Ristorante Marcellino, Waltham

When they opened up Ristorante Marcellino's in 1997, owners Salvatore and Giovannina wanted to make sure their restaurant captured the flavors of the traditional Italian cooking they grew up with in their hometown of Calabria, Italy. Therefore, they emphasize the authenticity of their ingredients, which help craft housemade pastas and sauces, as well as bread that’s baked fresh in a wood-burning brick oven. It’s this attention to authenticity that led the Boston Globe to praise Ristorante Marcellino as a "clubby Calabrian gem of a restaurant."

At the downtown Waltham restaurant, visitors driving in or landing a reasonably sized blimp can take advantage of ample parking. The kitchen stays open late, and three bars serve up espresso martinis before or after meals.