Chefs share the 5 best things to order at an Italian restaurant — and 6 you should skip if you want value

Arancini are a deep-fried Italian comfort food.

“One dish I love to order at Italian restaurants is arancini. They are very time-consuming to make at home and involve frying, which I try not to do often. However, I just love them so I treat myself when I am out,” Shunk said. 

Warm, savory, and often bite-sized, arancini are small rice balls that are typically stuffed with tasty morsels like cheese, peas, or ragú (a meat-based sauce).

The balls are then breaded and fried before being served hot, either alone or paired with a dipping sauce. 

Although meat is a traditional arancini filling, many restaurants offer vegetarian versions that are just as tasty. And if you want an authentic Italian flavor, try to stick with fillings like caciocavallo cheese, mozzarella, al burro, besciamella, ragú, or al sugo.