Carmelina’s is a standout, sure to please the picky and make for a memorable meal. Servers dart among diners in the tight space, backed by the sounds and sights of the open kitchen — all while turning tables briskly. The menu of modern Italian comfort food features a breadth of fresh pastas, many swaddled in decadent sauces.

Why hassle with the North End when there’s Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston? This beloved and reasonably priced restaurant has you covered, with all the arancini, frutti di mare, and chicken parm your heart desires.

A meat-lover’s Italian paradiso, wedged into a quietish corner of the South End: Ken Oringer oversees a lavish, mainly-meaty menu of salumi (the beef-heart pastrami is essential), braised pig’s head, and redolent, rich pork tagliatelle. The ideal second-date destination, complete with a mellow trattoria vibe.

In Roslindale Square, look for the purple storefront with the gold stars: This is Delfino, a perfect neighborhood restaurant, always packed with regulars who know the longtime staffers by name. They swear by linguine loaded with seafood, Bolognese, and open-faced lobster ravioli, along with charmingly old-school dishes such as the Figgy Piggy, pork tenderloin with fig demi-glace, prosciutto, and garlic mashed potatoes.

Consistency, excellence, and the pasta table: These are just a few of the reasons to love chef Michael Pagliarini’s soulful, seasonal Italian restaurant near Porter Square. It’s hard to come here and not get the pappardelle with braised wild boar, but everything on the menu is worth ordering … and then there are the specials. Whatever else happens, do not fail to order one of the wonderful desserts.

A triumphant splurge in the new Raffles Boston hotel, La Padrona comes courtesy of Rialto legend Jody Adams. Ascend a striking staircase to a room that conjures a Fellini-era steakhouse, with secluded banquettes and muted lighting — lending everyone an air of mystery.

Get yourself a chef who worked at Radius and Corton, find a sweet little room with a wraparound bar and an open kitchen, and craft a menu filled with handmade pasta: You’ve got a neighborhood winner. It’s no wonder Douglass Williams’ MIDA has expanded from its original South End location to Newton and East Boston. Even simple things like the mixed green salad are done well.

On the drinks menu: homemade limoncello, pickled mango margaritas, and $5 Miller High Life. Such is Pammy’s. Always classy, never pretentious. The staff cook and serve up the best Bolognese you’ve ever had, as well as cuts of meat and fish typically reserved for Michelin-starred spots, while also wearing jeans and cracking jokes like old friends.

This stylish wine bar pays tribute to the Serene Republic of Venice with pre-meal aperitivi and cicchetti (small plates), pasta made with hand-milled flour, and other Italian delights. With a spritz in hand, enjoy artichoke crostini, tonnarelli pasta tangled with asparagus and truffles, duck with chickpea pancakes, and gelati and sorbetto in an array of enticing flavors.

The Italian restaurant Jamaica Plain had been waiting for, Tonino is tiny, busy, and delicious. Reserve in advance to eat all the carbs from chef Luke Fetbroth (Giulia, Sarma): pasta dishes such as Taleggio cappelletti, bucatini with anchovy-chile butter, and cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe, but especially the excellent, focaccia-adjacent pan pizza.