Gio Fabulous, Ellenton

It's hard to say what's more impressive at Gio Fabulous—the decor or the lengths the owners go to to keep their family recipes secret.

In the earth-toned dining room, guests dine at tables and gaze out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at lush palm trees, which are particularly beautiful at twilight, when they're back-dropped by a deep blue sky. Thick red-and-gold drapes hung between the restaurant's various sections offer a sense of privacy but remain far enough apart that the space seems open and airy. Beyond the drapes and set against brick walls, large paintings with bold colors depict classic Italian scenes, such as pasta twirled on a fork.

One thing is—pizza dough. Which is made fresh on a daily basis. Using the freshest ingredients available that day.