no offense guys, but I have yet to try good pasta in southern US.
You have to really look for good Italian in the South. We have a lot of great Greek and Indian Places, but for some reason Italian was replaced by all of the damned pizza places. But, we drive almost half an hour into the boondocks to visit a little place called Joes Italian, which is a tiny little place with people standing in line out the door and into the parking lot. Ahhh, it's so good. Everyone licks the plate and silverware afterwards to get every last drop. And, before he passed, Joe would be setting at the door like a Godfather, letting everyone shake his hand or kiss his ring. Great guy, and he is missed.
When Birmingham was formed after the Civil War, a Greek family moved in and started the first restaurant in town. That family still carries the legacy of the finest foods in the state. Every great restaurant in the Birmingham area has one of its family at the helm. Seafood, barbecue, hamburger, steaks, even Mexican, if people all agree that it is the best of its kind in the state, you will find one of this particular Greek family members calling all the shots. They also hold the largest Greek Food Festivals in the US in Birmingham, with the entire city being flooded by out-of-staters, standing in line, sometimes for hours, to get a plate of food that will blow your mind. Greek dancing, arts and crafts, all things Greek. Oompah!