"With its tinted windows and signage that looks like it was designed with Microsoft WordArt, you probably wouldn’t do a double take on this strip mall restaurant. But Cortona’s low-key appearance is part of its appeal—you can have a fantastic dinner in a chill atmosphere. Their menu focuses on Italian dishes like chicken parm, fettuccini served with a giant meatball, and the star: a four-layer lasagna swimming in a pinot noir Bolognese sauce and topped with creamy bechamel. They only make a limited number every day, but you can (and should) preorder 24 hours in advance. For dessert, cruise over to the gelato case to sample the pistachio or hazelnut (the scooper will gas up the fact that they’re made with nut pastes imported from Italy). " - jene shaw
