The great American Italian restaurant has changed in style probably more than any other genre of restaurant over the past several decades.
Even as recently as 50 years ago, the term "Italian restaurant" conjured images of red and white checkered tablecloths, carafes of middling chianti, and a red sauce-heavy menu with classics like chicken Parmigiana that were more Italian-American than authentic Italian.
Source: http://www.thedailymeal.com