buonissimo

* Buonissimo has now moved near Thapae Gate and renamed Pizza E Vino. It's just a couple of doors down from THC (the psychadelic, backpacker-magnet, rooftop bar). As for the shop (with meats, cheese, etc), it is located somewhere on Chang Klan Rd...but I am not exactly sure where the location is yet. Will keep you posted when I find it. *
Ah Buonissimo. My favourite Italian restaurant in Chiang Mai.
Located along the Ping River [on Faham Road, just before you hit the super-highway], this restaurant is conducive for both friendly and romantic dining.
An 80 baht glass of house red, the complimentary bread basket with creamy garlic spread and marinara [which lately seems on perpetual hiatus], and a 30 baht scoop of gelato to finish things off, are additional bonuses to Buonissimo's yummy appetizers and entrees.
At the entrance is a shop selling pasta, bread, cheese, olive oil, and other ingredients for Italian home-cooking, as well as a decent selection of imported wines and ready-to-eat desserts.

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notables | pesto pizza [absolutely love this]. "american" salad [sapid parmesan and savory dressing = brilliance]. onion focaccia [served in the bread basket].

mentionables | caprese. quatro fromaggi pizza. grilled vegetables [thin slices of eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, drizzled with olive oil and fresh garlic].

girasole

Girasole, in Ratchadamnon's high-traffic back-packer zone [in the middle of the Sunday walking street, next to Wawee Coffee], is not my first pick for Italian in Chiang Mai. The same owner as La Gondola Restaurant, the experience at Girasole is nothing like La Gondola - Ping River [may it rest in peace].
While the food at Girasole was not terrible, the service was atypically discourteous for Chiang Mai. The server - presumably the manager - slodged water into our glasses, hastily doled out our dishes, and remained stone-faced through every interaction, from beginning to end of the meal. The younger waitstaff were pleasant enough, perhaps trying to warm us from our server's cold demeanor.

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notable | house salad [avocado, mango, apple, orange, deep-fried mozzarella, lightly coated with a refreshing herb-yogurt dressing]

so-so | the penne all'arrabiata received good reviews, but it's a pretty basic pasta dish [in other words, hard to mess up].

not so | the service.

arcobaleno

Down a quiet soi off Kaew Nawarat Road, Arcobaleno is one of my local faves. I usually go soon after pay-day, when I'm feeling particularly [i.e. financially] stable.
This restaurant caters to Chiang Mai's "better off" folks, both local and foreign, seeking a quality Italian meal, with quality service, in air-conditioned comfort. The portions may seem small at first, but savour each bite [as opposed to gobbling it down] and by the end you will achieve pleasant satiation.

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notables | grilled vegetables with extra virgin olive oil [served with fresh pesto - delish]. tagliatelle with eggplant. gnocchi malfatti [you can select tomato or fresh cream sauce - I always go tomato].

so-so | the pizzas, although tasty, pale in comparison to the brilliant pastas.

sweet notable | homemade honey ginger ice-cream [gracenotes of frozen ginger pieces and drizzled honey add zingy sweetness]

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tel. 053.306.254