"Opening in late May in Southern Highlands, this relaxed suburban Italian from the Morton Group is led by William DeMarco (the culinary director behind the group's Strip outlets) and emphasizes handmade pasta, house-baked breads and Neapolitan-style pizzas fired in a traditional wood-burning oven — highlighted by a diavola topped with mozzarella, spicy sopressata and Calabrian chili. The menu leans on classic Italian comfort: crispy calamari with lemon aioli, a heaping pappardelle in veal ragu finished with sheep’s milk ricotta, and pan-roasted branzino over eggplant purée. The dining room is cozy with a bar and outdoor patio, trading Strip-side sheen and sweeping-view theatrics for casual, neighborhood dining; it will be open daily starting at 4 p.m. The owners present the project as a response to Southern Highlands’ rapid growth and local demand." - Janna Karel