Santangelo's has been around since 1986--a lifetime in the restaurant industry--yet when it comes to our five finalists, Santangelo's falls squarely in the middle. That's evidence not only of restaurants with great food and service, but of Italian cuisine's staying power in Central New York. Address: 673 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool. 

Dinner started with a shared 'small' antipasto salad ($12.99 small,   $16.99 large). The salad was amply topped with soppressata, salami, roasted red peppers, tuna, pepperoncini, olives, artichoke hearts, Asiago cheese and egg, with a light vinaigrette dressing. Despite the weight of the toppings, the mixed greens underneath stood strong and didn't lose their crunch.