If you want a dose of good old-fashioned Southern food, hit this spot for lunch, dinner, or brunch on the weekends. The menu is kid-friendly, with chicken fingers and quesadillas that the little ones in a group will enjoy. Adults can order a blackened chicken salad with cajun seasonings, an array of burgers and sandwiches, chicken fried steak, salmon, tilapia, and fried shrimp.

This adorable Italian restaurant serves classic dishes and has a live piano player on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Owner Antonio Capaccioli, who hails from Siena in Italy, opened the place in 1983. Reservations are recommended, and gluten-free eating can be accommodated with advance notice.

Steak, anyone? Diners looking for an upscale meaty bite before they go should make a reservation at this steakhouse with a view — the stadium is visible from the dining room. The splurgy seafood tower is a classic to order, and while this place specializes in steaks, its seasonal pork chop and lamb chop plates are often spectacular. It is closed on Sundays.

Babe’s is a staple in North Texas. If chicken fried steak is the craving, this is where it gets satisfied. The fried chicken is also delightful. The meals are served family style — pick a main and share sides of creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits.

Make it a barbecue night at this family-run spot that grew from pop-ups to a food truck to a few locations around the Metroplex — and the Arlington location was its first. Brisket is the thing to try, but the ribs and sausage are awfully good too.

Craving something comforting but a little outside of the familiar favorites? Poutine and crispy fried pickles are on the menu alongside the Tipsy Burger, which comes with many possible combinations of fixings that will make the head spin.

If alfredo sauces for days and linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti sound good, this trattoria serves it all, plus a meatball sub for the ages.