SAN ANTONIO. No time to jet to Italy? Get the next best thing at Aldino, where Roman-style architecture and authentic Italian food are sure to please. Wall murals and a lovely patio add to the charming ambiance. Try pappardelli pasta with sausage, red peppers, and goat cheese, and then satisfy your sweet tooth with a decadent helping of tiramisu. Chicken, beef, and seafood are the focus of other main courses. The comprehensive wine list features a "cutting edge" section.

DOWNTOWN. Guests at the Marriott Plaza San Antonio are fortunate ­ they don't even have to leave the premises to sample Anaqua Room's Southwestern take on contemporary American fare. Stand-out dishes include crab meat pancakes with fava beans and blackened salmon with blue corn-fried oysters. Views of historic cottages and a garden make the dining room an enticing space. Anaqua also offers a decent wine list, and a slightly more hectic hotel bar is adjacent. Easy access to the courtyard demands a romantic after-dinner stroll.

SAN ANTONIO. Annie's offers an immense variety of desserts, and each one is just as delicious as the last. The quiet ambience allows for a relaxed repast, just as you'd hope to have while enjoying a mouthwatering sweet. Although Annie's is best known for scrumptious desserts like sawdust pie and carrot cake, patrons can treat themselves to sandwiches and soups at lunch.

NORTHWEST. Like many other upscale Hill Country restaurants, Bolo's attempts to balance a bit of European flair with a lot of straightforward Texas flavor. According to locals, the endeavor is a success. Take in sepia-toned cowboy photographs that line the walls as you sample Long Island duck with wild rice or bourbon-laced venison. A daily breakfast buffet and a made-to-order pasta bar at lunch are also available.

ALAMO HEIGHTS. Simple, honest, made-from-scratch food is a recipe for success at Cappy's. Within an unpretentious brick building, the restaurant turns out dishes like Italian chicken with porcini mushrooms and Cappy's mother's chocolate cake ­ everything from steaks to seafood is fresh and consistent. Examine works by local artists in the airy, high-ceilinged space, or dine on the shady patio.