Winner: Ronnie Grisanti & Sons

When you ask a Memphian to say the first word that comes to mind when they hear “Italian food,” the response is almost Pavlovian: Grisanti. And no surprise; in one way or another, the Grisanti family has been part of the Memphis restaurant scene since 1903. Ronnie Grisanti & Sons remains a reader favorite with its large wine list and traditional dishes.

With son Alex and his wife Kim now in the driver’s seat, look for a few new influences in the menu from their frequent trips to northern Italy. “Now if I do something off the wall, they’ll eat it,” says Alex, who remembers when they first introduced osso bucco to their customers, there were few takers. “I think people are getting more and more food savvy.”

2855 Poplar, 323-0077. Open Monday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

Finalists: Pete & Sam’s, Spindini