• A calzone is an Italian turnover filled with meat or cheese.calzone image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
  
  Not to be overshadowed by the respective dining scenes in other Hampton Roads metropolitan area cities, Portsmouth restaurants feature wide-ranging Italian dining experiences. While casual dining eateries are known to serve pizza, calzones and other Italian American cuisine favorites, Portsmouth also features some upscale Italian eateries that create contemporary versions of traditional Italian dishes.
  
  

Amore Casual Italian

• Amore Casual Italian is a casual dining family restaurant in Portsmouth's Old Towne neighborhood. Voted among the best restaurants in Virginia's metropolitan Hampton Roads area by The Virginia Pilot, Amore serves a variety of traditional Italian dishes as well as some contemporary favorites. Pizza bread, toasted ravioli and blackened shrimp are available as appetizers, in addition to salad and soup selections. Entrée selections include such traditional Italian cuisine favorites as chicken parmesan, fettuccini alfredo and ravioli florentine. Amore's pizza selections include the classic margherita, as well as some American-influenced Hawaiian pizza and meat pizzas.
  
  Amore Casual Italian
  
  606 High St.
  
  Portsmouth, VA 23704
  
  757-337-8382
  
  amorecasualitalian.com
  
  

Café Europa

• Since first opening to the public in 1986, Portsmouth's Café Europe has been lauded by the likes of Hampton Roads Magazine for its French, Mediterranean and Italian cuisine selections. Mozzarella in crust, polenta with mushrooms and Gorgonzola are examples of the eatery's appetizer selections that are inspired by Italian culinary traditions. Café Europa's Italian dinner entrees include lobster ravioli, scallops rovencale with fettuccinne and chicken pomadori alla vodka, in addition to other main course offerings at the restaurant that reflect French and Mediterranean culinary heritages. Dinner can be paired with pinot noir, merlot, chardonnay or any of the other red and white wines featured on the restaurant's wine list.
  
  Café Europa
  
  319 High St.
  
  Portsmouth, VA 23704
  
  757-399-6652
  
  thecafeeuropa.com
  
  

Ray's Pizza and Pasta

• Since 1993, Ray's Pizza and Pasta has served New York style Italian pizza and cuisine in Portsmouth. From homemade specialties like baked ziti and manicotti to such pasta entrees as chicken alfredo and cheese ravioli, Ray's menu features a range of Italian American favorites. Pizza, however, is the hallmark of the Hampton Roads eatery's menu. Patrons can choose among such toppings as ham, hot peppers and mushrooms, or the more usual pepperoni and anchovies. Ray's also serves several specialty pizzas. The Kitchen Sink is a pie that includes every topping, save anchovies, pineapple, hot peppers and a few others.
  
  Ray's Pizza and Pasta
  
  1915 Victory Blvd.
  
  Portsmouth, VA 23702
  
  757-487-6675
  
  rayspizzapasta.com