Italian Restaurants in Plano, Texas

Sure, you can find most of the big-name Italian restaurants in Plano, Texas, including Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden. But, there are also a number of privately owned eateries that offer a personal touch where traditional family recipes or trained chefs give inspiration to the menu and environment. As you return from that hike in Breckenridge Park or Lavon Lake, here are some Italian restaurants where you can taste family recipes and talk to the chef. Look closely, because these restaurants are deeply embedded in retail centers.

Compari's Italian Restaurant

Family owned since 1989, Compari's (spelled differently then the Campari liqueur) gets positive reviews from diners, many of whom return year after year. Restaurateurs would call it a "brass and glass" establishment: tablecloths, red linens, romantic and shiny. But the butcher paper on the tables and changing stations in the bathrooms communicate family friendliness. Chicken, veal and seafood are plentiful, but several vegetarian entrees are available, such as ziti, pasta primavera and capelli pomadora. Enjoy a full bar and happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Compari's Italian Restaurant
621 W Plano Pkwy #229
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 423-1234

Nicola's Ristorante Italiano

Architecture and décor are the first things you will notice as you walk in the door of Nicola's: the open, two-story dining room; the patio like a French sidewalk; and the wrought iron, wood, ceramic and leather materials--the restaurant is a visual feast before you open the menu. Pasta is made in-house daily from organic semolina flour, and the sheer number of items on the menu can leave you breathless. No wonder Nicola's has received several awards from The Dallas Observer, Zagat and OpenTable.

Nicola's Ristorante Italiano
5800 Legacy Dr.
Plano, Texas 75024
(972) 608-4455
nicolaslegacy.com/

Café Amore

After some years of operation by other management, this charming brick-style café was re-acquired by the original owners, who desire to bring back its former glory. But do not let the dimly lit, live music atmosphere fool you. Located on the far west side of Plano, the family-friendly Café Amore has a large menu with modestly priced fare. Kids will be glad to see Italian favorites like spaghetti, pizza and sandwiches, whereas adults will be interested in the numerous entrees of veal, chicken and seafood priced between $10 and $15. Zoning restrictions prohibit Café Amore from selling alcohol, but patrons are quite welcome to bring their own at no fee.

Café Amore
6505 W Park Blvd Suite #320
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 781-0310
cafeamoredfw.com

Article Written By Jeffrey Mays

Jeffrey Mays lives in Austin, Texas, where he is a freelance writer. He has a B.S. in computer science from Baylor University and a master's in divinity from Covenant Seminary. He began writing for Demand Studios in 2009 and hopes to publish his first novel in 2010.

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