Why You Should Go: While Italy has given us works of art from masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello, the Italian masterpieces we most appreciate come in culinary form. Honor the culinary art of your favorite Mediterranean country by dining at Pepper's Italian Restaurant, a cozy Italian joint in Lakewood.

Why You’ll Love It: The warm, cozy vibe and homemade cooking at this Lakewood restaurant make you feel like you’re part of the family. Each dish is delicately seasoned to bring out the distinct flavors of Italian cooking and while everyone has their favorites, the concord grape pie is not to be missed.

What to Eat: Start with classic appetizers like zucchini sticks or garlic bread with homemade tomato sauce. For the main event, order dishes Nonna would approve of, like chicken Marsala, veal parmesan, baked manicotti, and of course, Pepper’s Signature Lasagna. You can even end with something sweet like tiramisu, cannoli’s, or spumoni.