Ratchadamnoen Rd., near Thapae Gate Open daily 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tel. 053-278 973, 089- 261 1364.

Although pizzerias and other Italian restaurants are not hard to come by in Chiang Mai, they are, like any other businesses, of different standards. It’s true that you can enjoy a cheap Italian meal with affordable table wine at less than 300 baht in various places, but are they really worth it?

Now, on Rachadamnoen Rd. near the Thapae Gate, next to the branch Siam Commercial Bank is a proud Italian restaurant that has been open for more than five years. Named after Genoa’s famous lantern (the world’s oldest lighthouse) La Lanterna di Genova deserves extra attention for its gourmet quality.

Physically, it does not have the air of luxury that you would expect from other top-class restaurants. Instead, it is a homey shophouse with two separate tables on the porch for smokers and about eight tables inside the air- conditioned room. However, La Lanterna di Genova offers genuinely delizioso dishes that are prepared by Genovese-born chef, Luca Repetto. It’s not just the chef or his family recipes that make the food at La Lanterna di Genova special: it’s the quality materials that really matter. Mr. Repetto imports all the ingredients and the entire selection of premium wine direct from Italy. Not a single item is mixed with materials from other countries, so all the dishes are basically ‘purely’ Italian.

The outstanding dish here is gnocchi pesto, and gorgonzola cheese pizza. Also, you should try fruitti di mare, mozzarella salad, and any of his pizzas: they are all that good.

Although pizzerias and other Italian restaurants are not hard to come by in Chiang Mai, they are, like any other businesses, of different standards. It’s true that you can enjoy a cheap Italian meal with affordable table wine at less than 300 baht in various places, but are they really worth it?

The Duke’s

River Ping Branch: 50 meters North of TAT Office, Tel. 053-249 231 Night Bazaar Branch: 1st & 2nd floors, Chiang Mai Pavilion, Tel. 053-818 603 Open Daily: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Six years ago the first of the Duke’s two branches opened on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, with the second opening about four years ago in the Pavilion Shopping Center in the Night Bazaar, where the experienced enigmatic manager, Khun Rattana, takes care of business.

The restaurants are open from 10am to around midnight every day and both have the same menus, with identical recipes. Even in the current economic climate prices have been kept to a minimum and portions have remained unchanged even though offering a large amount of great foods. Tuesday at the River Ping Branch is Mexican night, with around five new items to choose from, and both branches have an open kitchen where you can see all the food being prepared.

Included in Thailand Tatler’s list of the 150 Best Restaurants of 2007, The Duke’s offers authentic American food, including 120-day grain-fed imported Australian prime beef; their signature, “Fallin’ Off The Bone” baby back ribs; imported seafood; and Chicago-style thin crust pizza. The road-house Philly steak sandwich is a sumptuous choice from the sandwich array as also is the Duke Burger, among the selection of fresh daily ground chucks hamburgers. For vegetarians the choice is also impressive: vegetarian lasagna, grilled vegetable Dagwood sandwiches and vegetarian pizza are just three of the delicious specialities available. Fresh quality ingredients are used daily and their breads, cakes, and sauces are made from scratch.

A full bar with a good selection of cocktails, old- and new-world wines, and home-made desserts of apple pie, double chocolate fudge cake, white chocolate ganache cake, and cheese cake will ensure that your dining experience is complete.