At Zuccarelli's Italian Restaurant and Bar, the authentic Italian atmosphere and food are sure to impress the spirit and the taste buds. The menu is full of customizable entrees - from the pizza to the pasta dishes - the toppings and sauces available allow for lots of different combinations. The restaurant is inviting, with live music for those seated inside and a pet-friendly outside dining area. Recommendation-wise, the gnocchi is delicious, and there are lots of vegetarian meal choices thanks to the sauces and pastas being mixed fresh. Ask the waiter for the perfect wine pairing to go with your entree, you'll be impressed with the more than 200 selections they have to choose from. This place is a hit for family and date nights alike.
Recommended for Italian because: The Zuccarelli family at Zuccarelli's Italian Restaurant and Bar serve the finest Italian food in a causal setting.
Kristopher's expert tip: A less frills, Italian-to-the-bone type of joint
If you find yourself craving pizza on Palm Beach or need a place to relax after shopping on Worth Avenue, Pizza Al Fresco is the place to go. A sprawling courtyard with light-wrapped trees and an expansive menu with a twist on traditional Italian thin crust pizzas are sure to please everyone in your group. The menu also boasts great pasta and salad selections, with the lobster salad being a crowd-pleaser. Of course no Italian meal is complete without an accompanying wine or a gelato to finish the meal. Another perk of this affordable casual dining experience, well-behaved dogs are also welcome to enjoy the courtyard.
Recommended for Italian because: The brick oven pizza enjoyed in the courtyard at Pizza Al Fresco is a delicious stop right off of Worth Avenue.
Kristopher's expert tip: Can be hard to find - in a hidden Palm Beach courtyard
This elegant, second-floor venue is a welcome addition to the Worth Avenue scene. The two owners hail from Italy and bring to the menu culinary sensibilities from the northern and southern regions. Full-flavored but not overbearing, dishes place a premium on fresh ingredients and careful preparation. Steamed shellfish in chardonnay broth are tender and savory, and Cornish game hen comes with a crisp golden skin, perfectly roasted. Homemade pastas attract a loyal following for their light quality, and fresh fish retains its delicate flavor with attentive cooking. California and Italian wines add a nice layer to the meal and complement the fare beautifully. Terrific antipasti, too.
Recommended for Italian because: From the appetizers to the entrees, Trevini Ristorante on Palm Beach delivers on both quality and service.
Kristopher's expert tip: Looking to try something wild - check out the Cornish game hen
Potted green palms and wrought iron furnishing line this restaurant's cheery, yellow interior. The owner, Carlos, made this place quaint on purpose, so guests receive the hospitality and service they deserve. Chances are, Carlos himself will come by and strike up a conversation with you while you wait for your food. Patrons graze on lovely French and Italian works such as the fusilli di pollo, with grilled chicken, portabella, sun-dried tomato or trout almondine. For added pleasure, the staff will prepare dessert — bananas foster or zabaglione with berries — at your table. A $30 3-course meal is offered before 7pm. Wine list available.
Recommended for Italian because: Maison Carlos practices exceptional quality and service. The veal picatta alone is worth giving this place a visit.
Kristopher's expert tip: Try the scrumptious creme brulee with real vanilla beans and a light chocoalte mousse
Vic and Angelo's Italian dining strives to bring the New York style food and the atmosphere of Italy to South Florida. One glance at the menu and the familiar recipes of grandma's come into focus. From the appetizers and salads to the entrees, the reasonably priced food makes it impossible not try a little bit of everything. The portions are very generous, especially when ordering one of the coal oven baked pizzas. Vic and Angelo's has two locations; one in Palm Beach Gardens and the other in Delray Beach. Come check it out today to experience a taste of Italy.
Recommended for Italian because: Patrons with roots in the North will especially appreciate the New York feel of Vic & Angelo's Italian dining.
