I love me some Buca di Beppo as well. Best calimari I've had there, although I must say pricing has gotten quite outrageous.
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:-) but there recent jump in stock price was even better :-)
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Garozzo's Ristorante four locations in the KC area..

http://www.garozzos.com/
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http://www.palermorestaurant.net/

Great neighborhood restaurant, been coming here for over 30 years.

Best. Pizza. Ever.
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Most of my favorites have closed down due to old age of the owners but Monjunis is really good Louisiana Style Italian (Heavy Red Sauce) very informal and reasonable priced. Fabulous Lasagne! Locations in Shreveport (original), Baton Rouge, Monroe and others in Louisiana.:-)


http://monjunis.com/
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I will give this one a try on my next KC trip.:-)
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If you love Italian restaurants and are ever in St. Louis, you should go to "The Hill." It's an Italian neighborhood with scores of excellent Italian restaurants. It would be hard to pick a favorite but I really like a place called Favazza's. I think I could live on their salads, toasted herb bread and tortolini in cream sauce.

In addition to traditional dishes, you will find a more unique St. Louis creation, toasted ravioli ... usually a beef filled ravioli toasted to a golden brown, sprinkled with cheese and served as an appitizer with a marinara sauce ... delicious.
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I really like Maggianos and Italian Village was pretty good (only have been there once though). But my favorite in the Chicago area is Franchesca's

http://www.miafrancesca.com
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A little hole in the wall restaurant my friend and I stumbled into in Rome several years ago. Our waiter barely spoke English but the food was AMAZING! :-)
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Used to be a place in Elmwood Park called Biancalana's. Is it still there?
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If you are a pasta fan, one place to check out in NYC, especially if going to see a show is becco. They do an absolutely amazing pre fix menu specifically catering to theater goers.

Also Babo (if you can get reservations) is pretty solid. I would seriously avoid little italy (the manhattan version) its overpriced and you get olive garden quality food. Little Italy in the Bronx however is pretty awesome and a great place to spend an afternoon (few good smoke shops, with custom rollers up there)

Rao's is solid, and so is carmines, but those are always packed.
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Used to be my favorite place nearby. It's about 10 minutes away, but it seems to have gone a bit downhill the last time I was there. My current local favorite is Amalfi in Bethesda, MD
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In Boston, Via Matta has all the bases covered for Italian food and is one of the best restaurants in general. Great scene and QPR.

http://www.viamattarestaurant.com
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In the little food court/ mall on Arthur Ave? I love the Calabria Pork Store; a must visit!

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Although I'm in the Houston area now, I grew up in Chicago and have been to Italian Village several times. Great place.
Myy favorite was a place on the Northwest side called El Centros. As indicated, it's at the corner of Elston and Central. Don't know if it's still there or not.
Also, if you get to Jackson, WY, a great little place to try is Anthony's.
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Thats it...

They did move the cigar roller out of the market, last time I was there. I live so close I should go more often, but its always fun to get over there a couple times a year.
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Donatello is the deal. Glad to see another out-of-towner singing their praises. Anyone we've ever taken there has absolutely loved it. :-)
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My favorite is the Trattoria del Vapore in Cernobbio, Italy. It's on Lake Como along the Swiss border. (Wow that sounds snobby.) My dad did business with the owners son and I was lucky enough to travel with him a few times.

I also like Cassarino's and Angelo's Civita Farnese Restaurant both on Federal Hill in Providence, RI.:-)
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Pizz De Oro in Costa Mesa, Ca. very nice mom & pop spot...
Sundays all you can eat Lasagna

http://www.ocweekly.com/locations/pizza-d-oro-207225/

http://www.eatatpizzadoro.com/
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hmm, small restaurant overlooking the Medit. Sea, perched high on a cliff in the town of Riomaggiore Italy....part of the Cinque Terra chain.

One huge meatball in the middle of a monstrous plate...with mussels, clams, capellini, and some amazing white sauce. Table red wine had a better taste than 10-30$ bottles here. 2 guys, 11 girls.
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