Take the cannoli. The ravioli, too. And, maybe, the manicotti. They say the trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again. In and around the Spokane area, diners can find modern Italian cuisine made from scratch to traditional Italian-American fare with extra Parmesan and endless helpings of bread and butter. There’s everything from the elegant and contemporary to the cheesy, carby, garlicky and creamy. This is where to go when you’re craving Italian food.

Italia Trattoria
This is not a red-and-white- checked-tablecloth kind of place. Italia presents upscale modern Italian fare in a casually elegant environment. Dishes – thoughtful, satisfying but not inherently heavy – are made from scratch. Despite a concrete floor and two roll-top, garage-style doors, the space – contemporary, cozy, uncluttered – feels warm and inviting. Top-notch hospitality adds to that ambiance. Owners Anna Vogel and Bethe Bowman hold themselves to high standards. Both have worked for celebrity chef Tom Douglas in Seattle. Vogel grew up in Switzerland and worked in Sydney, New York City and Boston before becoming Douglas’ corporate chef.