SAN ANTONIO. No time to jet to Italy? Get the next best thing at Aldino, where Roman-style architecture and authentic Italian food are sure to please. Wall murals and a lovely patio add to the charming ambiance. Try pappardelli pasta with sausage, red peppers, and goat cheese, and then satisfy your sweet tooth with a decadent helping of tiramisu. Chicken, beef, and seafood are the focus of other main courses. The comprehensive wine list features a "cutting edge" section.

NORTHWEST. Fine service and consistently satisfying Italian food are what make Aldo's a popular choice for locals, business travelers, and tourists. Dishes like veal Marsala or pesto-laced and crab-laden Snapper di Aldo are well-presented and delicious. Enjoy a glass of top-quality Italian or Californian wine as you dine on the patio beneath stately trees, if the weather allows.

SAN ANTONIO. This warm, intimate spot offers an unusual variety of French- and Mediterranean-influenced small plates, as well as a few entree-sized dishes. Choose from hot, cold, and wood-fired <i>meze</i>, and bring a few friends to share with. While the menu changes frequently, past favorites have included veal meatballs in vanilla-cinnamon sauce, jumbo shrimp cocktail with spicy horseradish sauce, and a wood-fired, four-cheese pizza with almond pesto and shaved red onions. An attractive patio takes advantage of the bustling atmosphere of Artisans Alley.

OLMOS PARK. From its whimsical name (which means "goodbye, laundromat" and alludes to the building's former occupant) to its wallet- and customer-friendly three-tiered menu, Ciao Lavanderia provides an innovative experience. You can, for example, enjoy shrimp saute al limone for $6. Then, gnocchi napolitan beckons from the menu's $12 section, as does penne with pancetta and peas. For $16, you can splurge on mushroom and quail risotto. Owner Damian Watel brings the success he cultivated at Bistro Vatel to this fresh Italian eatery just a few storefronts down.

KING WILLIAM DISTRICT. After gallery-gazing at the nearby Blue Star Arts Complex, enjoy a low-key Italian meal at La Focaccia. The trendy establishment attracts a hip, younger crowd, and calamari and beef carpaccio are typical fare. In addition, a solid mix of seafood, steaks and pastas, along with a respectable wine list, has made the eatery a regular destination in the neighborhood. Live piano music is a weekend perk.