(From June 2012)

It appears to be just a modest house in Montrose, but it’s as close to truly regional Italian cooking as you’ll find in town. Understated surroundings and expert service put the emphasis on fine food and drink. Recent selections included shaved celery with thin slices of beet and pecorino; sweet corn ravioli surrounded by lobster claw meat; and roasted whole branzino, filleted and served alongside braised fennel and rosemary potatoes. It’s well worth the splurge.
Extensive Italian wine list. Bar.

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(From May 2012)

Spaghetti cacio e pepe-a supremely simple and stylish dish-shows off what Dolce Vita does so well. But we do relish the occasional surprise-whoknew that a pile of room temperature cauliflower adorned with red grapes, pine nuts, and a light vinaigrette could taste so good? Other highlights included truffled toast, gnocchi, and an arugula, pear, and cheese pizza. Funky and fun setting in an old house. Bar.

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(From January 2012)

If you're a fan of Neapolitan-style pizza, this no-frills San Antonio import should be your next stop. We made a fine Italian lunch out of spiedini of warm mozzerella wrapped in prosciutto di Parma and a pizza swathed with fontina cheese, oak-roasted mushrooms, and carmelized onion. The thereal polenta cake was delectable, as were the Nutella panini, and the silky panna cotta ringed with balsamic sauce and macerated berries was dessert indulgence to the hilt. Bar.

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(From January 2011) An eclectic group of diners, live music on some nights, and a rather magical setting (think lighted faux trees) add up to a unique experience. Pizza, as one would expect, is the centerpiece of the menu, and we loved a micro-thin-crusted version with garlic, basil, anchovy, tomato, ricotta, and mozzarella. But we reserved our highest praise for an orzo dish with local sausage, Parmesan, and a flavorful fennel broth lightly binding all of it together. Opting out of ordering a gooey dessert, we chose fresh figs stuffed with goat cheese and candied pecans. Bar.

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(From March 2012)

With an authentic forno crackling away, the Fireside guys serve artisan pizzas with thin, crisp crusts and unique toppings. The Peta Pie, with Montchevré goat cheese, slices of balsamic-marinated portobello, arugula, roasted red peppers, piñon nuts, and a charred-tomato vinaigrette drizzled around the edge, was magnificent; we rounded our meal out with a Fireside Cheese Salad of mixed greens, chopped hearts of romaine, tomatoes, and a blend of four cheeses. Bar.

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(From July 2011)

As far as we’re concerned, “Café” could be left out of the name, because the food here is mainly deli. Never would we have guessed that stuffed cabbage could be such a delight: The tender leaves were crammed with beef and rice and served in a tomato broth studded with raisins, onions, and celery. The beef stroganoff was surprisingly bland, but we did like the flavorful side of carrot and zucchini slivers. The cheesecake seems to be the dessert of choice, but chocolate cannoli come in a close second. 

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(From January 2012)

Giorgio’s is downtown lunch at its best. We’re enamored of the Italian awning, the no-frills tables and chairs, the old-fashioned red-and-white-checkered floor, and, of course, the food. Hearty meat, gooey cheese, and tomato sauce are tucked into the flaky, homemade crusts of the calzones as well piled on the pizzas, which you can get by the slice or the pie (New York–style, with a crust so delicate it folds right up in your hand). Lunch specials are a good bet, like a slice, a salad, and a drink for only $5.50 or lasagne, garlic toast, and a drink for $6.25. And with prices so low and food so beloved, you can expect a line out the door. Thank goodness it moves fast!

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(From May 2012)

Applying simple logic we deduced that if lunch here was as tasty as dinner then we were in for a treat. And the noontime menu of salads and sandwiches proved us right. We loved the vegetable wrap with roasted red peppers and grilled portobello mushrooms and the house burger with a smattering of fennel-spiked Italian sausage blended into the meat. On the lighter side, a couscous-based salad with fresh feta, artichoke hearts, zesty peppers, and kalamata olives also received raves. Bar.

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(From March 2011) Cheers to the Vincent Mandola family for featuring a small-plates menu and a wide range of Italian libations in their West Dallas backyard patio-bar, one of our town’s most pleasant alfresco spots. A friendly waiter said we’d love the warm arancine (fried risotto balls with a core of melting cheese), and he was right. Same for the crab claws in garlic-lemon butter. The Mini Vinnie, a portion of veal par-migiano, plus mezzaluna pasta stuffed with chicken and ricotta, completed our meal—save for a digestivo, of course. Grappa, anyone? Bar.

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(From August 2011)

Young professionals and foodies flock to chef Larry Delgado’s domain for irresistible pommes frites, both traditional and sweet potato, and burgers made with locally raised beef. Our favorite is the Swiss and mushroom on ciabatta, a juicy, peppery beauty that’s more like a sandwich than a greasy burger. But the lamb entrée is still our favorite—grilled and seasoned with just salt and pepper and served with a robust blue cheese sauce on a bed of locally grown arugula. The large wine selection and friendly staff round out the experience. Beer & wine.

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