Tucked into an Addison strip mall, PaneVino Osteria is a welcome respite from the nearby glut of restaurant chains. In its unpretentious space, find excellent wines, scratch-made rigatoni in spicy pork ragu, and lobster fra diavolo over fettuccini.

No-frills Italian fare is the name of the game at this North Dallas favorite, where a plate of chicken parmigiana is priced at than less than $15. Feeling like a little splurge? Consider the langostino a fuoco, or lobster in a spicy tomato-cream sauce.

This Preston Center restaurant is sharply focused on classic Italian dishes. Don’t miss the housemade focaccia, an old-school Caesar salad made with full leaves of iceberg lettuce, spicy gemelli, and crispy eggplant parm.

Part of Dallas’s dining landscape since 1985, Terilli’s was forced to relocate from its original home after a devastating 2010 fire. The restaurant rose from the ashes in 2012, and has since served its classic Caesar salad and shrimp scampi to hordes of adoring diners.

The first restaurant of chef Julian Barsotti’s dining empire, Nonna has served some of Highland Park’s finest Italian fare since 2006. Stunning entrees like white clam pizza, tortellini di ricotta, and Gulf red snapper with roasted squash, chickpeas, and salsa verde.

Mario Carbone spent years trying to open an outpost in Dallas. Now that he has, it’s the reservation everyone is fighting to get, thanks to a high profile opening. When you do get in, and you will, all the classic red sauce options are available but there are some adventurous options also. Try the trio of prosciutto with freshly-made mozzarella, the ink squid ravioli with lobster both inside the pasta and in the sauce, and save room for the lemony cheesecake.

The Charles impresses diners with its modern, Italian-influenced dishes such as grilled halibut, ricotta gnudi with hazelnuts and brown butter honey, and a lush fennel-crusted pork blade chop.

Tim Love’s venture into fine Italian dining in Fort Worth caused quite a stir with it’s no-cell phone policy. Evoking New York’s Little Italy, it offers Lobster ‘Alison,’ veal chop with parmesan, and branzino — all the classics.

This downtown gem in the Joule hotel leans towards left of center, with plates of lobster spaghetti and duck bolognese alongside ribeyes and beef short ribs, plus pizzas galore. The wine list is long and impressive, even in the by-the-glass offerings.

Chef David Uygur’s Bishop Arts restaurant has earned a loyal following of devoted diners since opening in 2010. It remains one of the city’s hardest tables to score, thanks to pitch-perfect charcuterie and more rustic Italian fare — and a terrifically intimate dining room. The menu changes frequently, and seeking guidance from the staff is recommended.

Open in Fort Worth since 1982, Aventino’s is a local legend. Make the drive to Cowtown for Italian fare that’s comforting without being heavy, such as foccacia mozzarella, shrimp scampi, and veal Florentine.