Chattanooga's Italian restaurants are not just places to get pizza and pasta -- though, of course, you can. But you can also find lasagna, cappelini, fusilli and brazato.
Alleia
25 E. Main St.
305-6990
Selection of pasta and pizza dishes along with elegant main-course entrees. Open evenings. $$
Biba's
5918 Hixson Pike
843-0001
Featuring pasta, pizza and seafood specialties, with daily lunch specials and full bar. $$
Boccaccia
3077 Broad St.
266-2930
Restaurant in former Southern Saddlery building offers interesting and innovative twists on Italian fare. Free pasta and dessert on your birthday. Open evenings. $$$
Cafe Roma
220 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, Tenn.
339-1488
Gourmet pasta dishes are prepared under the direction of co-owner/chef Shannon Ritzhaupt, who trained under Italian chef Tony Race, of Naples. Open for lunch and dinner. Nice wine list. $$
Carrabba's Italian Grill
2040 Hamilton Place Blvd.
894-9970
Wow your taste buds with inventive culinary creations from recipes passed down through four generations. Dinner only during the week, lunch and dinner on weekends. $$
Chianti Ristorante Italiano and Pizzeria
8968 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
332-4950
Made-from-scratch pasta forms the basis of generous-portion dishes. Homemade, topping-rich pizzas on crackerlike crusts are a house favorite. $
Community Pie
850 Market St.
486-1743
Located at Miller Plaza, the restaurant makes its pies Neapolitan style as they do in Naples. Only "00" flour and San Marzano tomatoes are used. The pies are cooked quickly in wood-fired ovens at 900 degrees.
Crust
100 Signal Mountain Road, 710-3780; 3211 Broad St., 756-4040; and Sewanee, Tenn., 931-598-9880
Pizzas are known for their super-thin crusts and original names, such as Shazam and Gigantor. Pasta and big salads also on the menu. $
Fat Daddy's Pizza
5084 South Terrace
468-6800
New York-style pizzas are crafted with house-made dough and sauces, made to order or one of 18 specialties. Wings, subs and salads are other options. Gluten-free pizzas available. $$
Fazoli's
2332 Shallowford Village Drive, 499-5155; 2016 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe, 706-861-7989; and 4550 N. Lee Highway, Cleveland, 423-339-2822
This "fast, fresh, Italian" chain features a menu of pastas, pizzas, salads, subs and sampler platters. Families will like the award-winning kids menu and weekly kids night activities. $
Flavors of Italy
10330 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
451-7298
Chef Giuseppe Iannuzzi, born in Salerno, Italy, serves up authentic recipes in generous portions inside this cottage-style restaurant. Multiple menu options plus daily specials for lunch and dinner. $$
Gondolier Italian Restaurant and Pizza
200 Able Drive, Dayton, Tenn.
428-9200
Huge menu offers large portions of appetizers, salads, pastas, chicken dinners, seafood plate, sandwiches, burgers and customizable pizza, spaghetti and rigatoni. $
Hill City Pizza
12 Frazier Ave., 702-5451, and 808 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, 710-2149
Pizzas and sandwiches are served for lunch and dinner, with delivery available. Pool tables, dart boards and TVs add to the entertainment options. North Shore location is open into the wee hours. $
Lupi's Pizza Pies
5506 Hixson Pike, 847-3700; 1414 Jenkins Road, 855-4104; 406 Broad St., Suite A, 266-5874.
Full menu of pies, calzones and pastas with gluten-free options. Catering and take-and-bake also available. $
Marco's Italian Bistro
417 Frazier Ave.
710-2568
Handmade Italian cuisine is served in various chef's specialties each evening. Martini Lounge is open late. $$
Mellow Mushroom
205 Broad St., 266-5564; 2318 Lifestyle Way, 468-3737
Eclectic collection of pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads and other munchies, plus wide selection of beer, in atmosphere of arts and music. $
Mom's Italian
1257 Market St.
266-2204
From the basket of garlic bread to the manicotti or lasagna, Chattanoogans have been making Mom's a regular visit for decades. $
New York Pizza Department
5731 Highway 153
531-8830
NYPD has become a local favorite since opening a year ago with its huge slices that come in New York style -- fold it over and eat it -- outdoor dining and vegan friendly choices. $
Nino's Pastaria
720 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain
886-1900
Chef Nino Piccolo, born and raised in Sicily, creates bold, flavorful pizza and pasta dishes that stay true to his cultural traditions. Open for lunch and dinner. $$
Olive Garden
2200 Hamilton Place Blvd., 899-7707; 5525 Highway 153 877-7704; 4499 Keith St. NW, Cleveland, 423-339-3330
Frequent new additions keep the Americanized Italian experience solid. And there's always the bottomless salad bowl and garlic breadsticks. $$
Portofino
6407 Ringgold Road, East Ridge
499-9696
Greek and Italian specialties, ranging from lamb chops and stuffed grape leaves to baked lasagna and manicotti. Pizza bar with pizza, soup and salad served for lunch seven days a week, weekday evenings and all day Sunday. Wine list includes Greek selections. $
Provino's Italian Restaurant
5084 South Terrace Plaza
899-2559
Complete menu of Italian favorites, served with signature garlic rolls and bottomless salad. Nice wine list. Free pasta dinner on your birthday with ID. $
Rafael's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
3877 Hixson Pike, Hixson, 508-8561; 9607 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, 332-4559; and 5032 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, Ooltewah, 396-2333
Select two-for-one specialty pizzas in four sizes or build your own from 16 toppings. Or pick from dozens of sandwich and dinner selections. $
Romano's Macaroni Grill
2271 Gunbarrel Road
894-2221
Italian extravaganza, with herb bread, stuffed pastas, veal, chicken and seafood. Open for lunch and dinner. $$
Tony's Pasta Shop & Trattoria
212 High St.
265-5033
Italian eatery in Bluff View Art District features handmade pastas, made-from-scratch sauces and fresh breads. Wine list is exclusively Italian. Gluten-safe menu available. Open for lunch and dinner. $$
University Pizza & Deli
422 Vine St.
756-8700
In addition to Middle Eastern fare, University, on the edge of the UTC campus, offers tasty pizza pies and Italian dishes. $