Assaggio Ristorante provides authentic northern and central Italian cuisine in a romantic atmosphere. Reproductions of famous Italian frescoes cover the ceilings, and the classy elegance of the dining room is nicely offset by the casual friendliness of the staff.

Beàto Food & Wine in West Seattle has an exquisite collection of Italian wines and divine nibbles (pray for brilliant beet gnocchi, veal short ribs, seared black cod).

Bizzarro has recognized that every gem needs a little polishing once in a while. Chef Mike Easton, who took over the kitchen in 2005, and owner Jack Kelly, who also owns local coffee chain Caffe Ladro, have revamped the menu by hoisting the banner of locally produced ingredients.

The wait can be long at this cramped, rec-room-funky spot, but its boast -- "Seattle's Best Little Italian Restaurant" -- isn't far off the mark. Picks: prawns and scallops puttanesca, linguini aglio e olio, venison-beef stew, Moroccan stew and, incongruously, gumbo.

Plan for an exquisite evening of rich, scrumptious food in a delightful Eastside dinner-house setting. The sea scallops, rabbit, risotto and steak are all highly recommended.

At chef-owner Jordi Viladas' venerable Montlake trattoria, you can enjoy a martini as a precursor to a deftly grilled New York steak, order from a brief, intensely annotated wine list, deliberate the merits of Jordi's fabled lasagna versus his gnocchi and finish with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Although Enotria means land of wine in Italian, it really is all about the food. Guests can settle in and experience a variety of Italian dishes: sweetbreads, rabbit, wild boar sausage, duck and gnocchi. The restaurant's nightly specials that blend Northwest ingredients with Tuscan-style dishes.

At Gaspare, stick with pasta or anything made with seafood and you'll leave content.

The fare at Wolf lives up to chef Ethan Stowell's reputation. Many a passerby has been spied lingering at the window of the Queen Anne restaurant, gazing up at the menu of Italian delicacies that tease them from behind a locked door, lost in visions of veal carpaccio, quince paste and pappardelle.

Il Bistro has long been treasured by Seattle insiders for its Italian classics and romantic ambiance. Its only drawback is that the kitchen isn't always as reliable as it ought to be.

Il Capretto d'Oro, aka The Golden Goat, serves simple, straightforward Italian fare with quality ingredients. Look for such dishes as braised pork shoulder and pasta with gorgonzola and sausage.

At the Terrazzo, you'll find a well-dressed room full of well-dressed patrons known to spend an evening -- and a fortune -- sipping amarone, surrendering to prosciutto-laced sweetbreads and knifing into filetto al Barolo.

This two-room trattoria, just off the central courtyard of a gracious old apartment complex in Belltown, is a breath of fresh garlic in a neighborhood enamored with wasabi. You'll sample such Sicilian classics as escarola alla Siciliana and chicken or lamb liberally laced with marsala.

La Medusa is a little "Sicilian Soul Food" eatery in Columbia City where a bevy of women toss pasta, grill whole fish, finesse pizza dough and scoop gelato. It's a sweet destination for anyone looking for great vibes, very good food and stellar service.

Marcello Ristorante is a rustically elegant and warmly inviting Roosevelt neighborhood spot with favorites such as pasta Bolognese, margarita pizza and veal saltimbocca.

At La Spiga's new digs on Capitol Hill, treat yourself to pasta fresca (gnocchi, tortelli, lasagna, tagliatelle), wild boar, ripe formaggi and vino from a vast library of Italian labels.

A perennial favorite for a classy Market experience.

You won't find a nicer spot for a first date. Machiavelli's lasagna and gnocchi are semilegendary among local Italian-food fanatics, and the atmosphere -- friendly but not too casual, classy but never snooty -- complements the chow beautifully.

Serafina's delicious Tuscany-inspired menu is served with an appetizer of cool jazz.

Tavolata in Belltown serves simple, rustic Italian fare: everything from house-made pastas to octopus salad and a hefty, delicious T-bone.

Volterra brings a taste of Tuscany to Ballard via straightforward seasonal Italian fare. Try the polenta with wild mushrooms, pappardelle with duck ragu or bistecca alla Fiorentina. Superb cocktails and weekend brunch are added attractions.