Jul

26

Finding Italy on a Raleigh map

Written by S. Beaumont and filed under Food and Beverage 

Italian FlagI believe that the best food in this city, or any other, can only really be enjoyed to its fullest if the company you dine with and the surroundings of the establishment complement that cuisine, or even raise it to a level that could not be attained by the food alone. Such thinking often takes me to Italian restaurants, where hearty red wines and fresh-made pastas are surpassed only by the great conversations served throughout the meal.

We are quite fortunate to have several authentic and noteworthy Italian restaurants in Raleigh. My top 5, including one which I dined in this evening, are below.

Ninas Ristorante
Ninas has perhaps the most enjoyable authentic setting of the list. With terra cotta walls and a beautiful Tuscan mural, the mood is instantly set for a meal that you’ll want to tell your friends about for several days to come.

Casa Carbone
Casa Carbone is the old-schooler of the bunch. The owners opened their first restaurant in 1958 on Hillsborough Street and have stayed true to their roots in terms of settings and excellent Italian food ever since.

518 West
518’s tall ceilings and brick walls create a wonderful setting to enjoy some of the best Italian food in downtown Raleigh. 518 is also great for brunch on Sundays.

Tavola Rossa
Tavola Rossa offers a somewhat eclectic and modern take on Italian. Tucked behind Crabtree Valley Mall, this is a great destination for a business lunch or romantic dinner.

Bella Monica
Bella Monica is the most unassuming of the bunch. This place could easily be taken for a pizza-by-the-slice establishment if you just happened to be walking by. Once you’ve taken the plunge however, you immediately notice the attention to detail in every dish and can appreciate the local feel the restaurant and its patrons have created.

This is only my top 5 and I don’t doubt that I’ve missed one (or several) notable others. Do your part to share the amore by adding to this list with your favorites.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Finding Italy on a Raleigh map”

  1. RaleighRob on July 27th, 2007 9:05 am

    I’d add Cafe Luna…it has a nice Mediterranean village feel to it. And IMO is the best Italian in downtown. ;-)

  2. Anonymous on July 27th, 2007 12:10 pm

    Bella Monica is hands down my favorite. If this place had its own building and was not next to a grocery store they would be MUCH more recognized.

  3. SMcDonald on July 30th, 2007 6:03 am

    Casalinga Ristorante Italiano

    Varied menu, great food, and Owner/Chef Carlo Cappiello come together to offer one of the best Italian dining experiences in the triangle. If you’re in the mood for pizza, they have the best Sicilian around.

  4. meloveitalian on July 30th, 2007 1:29 pm

    Don’t forget VIC’s downtown and Vincents up on the Creed…

  5. theraleightimes on July 30th, 2007 2:54 pm

    Bella Monica and Casalinga (on Capitol in Mini city behind Boston Market) deserve a lot better than locations in strip malls.

    It is sad they aren’t downtown or even in North Hills, but for some reason or whatever, they are where they are. I am quite grateful to have them as options, in addition to 518, etc.

  6. RaleighRob on July 31st, 2007 9:39 am

    ^ I’d say the same thing for Nina’s. Way too classy for a suburban strip center!

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