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Italian eateries are a beloved part of the local dining scene. The variety offered at these restaurants makes it possible to please most diners, including vegetarians and vegans (think soups like minestrone and composed salads). Pasta dishes are usually hearty enough to satisfy meat-eaters, too.

While you can eat at an Italian restaurant any time of year, the fall is a perfect time to check out these eateries for their seasonal dishes. The fall menus at these restaurants may include dishes like roasted pumpkin and butternut squash, braised pork cheeks, and spaghetti alla carbonara with squid ink.

The menu at Fausto in Williamsburg changes frequently, based on what’s in season at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket. But some dishes, like the ricotta-filled agnolotti and the grilled bone-in pork chop with garlic scapes, are consistent favorites.

If you want to know if an Italian restaurant is worth the trip, look for authenticity. Authenticity is determined by ingredients and the traditions of each region. You’ll know if you’re in the right place when you order pasta with guanciale, zucchini blossoms stuffed with mozzarella, and pasta con sarde.

Gargiulo’s has been a Park Slope staple since 1998, both for Anna Klinger’s Northern Italian pastas and its cozy space. But the real draw is its seafood, including fish salad and linguine with white clam sauce, as well as octopus confit and calf liver “alla veneziana.”