Dallas’ Kid-Friendly Pizza and Pasta Favorite Heads North

Upon first glance, the interior of the new 6,500-square-foot North Italia restaurant at the new Legacy West mixed-use development in Plano calls to mind a modern indoor garden, with an abundance of greenery, fresh flowers, copper salt and pepper shakers, glass pendant lights, and a sleek wooden bar and tables.

Its entire menu — which fully embraces the flavors and spirit of Italy — complements the restaurant’s vibe perfectly. Made from scratch every day, there is a robust selection of handmade pizzas (The Pig features spicy pepperoni, soppressata, and Italian sausage) and pastas (the Squid Ink Mafaldine comes with white shrimp, calamari, acqua pazza, mint, fennel pollen, and Calabrian chili).

PC Tip: If you only try one appetizer, make it the melt-in-your-mouth white truffle garlic bread. Isn’t everything better with truffle?

There’s also a tasty kids menu for little ones, plus an extensive cocktail, wine, and beer list. The Last Great Wine Thief has plymouth gin, hopped grapefruit bitters, sauvignon blanc, and clover honey; or, try the Strawberry Spice Mule, with Dripping Springs vodka, clove-spiced gran gala, lime, and smashed strawberry.

North Italia is a restaurant from Fox Restaurant Concepts, which also owns True Food Kitchen and Flower Child. (True Food has its second Dallas area location adjacent to North Italia at Legacy West.)

“Plano is such a great city, with its mix of local families who enjoy great food, and the growing business community,” says Sam Fox, owner of Fox Restaurant Concepts. “It’s exciting to bring North Italia to the area as a neighborhood spot for families and friends to gather. We are in such good company at Legacy West.”

North Italia is open seven days a week, offering lunch and dinner daily, brunch on the weekends, and happy hour Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 pm. On Sundays, indulge in half-priced bottles of wine all day.

North Italia, 501 Windrose Ave., 214.291.6996.