Affordably, fabulously flavorful and eminently satisfying. Amelio's is a tried-and-true standby in the McGill area, serving up great thick-crusted pizzas and pastas. It's not a fancy spot for a romantic dinner ­ this is hearty food in a super-casual atmosphere. Understandably, students make up a large percentage of the clientele, but the place is worth checking out even if you're a PhD.

Many folks come here just for the wine, and honestly that is a fine reason. They have a wide variety of wine, with weekly by-the-glass specials that encourage repeat visits. But the food, designed to complement the wine, could stand on its own quite easily. The menu is comprised of several sections of hot and cold antipasti (think Italian-style tapas) such as caponata, brandade, crostini, grilled vegetables, walnuts and olives, carpaccio, salad Caprese, and charcuterie platters. Substantial enough to be a meal, but small enough to serve as appetizers if you're on your way to dinner somewhere else, and all decidedly delicious.

This stylish restaurant, aglow with polished woods and pale, sculptural walls, resides between the Ritz-Carlton and the Museum of Fine Art on one of Montréal's most fashionable streets. The restaurant offers fine Italian dishes, including a traditional osso buco, grilled veal, roasted duck, filet mignon, pan-seared red snapper, and marinated tuna. The pasta course includes such delights as rabbit-stuffed ravioli, wild mushroom risotto, and spinach and ricotta gnocchi. If you manage to save room for dessert (you should!), look to the iced praline parfait or white chocolate mousse for your sweet fix. An array of wines and liqueurs provides the perfect complement to each dish.

Café Via Dante never fails. The Little Italy haven has been a neighborhood favorite since it opened a few years back, but it deserves wider acclaim. Home-style pastas are sublime, but the daily specials are almost always fantastic too ­ standouts on the regular menu include rabbit and polenta, gnocchi, and pappardelle with lamb ragu. The wine list is short but sweet, and the staff is affable and helpful.

The godfather of all Italian restaurants in Montréal has been doing a brisk business for over 20 years. Once inside, the dining rooms are decorated with arches, stucco walls and a statue of Venus de Milo. Tuxedoed waiters bustle about with white napkins draped over their arms. The cuisine proves that traditional fare does not have to be boring. In Casa Napoli's cucina, the osso buco is tender, the focaccia is appropriately doused in olive oil and the fra diavolo lives up to its spicy name. Good selection of regional Italian wines priced reasonably.