(FORTUNE Magazine) – First impressions are crucial to setting the tone for a great restaurant meal, so in addition to having a warm and gracious host, it also helps to have a warm and fragrant bread basket. Ten years ago the best you could hope for was a decent baguette and butter frozen solid, but no more. The places listed below deliver a variety of breads to break, many of which are prepared on the premises in bakeries that are attached to the restaurant. Go ahead: stuff yourself silly, and take your entree home in a doggie bag.

--Ronald B. Lieber

CHICAGO Food Decor Service Cost

Maggiano's 19 19 19 $22 Little Italy Chicago, Oak Brook, Skokie

LOS ANGELES

Campanile 26 24 22 $35 624 S. La Brea Avenue 213-938-1447

MIAMI BEACH 25 16 20 $34

Joe's Stone Crab 227 Biscayne Street 305-673-0365

SAN FRANCISCO

Il Fornaio 23 24 20 $27 San Francisco, Burlingame, Carmel, Corte Madera, Palo Alto, San Jose

0-9 poor to fair 10-19 good to very good 20-25 very good to excellent 26-30 extraordinary to perfection

Cost reflects the estimated price of a dinner with one drink and tip.

ZAGAT survey