It’s rare to find a restaurant in Fairfield County that delivers on the essential trifecta of food, service, and atmosphere, but Casa Me in Westport does just that. This buzzy spot transports its diners straight to an Italian vacation with playful cocktails, sexy interiors, and a menu created by an Italian chef who knows how to cook his way from Milan down to Sicily. The homemade pastas are great (you’ll need at least two on your table), the well-seasoned chicken milanese has no hint of sogginess, and the towering green salad will make you feel like you’re celebrity-spotting at Via Carota. If you don’t snag a reservation in advance, they can almost always squeeze you in at the central communal tables, which are the best vantage point to observe the local moms on their nights out, Negronis in one hand and Chanel bags in the other.