Sorrento's Restaurant & Lounge, Cincinnati

If the walls at Sorrento's Restaurant & Lounge could talk, patrons wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise. That's because the building dates back to the late 1800s, when it served as a general store and pit stop for travelers on their way to downtown Cincinnati. If that isn't enough to whet a local historian's appetite, the place was then transformed into a full-fledged steakhouse in the motion picture–enamored '40s, and it officially became Sorrento’s Restaurant & Lounge in 1964. Now, after 53 years, Sorrento's still does what it's always done best: serving up classic Italian pasta dishes and charbroiled steaks.

It's not just about the historic digs or the prime cuts of beef, though. Guests can also order anything from classic chicken parmigiana meals to meatball hoagies blanketed in provolone cheese. The vino is worth mentioning, too—the place features a variety of meal-enhancing wines, including the Australian-based aptly named Sorrento Shiraz. After meals, patrons can move to the piano bar for a live performance or a dramatic reading of the specials.