And while I do love the food in Bologna and Emilia Romagna - considered, even among many Italians, to be some of the best food in Italy - my heart (and stomach) literally belongs in the south since its my ancestral home.
Here are some of the best restaurants and my favorite places to eat from Naples to Amalfi and including the island of Capri.
At all of these restaurants, I didn't just enjoy good food, I had dining experiences which involved a combination of the following:
* Pleasant Interaction with Waitstaff and Chefs - all of these places were genuinely interested in engaging with you (but didn't go too far), explained history of the dish, restaurant, or chef, and appeared to enjoy the service.
Bar Caffe Gambrinus - Just off the famous Piazza del Plebiscito, the historic Caffe Gambrinus had the best coffee drinks of our trip!