Paisans Italian Restaurant, Cary

Like all good stories, Paisans Italian Restaurant starts with a love story. Upon meeting, Lisa Cerciello and her now-husband David Ferstler united two family-oriented halves to create a whole that someday wanted to own a business together. Soon enough, David's older brother proposed the idea of the two opening up a pizzeria. So they did. They crafted pizza at numerous locations for over 20 years, then they branched out into a more upscale Italian eatery: Paisans.

The authentic Italian restaurant doles out traditional dishes with a twist in a homey environment. Such entrees include the chef's specialty spinach- and cheese-filled ravioli served in a housemade pesto sauce topped with chicken and mushrooms in a marsala reduction.