Caffe La Strada

When she took over the neighborhood café La Strada nearly 20 years ago, proprietor Lisa Ramelow threw herself into perfecting the Italian eatery's cozy family vibe. In the flag-draped dining room, old family photos bedeck the walls, and french doors open into the street so patrons can fling meatballs into the mouths of grateful passersby. Rich sauces of tomato, white wine, and lobster cream drape over pastas, chicken, fresh seafood, and wholesome vegetables atop red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. Guests can also pair cheesy slices of pizza and fresh forkfuls of antipasti with sips from a long list of carefully curated wines.