In 2024, DC got a slew of thrilling, genre-busting restaurants, from Dōgon to Pascual to La' Shukran to Moon Rabbit. This past year was different: more safe, less boundary-pushing. Major openings included copies and spinoffs of existing restaurants (Chai Pani, Lucky Danger) and Stephen Starr's revamp of the century-old Occidental. And 2025 closed out with two flashy new steak spots from big restaurant groups. Not exactly groundbreaking.
Often called 'nonna-stalgia,' this cozy trend encourages diners to step out of their fast-paced lives for old-fashioned, slow-cooked family recipes made with simple ingredients - often served on charmingly mismatched dinnerware in warm settings that remind them of simpler times,
Recently, Beretta had a makeover; both the interior and its menu got spiffed up, and the changes are notable. From dark wood and leather to bright gold tones with cherry accents, huge, abstract murals, mod red wire-framed lamps, Beretta has a fresh, modern vibe that manages to feel welcoming to all ages, in no small part due to its staff.
Typically made from cow's milk, it's produced by heating whey - a common byproduct of other cheesemaking processes. Hence, the word "ricotta" translates to "recooked" in English. When the whey is heated and acidified, it forms the soft, fine curds that are so characteristic of ricotta, resulting in a delicate, airy cheese that's creamy yet relatively low in fat. You can even make your own ricotta at home by curdling boiled milk with lemon juice and then straining the mixture through a cheesecloth.
In the United States, geography and location have a lot to do with the shape of local culture, like accents, architecture, and especially food. Costal environments like the Pacific Northwest and New England tend to lean heavily in to their abundance of oysters, crab, and lobster, while in landlocked areas like Colorado and Kansas, you're more likely to see meat-based cuisine focused on beef and even bison and elk. Knowing how much local foods are shaped by the proximity of ingredients, it's a surprise that some Americans don't translate this idea to other countries, especially ones famous for their cuisine.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When it comes to blurring the line between food and art, few cuisines achieve that quite like Italian. A seemingly endless variety of pastas and sauces combine to create plates that are like a hug passed through the generations, and there's no denying that the worst day can be made a little bit better with a hearty Italian meal.
No longer is the preferred ski resort chosen based on the perfect piste - destinations are chosen based on crowd, accommodations, shopping opportunities, and, more and more often, restaurants. Throwing its hat into Aspen's hospitality ring is beloved NYC spot Marea, which is opening at the St Regis Aspen Resort on December 22. Marea at The Snow Lodge marks the restaurant's third outpost, following on from the successes of Marea Beverly Hills in 2024 and the launch of the first-ever Marea just off Central Park back in 2009.
For 35 years, Palio has been a fixture in San Francisco's Financial District, an Italian restaurant built on family legacy, craft, and the deep-rooted belief that dining is about far more than food. Owner Martino DiGrande, son of an immigrant Italian restaurateur, says he was raised with hospitality in his DNA. As he puts it, "when someone walks in the restaurant, I view it like they're walking into my home."
When Alleva Dairy, the oldest cheese shop in the U.S., was forced to close its Little Italy location after 130 years, New Yorkers were outraged. The legendary shop had all but defined its corner of Mulberry and Grand Streets, and its loss was mourned both in person and online, with many frustrated by the financial struggles and court battles the business had faced.
If you've only ever wanted to eat at Italian restaurants, make pasta almost every day for dinner, and entertain Italian vacations regardless of season, much to the chagrin of your over-saturated friends and family, then you're about to feel extremely vindicated: Italian cooking has been officially recognized an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 10, during the cultural organization's assembly in Delhi.
The historic, narrow streets are lined with local and family-owned businesses. You'll find pizza and pasta places aplenty, plus Italian regional specialities on many menus, and scores of traditional Italian desserts, too. There are multiple food tours here in the North End, and both tourists and locals line the sidewalks to get into must-try spots. However, most people don't mind waiting around because the area is incredibly charming.
Ziggy's Roman Cafe debuted on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at 15 Main St. in the heart of DUMBO, Brooklyn offering high-quality Italian cuisine and an elevated ambiance designated for any day of the week. Founders Helen Zhang, a former restaurant publicist with 15 years of experience in hospitality public relations, and Igor Hadzismajovic, co-founder of Employees Only cocktail bar, envisioned a local restaurant where children are welcome to enjoy a meal during the day and adults can meet friends for drinks in the evening.
In the heart of Sun Valley, the glow of a seven-foot hearth sets the tone at Fiamma, where chefs Britt Rescigno and Kinsey Leodler-Rescigno turn seasonal ingredients into Italian dishes defined by fire, craft, and a deep sense of place. Fresh produce and locally sourced proteins take on new richness and complexity over the open flames, revealing a depth of flavor only live fire can achieve.
This white table cloth restaurant is a beat off Broadway and shines Patsy's good name in bright, neon lights at 236 W 56th Street in Manhattan. In the eternity of its history, the Scognamillo family has continued to dish out Patsy's classic dishes, carried on from son Joe, and now grandson Sal, who not only serves up delicious plates filled with pasta, seafood and meat, but also a bright smile to his customers, making them feel as if they are a part of his family.
All national cuisines have history, but few wear their age as proudly as Italian food. The heritage, passed-down recipes, and restaurants run by multiple generations of the same family is a large part of what makes Italian cuisine so appealing: Eating food that's been made the same way for decades, if not centuries, feels like you're taking part in tradition.
Smooth, silky, with just the right touch of sweetness, the creamy Italian favorite has long been a staple on European menus. As with most food origin stories, there's some debate about its history; the first mention of it in print can be traced all the way back to 1879, when a dictionary first referred to it as "latte inglese," or English milk. Though it wasn't originally called panna cotta, the recipe was the same: Cream, sugar, and gelatin.
First things first. Fans of the ebullient Donato Scotti, chef-owner of Donato Enoteca, need not worry that his presence will be missing from the Redwood City restaurant after a 16th anniversary refresh. In restaurant parlance, he has simply moved from the back of the house to the front of the house, where the loquacious host can make the rounds and greet and chat with diners.