Im going out for Italian this weekend and I need some recommendations. I would like the location to stay north of downtown if possible. Thanks guys, I figured this was the best place to look.

if you're looking for a casual place, i'd recommend flip's. -M

I like Italiano's at 4801n N Lincoln and I like Bella Vista on S Western just north of 59th. I prefer the latter, but if you want to stay N of downtown, Italiano's will meet your needs. Dang fine lasagna with decent salad.
http://www.italianosokc.com

Leave town.

Leave town.

boo. hiss. -M

I can't believe no one has mentioned Rococo, Sophabella's or Vito's. All north of downtown. Rococo has two locations, one around 36th & Penn in a very unassuming little building and another in Northpark Mall. Sophabella's and Vito's are both on May Ave., somewhere between 50th and Britton.

I'll vote for Vito's . . .
(It's next door to Sean Cummings . . . and a Firestone tire store.)

I have always enjoyed Papa Dio's on North May, just South of Hefner. I have eaten there or at Papa's Little Italy (Bill Bonadio's daughter owned this) since the early eighties and have never been disappointed. I wouldn't attempt to compare it with the others mentioned, I'm sure they are all good. I have been to Flip's a couple of times and it's good.
C. T.

Papa Dio's IS very good . . .
Yet, I think that the Mushroom Ravioli at Romano's (macaroni grill)
is about as good as pasta gets.

Vito's at 7521 N. May. Cathy is the owner/manager, and she always has a smile.

Bellini's at Waterford has been in a long decline, but was recently purchased by Michel and Alain Bouthion of La Baguette. Keeping it Italian makes sense to me (another French restaurant might cannibalize sales at their existing location at 7408 N. May). Too early in the turnaround to recommend Bellini's right now.

oh... that's good news for bellini's. i hadn't heard that the la baguette folks have taken it over. -M

That is Very good news for Bellini's. I have been sitting on a gift card from there and wasn't that excited to use it. After hearing about the owner/manager changes I will be using my gift card.

I will see if I can report back and give my new opinion.

Leave town.

That's pretty funny, but somewhat true. There isn't much variety aside from level execution. It all tends to be standard Italian-American fare. Italy is almost completely surrounded by the Mediterranean, yet it's so hard to find an Italian restaurant with any variety of seafood offerings.

Anyone know where I can find a nice Cioppino? It's an Italian-American dish but it's got seafood.

Italiano's by a landslide.

That's pretty funny, but somewhat true. There isn't much variety aside from level execution. It all tends to be standard Italian-American fare. Italy is almost completely surrounded by the Mediterranean, yet it's so hard to find an Italian restaurant with any variety of seafood offerings.

Anyone know where I can find a nice Cioppino? It's an Italian-American dish but it's got seafood.

It's probably because we're so far from the ocean. If you're not near a coast and don't have a lot of money backing you (like you might have in Vegas), then your seafood options are probably going to be more limited.

One thing I didn't mention about Papa Dio's was their wine selection. I'm not into wine but I have some friends that are and they love his wine bar. They even have two separate dining areas, a family area and an area for wine lovers. No, I don't work for them but I love the JRW special. If you can handle a lot of food, that's a sampling of several of their food items. I haven't been to Italiano's but have heard good things about it.
C. T.

I like Italiano's at 4801n N Lincoln and I like Bella Vista on S Western just north of 59th. I prefer the latter, but if you want to stay N of downtown, Italiano's will meet your needs. Dang fine lasagna with decent salad.
http://www.italianosokc.com

Love this place and glad to hear it is still going...Ain't much to look at and you might only see a handful of people there for dinner but the food is pretty darn good and the owner makes a mean salad