The Walla Walla area has a rich Italian heritage, best illustrated by the sweet Walla Walla onion—developed by an Italian transplant to the area—and the tasty pasta houses in town. A good example is T. Maccarone’s (4 S. Colville St., 509/522-4776, www.tmaccarones.com, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–9 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–9 p.m. Sat.–Sun.), a trendy place downtown that puts its own twist on traditional Italian fare. This is the best place in town to pair a Walla Walla red wine with antipasto.

The food isn’t as good at Lorenzo’s (1415 Plaza Way, 509/529-6333, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily), but it has a fun atmosphere and works well for starving students and money-minding families. It offers an all-you-can-eat buffet 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. ($7.49) and 5–8 p.m. daily ($9.49). Kids 12 and under eat for $0.59 per year of age.

Looking for Mexican meals and great margaritas? Head to El Sombrero’s (428 Ash St, 509/525-2598) for big portions and a bunch of big hats. La Casita (315 S. 9th Ave., 509/522-4941) has noteworthy pico de gallo and can accommodate large groups. The China Buffet (1618 Plaza Way, 509/526-7797, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. daily) specializes in feed-trough-style Chinese food.