Scarantino's Italian Inn

A meal at Scarantino’s is wholesome. The dining room is lined with faded wood paneling, gingham curtains cover the front windows, and everywhere you look are those corny Italian statuettes you buy at Home Goods. And guess what? We love it. Admittedly, the food isn’t memorable—save for the inexplicably fantastic minestrone soup, which is also complimentary—but if you’re expecting al dente tortellini en brodo at this Glendale institution, you’ve lost the plot. Expect lasagna slices the size of a car battery, creamy spumoni, and the owner saying “it was great to see you again” on the way out, even if it's your first time.