows Rome and Italian cooking inside out, and her students rave about her delightful insights into Roman culture.

Tomatoes at Campo dei Fiori market

Her morning classes include a visit to the Campo de Fiori market and lunch prepared by the students. Her five-day courses run from 10:30AM to 2PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 6:30PM to 9:30PM on Wednesday. Two- and three-day classes can sometimes be arranged. Details are available at http://www.italiangourmet.com/index2.php?cPath=21

Torre di Babelle is a language school that also offers cooking classes in Rome. Students in their three-hour course prepare an aperitif, appetizer, first course (usually a pasta), second course, vegetable, and dessert. Get more information at http://www.torredibabele.com/cooking.htm.

Chef Andrea Consoli teaches 3-4 hour classes at La Fate restaurant in the Trastevere neighborhood. Students prepare a four-course meal in the kitchen of the restaurant and then enjoy it together. Andrea is a real charmer, and at just 50 Euros per person, his classes are a real bargain.

Tagliatelle Carbonara

The day begins with a trip to the market in the Testaccio quarter and a visit to the Volpetti shop. There’s no menu planned for the class — students just pick up whatever looks best at the market and then take the bus back to Maureen’s place, where they prepare lunch together. Contact her at info@maureenbfant.com.

Those who don’t want to cook but want to learn more about dining in Rome can take one of her Eat Like the Romans Eat offered by Context. Find out more at http://www.contexttravel.com/rome/tours/cuisine/

Find more things to do in Rome here.

Zucchini blossoms Image Flickr: ljcybergal
Tomatoes at Campo dei Fiori market Image Flickr: hslo
Tagliatelle Carbonara Image Flickr: FotoosVanRobin

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

View Italian restaurants in Los Angeles in a larger map

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

View Italian restaurants in Buenos Aires in a larger map

Find more Italian restaurants here.

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

Short Rib Pasta

The North Beach neighborhood was once the home of most of the city’s Italian restaurants. But these days, you’ll find them in every part of town, from the Mission District to Nob Hill.

Here, listed alphabetically is our list of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco:

1) The Italian region of Campania is noted for a flavorful cuisine that centers around tomatoes, onions, cheeses, pasta, and cured meats. A16 – named for the autoroute that runs through the region – features Campania-inspired dishes like braised pork shoulder, pasta with cauliflower and crab, or rustic duck meatballs. The starters here are especially good. Try roasted asparagus with walnut cream; house-made prosciutto with persimmons, hazelnuts, and pomegranate seeds; or creamy, rich burrata cheese with crostini. There are 40 wines – mostly Italian varietals – available by the glass, and carafes of wine are also an option. A16 is also one of the best pizza restaurants in town.

2) Located in a building that was once a chapel, Acquarello is one of the most sophisticated Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. The menu, which changes frequently, might feature contemporary Italian foods like gnocchi and Swiss chard in brown butter and sage, a grilled sea bass on warm artichoke and potato salad, or lobster panzerotti. The 500-bottle wine list has lots of great choices from Italy and California. The chocolate cake dusted with gold is worth saving room for. If you’re on a budget, the four-course tasting menu is a good value.

3) Another excellent pizza restaurant, Delfina’s is a Mission District favorite. Making the most of what’s fresh from the farm as well as locally made cheeses and naturally raised beef and lamb, Delfina’s features starters like grilled calamari and white bean salad, incredible pastas like pappardelle with braised lamb, and bistro classics like steak frites. The eclectic menu changes nightly. The heated, covered terrace is a nice spot on balmy evenings. Prices for both food and wine are very reasonable.

Salumi

5) A family-owned North Beach trattoria, l’Osertia del Forno has a limited menu, but everything on it is delicious. First of all, there’s the delicious focaccia to tide you over until the food arrives. Then there are a few pasta dishes, a couple of daily specials – hope for the milk-braised pork – a daily roast, some polenta, and good, thin-crust pizza. It’s inexpensive, informal, and good.

6) The chef and co-owner at La Ciccia is Sardinian, and the menu here recalls the dishes he grew up with on the island. Start with the seafood salad, dressed with lemon and fresh herbs or calamari with mint and white wine. Then sink into pasta with clams, tomatoes, and saffron. or spaghetti with mullet row. The food pairs perfectly with Sardinian wines like Vermentino.

7) Dishes from the Northern Italian regions of Liguria and Piemonte dominate the menu at Perbacco. The antipasto of house-made salumi is a clear winner. Try pappardella in a ragu made with braised short ribs, veal-stuffed agnolotti in cabbage and meat sauce, or milk-braised pork shoulder. The two-story, exposed brick space is sophisticated and lively. And the wine list is excellent, but not cheap.

8) Located in a brick building in Jackson Square, Quince is one of the most elegant Italian restaurants in San Francisco. Chef Michael Tusk did stints at Chez Panisse and Oliveto, and the invention of those trend setters shines through. The best way to experience all of Quince’s delights is to invest in their five- or eight-course tasting menu. That way, you’ll get to try small portions of sensational dishes like pasta with foie gras; pork loin, belly, and sausage with chestnut puree; and veal rib chop with chanterelles and fontina cheese. This is one of the top tables in town for a celebration dinner.

1) A16
2) Acquarello
3) Delfina’s
4) Incanto
5) L’Osteria del Forno
6) La Ciccia
7) Perbacco
8) Quince

View Italian Restaurants in San Francisco in a larger map

Find more great Italian restaurants here.

Short Rib Pasta Image Flickr: stu_spivack
Salumi Image Flickr: WordRidden

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.