Café Amore

You'll walk past this Nelson Street spot a dozen times before realizing it's exactly what you've been craving. The kind of Italian place that focuses on getting the fundamentals absolutely right rather than chasing trends or Instagram moments. The pasta arrives properly al dente, the coffee actually tastes like it came from Italy, and the portions are generous enough to justify the incredibly reasonable prices. The dining room feels like stepping into someone's Italian nonna's front room – slightly cramped, wonderfully warm, and filled with the sort of animated conversation that happens when people are genuinely enjoying their food. Staff treat you like a regular from the first visit, and the menu sticks to what works rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.