"One of the rare spots in town where Portlanders can hear the lilt of Italian spoken at tables around them, Piazza Italia transports in the most magical way. With football jerseys hanging from the ceiling, Piazza Italia is casual enough to wander in on a whim for a game played on the restaurant’s many TVs; still, its vast wine offerings and heaping plates of pasta make it an impressive choice for first dates. Pappardelle is the one pasta made in house, and while it’s only featured in one dish, the wild boar ragu, it can (and should) be subbed out on any other pasta entree for a small charge." - Thom Hilton