Canale's Italian Cuisine, Oswego

The menu at Canale's Italian Cuisine—a family-owned restaurant more than 60 years old—reads like a well-loved scrapbook. Its notes describe the food and its history: "Homemade gnocchi prepared with Ma Canale's recipe from Morolo, Italy," or "Anna's [tomato sauce] recipe, prepared exactly as she taught us back in 1954." Given these personal touches, it's no surprise that the menu has a Family Favorites section that spotlights classic entrees. These include homemade fettuccine, rigatoni with shrimp, and of course, spaghetti with meatballs or Italian sausage ("Canale's most popular dish").

For meals at home, the kitchen prepares "parties to go"—packages of pizza or chicken wings. You can also find Canale's sauces, dressings, and frozen dinners at dozens of grocery and misguided shoe stores in the area.