Dining Around the World: Your Guide to Arlington's International Cuisine

Do you want to get out of the kitchen, but are bored of the same old places you always go to? Want some fresh ideas for tasty meals? Today's Patch Passport is here to help. We have assembled a list of local places with international flavors. Try one out and let us know what you think. Bon Appetit!

Open in Arlington for over seven years, Ristorante Olivio is a place to find authentic Italian cooking. In an atmosphere that has a fine dining look but is casual and comfortable, Chef Angelo DiGirolamo serves simple food with fresh ingredients. There are offerings inspired by many regions of Italy, all made with an emphasis on a rustic style achieved with simple components. The restaurant has a bar area and a separate room for private functions. There is an extensive martini menu and desserts are traditional Italian favorites, such a tiramisu and cannolis. Reservations are suggested for Friday and Saturday nights.

At Kathmandu Spice, diners can enjoy a fusion of flavors from Nepal, China and India. A sizable lunch buffet is available daily. Other menu items include chicken dumplings and a tender lamb curry seasoned to perfection. Prices are very reasonable for the size and flavor of the portions. Beer and wine are also available. The restaurant's large dining room offers a comfortable atmosphere.

With reasonable prices and a convenient location, Little Q is a great place to enjoy authentic Chinese food with family and friends. There are 10 tables available to dine-in or take-out is also available. The shrimp with curry sauce and the Mongolian beef are highly recommended. Major credit cards are accepted.

Gemma in Arlington Center serves traditional Neapolitan-style pizza as well as paninis, calzones and pasta dishes. Pizza toppings include sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and prosciutto, as well as the more traditional pepperoni and mushroom. Specialty pizzas include wild mushroom, Asiago cheese and five-meat combo. Gemma also serves various gnocchi, ravioli and tortellini. Appetizers, soups and salads round out the meal. Mainly a takeout establishment, the restaurant also offers platters for catering.

La Posada Restaurante on Mass Avenue, which opened on April 22, 2010, offers traditional, authentic Mexican food in a comfortable and enjoyable setting. The restaurant is filled with Mexican art; the reds, greens and whites of the flag; and little knick-knacks from the old country. The owners also hail from Mexico. Brothers German and Victor Castro run the kitchen while mother-daughter team Fabiola Castro (Fabiola is married to German) and Magdalena Pizarro tend to the front of the house. The Castros offer up all the traditional dishes one would expect in a Mexican restaurant plus a few specialties: a classic Mexican meatball soup (Sopa de Albondigas), cactus salad (Ensalada de Nopales) and their own Aguacate, an avocado meets jalapeno sauce. On the weekend, the Castros whip up some specials, typically very traditional Mexican fare. La Posada offers dishes for kids and, as all of the food is made to order, the chefs can accommodate requests such as flour-free or gluten-free. Please ask your server. La Posada is a BYOB restaurant, so feel free to bring your own adult beverages.

Mr. Sushi is a Japanese restaurant and a multiple Readers' Choice Award winner. Known mostly for sushi, it also serves a variety of noodle dishes, teriyaki, agemono and tempura. Diners can sit at the sushi bar and watch the action while the chefs prepare various rolls, or at one of the nearby tables. There are daily lunch and sushi specials, and delivery is available in the evening.

Punjab is a popular Indian restaurant in Arlington Center, which now has a larger space to better accommodate the crowds that come to the restaurant. Filled with the spicy aroma one expects in an Indian restaurant and comfortable warm lighting, it offers diners an extensive menu. The dinner menu includes various curries, tandoori and six different kinds of naan. For lunch, unique dishes are offered such as, naanwiches and kathi kebab rollups. Lunch entrees are accompanied by soup, rice and chutney.

Opened in December 2009, Buona Vita Cucina Italiana is owned by husband-and-wife team Francesco and Marianna Martini. Previously the executive chef at Mare in Boston's North End and a restaurant owner in Italy, Chef Martini serves authentic Italian food to diners in Arlington Center. The menu is divided into antipasti, paste, secondi and pizze. Dishes include spaghetti carbonara, fettuccini alla Bolognese and truffle-crusted tuna. Reservations are accepted.

With beautiful tapestries and traditional art adorning the walls, Thai Moon is a pleasant place to enjoy a variety of your favorite Thai dishes. The basil fish and duck are cooked to perfection, and the pla rad pik is recommended by the friendly and attentive staff. Delivery is available during dinner hours.

The vibrant atmosphere at Tango matches the delicious Argentinean cuisine it serves. The restaurant offers a wide variety of beef, chicken and seafood dishes. Grilled steaks, ribs and fillets are the most prominent items, but the menu also offers ravioli, swordfish and breaded sole along with an extensive wine list.

—For more locations, visit Arlington Patch's restaurant directory.