Sassetta

Few date-night destinations in Dallas can match Sassetta’s combination of charm, affordability, style and deliciousness. Start with an Aperol spritz or a glass of prosecco, then dig into a chopped salad and some of the excellent pastas, many of them with strong accents of lemon or garlic. The pizzas are irresistible and perfectly sized for two people, although surprisingly few of them come with red sauces or red meats. Pair it all with a bottle off the all-Italian wine list.

Top pick: The pasta carbonara here is made with not-often-seen mafaldine noodles, with wavy edges that catch all of the sauce and finely diced pork jowl.

The downside: We’ve had some fairly overdressed salads here and overly complicated raw meat preparations, although some of the offenders are now off the menu.

Fun fact: That big, heavy coral-orange pillar outside is the front door. If you don’t want to open it, phone your to-go order in early and pick your food up at the stand to the right.