Kristopher's expert tip: Coal oven pizza is the go-to order
Located in Lake Worth, Rustico Italiano has been providing flavorful Italian fare in an elegant and authentic setting since 2000. The owner is from the Isle of Capri, and opened Rustico Italiano 15 years ago to share the classic dishes from his homeland with the people of South Florida. The restaurant is quaint and reminiscent of Italy thanks to its walls of wine and white linen draped tables. This place is perfect for a date night, as the venue is quite romantic in the evenings. One glance at a neighbor's dinner plate and it's easy to see how much attention goes into each dish; all the way from the appetizers to desserts. No matter what you're in the mood for, the Ravioli with Truffle is a must to start it off.
Recommended for Italian because: Rustico Italiano's extensive menu of authentic Italian dishes offers the taste of the Isles of Capri without having to travel further than downtown Lake Worth.
Kristopher's expert tip: Go for the raviolis
An enviable setting by City Place's courtyard fountain makes Il Bellagio a focal point of the complex. Backed up to the Harriet Himmel Gilman Theater, the restaurant features a loggia that's perfect for outdoor dining and people-watching. Tables shaded by white market umbrellas offer relief from the sun as patrons sip cold drinks and dig into the incredible Italian cuisine. Inside, the open kitchen turns out zesty pizzas from the wood-burning oven, along with veal scaloppini, grilled sirloin steak, and fresh tuna and salmon. Featured pastas include capellini with lobster and shrimp, veal tortellini, seafood linguine, and penne with spinach and pinenuts. Even a simple salad with a cold glass of wine is wonderful in this haven of relaxation.
Recommended for Italian because: Located in City Place, Il Bellagio is the perfect spot to enjoy some Italian fare in a spacious and authentic environment.
Kristopher's expert tip: Best place for Italian in City Place
Tucked away beside a charming, flower-bedecked courtyard, Renato's engages diners with its genial atmosphere and gracious surroundings. Inside, pastel tones, a white grand piano, and pink roses on tables promise gentility, and the eminently professional waitstaff attends to every need. Outside, courtyard dining is sublime, complete with the sounds of a fountain and chirping birds. The menu is completely in step with the ambience. Succulent gnocchi, mushroom pappardelle, honey-glazed salmon, rack of lamb, seared diver scallops, and sauteed veal scaloppine hint at the selection and only serve to highlight the delightful alchemy that can occur when first-rate cuisine conspires with natural beauty and service. 4 course prix-fixe: $35.
Recommended for Italian because: The courtyard at Renato's is the best place to grab lunch or dinner on Palm Beach when the mood for Italian food strikes.
Kristopher's expert tip: Outdoor dining area is rivaled by none
Golden-hued and elegant, Bice is a formidable presence on the Palm Beach dining scene. Refinements like crisp linens and fresh flowers provide indication that a meal here will be nothing less than spectacular. Northern Italian cuisine is particularly authentic, given that the restaurant was founded in Milan in 1926 (and still maintains headquarters there). Society folks frequent the place for everything from light pastas to grilled meats and seafood, reveling in impeccable presentation and service. Pasta e fagioli, a favored dish, ranks highly, along with perfectly prepared calamari and great veal cutlets. The outdoor terrace adds romantic ambiance on balmy evenings.
Recommended for Italian because: Lunch or dinner at Bice on Worth Avenue is always a great idea when the mood calls for a lively atmosphere.
Kristopher's expert tip: Italian seafood dishes here are impeccable
Subtlety and grace characterize this established restaurant, well known in the area for its attentive, unobtrusive service and impeccable cuisine. The Northern Italian menu focuses on al dente-perfect pastas, light as air and accompanied by sauces crafted of pungent cheeses, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cream and mushrooms. Just-caught seafood, especially salmon and snapper, benefit from the kitchen's skill, and veal in its variety of incarnations is impossibly tender and satisfying. Salads, crisp and refreshing, are just as you'd hope, and the French onion soup is a house classic. Luckily, desserts follow suit: Everything from zabaglione to tiramisu and fresh fruit is luscious, and there's a great selection of Italian wines and dessert wines as well.
Recommended for Italian because: Marcello's La Sirena has an extensive menu of Italian favorites - including the tiramisu - and dessert wines that are not to be missed.
Kristopher's expert tip: The place to go when looking for upscale Italian on Palm Beach