Start your meal with an appetizer like the crispy shrimp bruschetta, roasted octopus, or the earthy and refreshing beet salad. Then, move on to scene-stealers like lamb ragù with campanelle, pesto bucatini with whipped ricotta, or the pizza verde, made with spinach and kale. Sweeten the experience with an amaro colada made with rum, amaro, coconut cream, and pineapple, or a bergamot margarita. Reservations are encouraged.

Using ingredients from its vegetable garden, Coltivare’s Italian fare is refreshingly inspired by the seasons and the Gulf Coast, with dishes like wild Gulf snapper served with okra confit, sofrito, and fingerling potatoes, and the fettuccini and shrimp made with local corn, tomatoes, basil. For spicy kick, pizza topped with slow-cooked pork, local peppers, caramelized onions, chiles, toma cheese, white sauce, and fennel pollen, or opt for the ever-classic spaghetti, coated in black pepper, parmesan, and olive oil.

This Italian restaurant from celeb chef Chris Cosentino is tucked inside the C. Baldwin in downtown, and is every bit as attractive as the trendy boutique hotel. Cosentino draws inspiration for the menu from the recipes of his great grandmother, named Rosalie, and the result is a modern approach to traditional plates like arancini with pesto aioli, calamari with pickled peppers, spinach and ricotta manicotti, and whole chicken parmesan.

Formerly known as Cafe Louie, Louie’s has transformed into an Italian eatery in the East End, known for its red sauce dishes. Try the dry aged meatballs served in tomato gravy before moving on to the ricotta ravioli with red sauce or chicken parmesan.

This Dallas-based restaurant recently opened an outpost on Post Oak in Uptown. Come for the spirited bar scene, and stay for a modern menu of Italian eats like Sicilian crudo, burrata salad, and Italian beef served with au jus. Also, find an intriguing list of pastas, all made fresh in-house.

This neighborhood spot has staples like cacio e pepe and carbonara down pat — they don’t even list them on the menu. Order from memory, or if craving one of chef-owner Travis McShane’s creations, browse the ever-changing menu, which includes Mediterranean fare and favorites like the crispy roasted half-lemon chicken that’s perfect for sharing. Don’t forget the fresh-baked focaccia bread, served warm, and drizzled with olive oil and herbs.

Seat yourself on Giacomo’s laid-back patio, and choose from dozens of affordable and flavorful dishes, like ratatouille, carbonara (sans cream), pasta e fagioli, and the pappardelle al telefono, made with garlic, oil, and tomatoes. The wine selections are even more plentiful, with a variety of white, red, and orange selections and champagne options by the glass or the bottle. Reservations are recommended for indoor dining, but leave your cash at home: Only credit cards are accepted.

A River Oaks gem from the team behind Armando’s located in the same retail strip, Lulu’s offers delicious Italian staples, including a bolognese made with slow-braised beef tip, and crispy fried calamari, accompanied by a sweet balsamic glaze and banana peppers. A focaccia fanatic? Try the restaurant’s $5 bread service, which offers freshly baked focaccia slices and mini loaves served with whipped honey and olive oil.

This gourmet Tuscan restaurant’s inventive dishes pair well with its timeless charm and curated wine list. Wild boar pappardelle, the butternut squash cappellacci, and the sea urchin spaghetti with chilies can cure any pasta craving, while the chianti braised short ribs with polenta cacio e pepe is sure to please. There’s a dress code, so be sure to dress up for the occasion.

Stop into this Italian chophouse for its tender Tuscan fried chicken, light and flavorful blue crab bruschetta, a bolognese with a hint of sweetness, and hand-cut grilled steaks with just the right amount of char. Stay for thelive music held throughout the week, and be sure to end the experience with a bowl of creamy tiramisu that’s worth every bite.

A Houston institution for more than 35 years, Damian’s offers specialties like spaghetti with “Mama Mandola” meatballs, Grilled Chilean sea bass drizzled with white wine butter sauce, and veal marsala. Enjoy a six-course meal at the limited seating Chef’s Table for $95. Catching a show after dinner? Damian’s offers a shuttle to and from the Wortham Center, Alley Theatre, Hobby Center, and Jones Hall.

With influences from both Naples and Milan, this high-end Italian restaurant delivers on occasion dining, with dishes like the squash-filled pansoti; or its classic savory pappardelle bolognese with parmesan. You also can’t miss with the pan-seared Dover sole and classic meuniere sauce, or the filet mignon Tony’s way — with porcini mushroom, Fonda Bruno sauce, and roasted bone marrow.

Located inside the Kinder Building at the MFAH, Cafe Leonelli is a casual counter-service restaurant dishing out Italian snacks, mains, and desserts. Peruse the glass cases stocked with fresh baked pastries and hot foods like loaded focaccia, then opt for dessert at the Frohzen counter, which boasts gelato, ice pops, and cookie sandwiches.

At this lively Rice Village restaurant, it’s all about the dough and more: Expect 11 variations of pasta, including a robust squid ink-infused spaghetti with lobster and shrimp, Neopolitan-styled pizzas, and rotatingspecialsthat bring a new spin on Italian cuisine each week. Be sure to peek inside the appropriately titled Dough Room, where pasta and pizza dough are made daily in full view.

This Rice Village hideaway is the quintessential date night destination. Dine on the patio, illuminated with string lighting, or opt for something more intimate inside. Either way, you’ll find top notch service, interesting wines, and Italian standouts like lasagna, carbonara, bolognese, and chocolate cannolis.

Located in Sugar Land’s Town Center, this Berg Hospitality restaurant offers a large menu of classic Italian offerings in an upbeat, family-friendly environment. Start with the focaccia service, which is presented with a variety of oils and spreads, and then choose from classic entrees like rigatoni with vodka sauce, spaghetti pomodoro, and a whopping 20-layer lasagna.