BAYMEADOWS. The south side praises this shop's gelato, an old family recipe brought over from Italy.

JAX BEACH. This is innovative, continental cuisine with an Italian flourish. Named among "Florida Trend's" Top 200 restaurants for the past two years, Giovanni's features exquisite entrées, including sautéed quail with exotic mushrooms and oven-roasted Chilean sea bass. The contemporary ambience creates a sophisticated air in this fine dining establishment. Live entertainment Thu-Sat in the lounge upstairs. Business casual attire. Reservations recommended.

DOWNTOWN. This lovely little downtown spot, with its muted lighting, intimate tables covered with white linens and soft, romantic background music, is a terrific choice if you've looking to plan a romantic evening getaway. The menu focuses primarily on Northern Italian dishes, and while their veal saltimbocca comes highly recommended, it's impossible to go wrong with any of the handmade pasta selections.

SOUTHSIDE. This authentic Italian restaurant is filled with the charm of the Old World. The menu features select wines and traditional family recipes, which the kitchen serves up in huge, delicious portions. You'll find a range of Italian favorites, like spaghetti, ravioli and chicken parmesan. Don't fill up too quickly, though, or you'll miss out on dessert.

SAN JOSE. One of the area's most highly-reviewed Italian restaurants, Sorrento wins stars by delivering artfully-presented and spectacularly tasting fare in a relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired setting. Start with an appetite-whetter like bruschetta, Norwegian-smoked salmon or baked escargot before moving on to more substantial matters. Your choice for the main dish may prove a toughie: Will it be Fish Sorrento (with tomatoes and celery), linguini with red clams, or lamb chops sautéed with bell peppers and mushrooms?