The meatball gets full attention at this cozy Andersonville spot. Housed inside a building that’s more than 100 years old, Bar Roma specializes in polpette. The signature dish is available in several varieties: Beef, pork, chicken, or Impossible “meat.” Order them alongside one of the house-made pastas and save room for tiramisu.

Pisolino is the type of restaurant every neighborhood needs. It’s a come as you are spot with a deep wine list, criminally underrated thin-crust pizza, and delicious pastas from chef James De Marte. The orecchiette with spicy sausage is a crowd pleaser. It’s a place with serious cooking that doesn’t take itself seriously, which is why the menu jokes about not being able to accommodate garlic allergies “due to the nature of our cooking.”

Upscale yet comfortable, Sapori Trattoria is a restaurant for any occasion. The menu is loaded with pastas — be sure to try the seafood linguine or lobster-stuffed ravioli — as well as specialties such as a six-hour-braised osso buco. Those looking for a date-night atmosphere should come on Tuesdays when there’s live jazz musicians serenading the dining room.

Delve into the flavors of northern Italy at this acclaimed Logan Square restaurant. Focusing on the Piedmont region, Osteria Langhe goes beyond tried-and-true dishes and instead serves hand-pinched plin, tripe and tongue stew, and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin. After dinner, do as the Italians do and sip some amaro.

With an alluring patio and traditional Tuscan-style plates, Topo Gigio embodies the spirit of a good neighborhood trattoria. The Old Town restaurant churns out dependable versions of baked clams, eggplant parm, veal chops, and tiramisu. In the colder months, heaters keep the outdoor dining area warm and comfortable.

Tony Mantuano’s Michelin-starred-restaurant on the Mag Mile is the gold standard for Italian fine dining in Chicago. The beautiful space, which was remodeled in 2014, sets the scene for decadent offerings that include gnocchi showered in white truffle, dry-aged bistecca alla fiorentina, and caviar with burrata. There are also five- or eight-course tasting menus. For a more casual experience, sister restaurant Cafe Spiaggia doles out equally refined pastas and dishes.

Boasting red sauce that would make nonna proud and a small dining room covered in celebrity photos, La Scarola is an inviting haven for simple but satisfying fare. Bring companions along to share large portions of penne alla vodka, escarole and beans, veal chops, eggplant parm, pasta e fagioli, and more. It’s the Italian way.

Escape the bustle of the city at this popular River West spot and enjoy an intimate evening filled with fresh, rustic cuisine and an extensive all-Italian wine list. The “little dream” restaurant, the restaurant name’s translation, of Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo comforts diners with first-rate items like seafood spaghetti nero, pappardelle in wild boar ragu, braised beef short ribs, and wood-fired pizzas. In the summertime, the lush garden patio is among the best for al fresco dining.

Old-school Italian gets the spotlight at B. Hospitality Co.’s West Loop restaurant. The interior sports a classic look — big leather booths, white tablecloths — while the kitchen executes Italian-American staples with reverence. Whether or not guests grew up in red sauce households, diners can try dishes such as canestri in pork neck gravy, bucatini carbonara, and bone-in veal parmesan.

Top Chef and Spiaggia vet Sarah Grueneberg presents a modern take on regional Italian flavors with an emphasis on freshly made pastas. Her restaurant’s lauded lineup features hits such as “cacio whey pepe” and a family-sized serving of ragu teeming with fusilli, sausage, meatballs, and pork shank. Grueneberg’s efforts were rewarded in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Great Lakes region.

One of the city’s oldest institutions is comprised of three separate restaurants. On the top floor, the Village first introduced Chicagoans to regional specialties, such as cannelloni, saltimbocca, and fettuccini alfredo, back in 1927. It takes place in a dining room designed to feel like an idyllic Italian village. Downstairs on the ground floor, theatrical-themed Vivere offers a more upscale setting, while La Cantina in the basement is modeled after a cozy wine cellar.

When Chicagoans think of Little Italy, the Rosebud quickly springs to mind. The Taylor Street mainstay launched an Italian empire by drawing in folks with generous portions and a convivial atmosphere. Come for the history, stay for spaghetti and meatballs, baked clams, chicken Vesuvio, and tiramisu.

There are plenty of options on Taylor Street for a good Italian meal but people flock to Davanti Enoteca for a reason. The rustic menu features shared plates while the walls are lined with bottles, mimicking the feel of dining in a wine cellar. Highlights include focaccia, whipped ricotta with honeycomb, cacio e pepe, and an outstanding burger topped with bacon jam and cheese curds.

Head to the Heart of Italy for this family-run operation that’s been around for four decades. Touting recipes from the “old country,” Bacchanalia produces noteworthy renditions of linguine with clams, breaded pork tenderloin, veal scallopini, gorgonzola gnocchi, and more. To finish, pistachio cannoli are a must.

A restaurant that has lasted for more than 80 years must be doing a lot right. That’s the case at Bruna’s, a South Side stalwart as charming as it is delicious. The porcini ravioli, veal limone, and tiramisu are all favorites and on Sundays, Bella Bruna’s original roast chicken recipe brings in all the regulars.