Baia is a vegan Italian restaurant in Hayes Valley with very solid meatballs and even better cocktails.

Marcella’s Lasagneria in the Dogpatch serves excellent lasagnas with ultra-thin pasta, creamy béchamel, and tomato sauce.

The Mission takeout spot serves DIY pasta kits to make at home.

Seven Hills is an Italian neighborhood spot between Nob and Russian Hills that makes good pasta, but everything else is hit-or-miss.

Perbacco is an Italian restaurant in the Financial District that’s perfect for impressing clients from out of town.

Sotto Mare is a classic Italian seafood spot in the middle of North Beach.

This East Bay institution has been making excellent Chicago-style deep-dish pizza since 1983.

If you’re in Mission Bay, Casey’s Pizza is a great neighborhood spot for pizza and a beer.

Head to Vinorosso, a small Italian wine bar in Bernal Heights, for great wine and small plates.

Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack in Bernal Heights does amazing old-school Italian in a space that feels like a 1990s time capsule.

Vega Pizzeria is a Bernal Heights Italian restaurant serving cheesy baked rigatoni and rich gnocchi boscaiola in an intimate space.

Long Bridge Pizza Co. is a neighborhood restaurant in the Dogpatch that makes great sourdough pizza.

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville is like a theme park in the middle of a museum, and it's a great place to spend an afternoon exploring.

Mama in Oakland’s Adams Point does a great three-course prix fixe Italian dinner that changes weekly.

Flour + Water Pizzeria in the Mission will make you happier than your childhood pizza party.

Che Fico Alimentari in Nopa is a lot smaller and darker than its older sibling restaurant upstairs, but the Italian food is just as good.