Some nights call for a big plate of pasta, a pile of meatballs, and a red sauce that tastes like someone’s grandmother made it. Ohio has plenty of spots like that, from Cleveland’s Little Italy to a Cincinnati dining room that opened in 1912.
This list covers seven old-school Italian restaurants where checkered tablecloths, baked pastas, and veal parmigiana still rule the menu. Save it for your next road trip, date night, or family dinner, and send it to the friend who always orders the lasagna.
1. Mama Santa’s | Italian, Cleveland, OH
Checkered tablecloths still set the mood on Mayfield Road. Mama Santa’s is a family-run spot in Cleveland’s Little Italy, and it has the old-time look to prove it.
The menu sticks to the classics. Spaghetti and meatballs, manicotti, and veal parmesan are the dishes to know, and the pizza has its own loyal following…