Sid P.
Yelp
Hardly able to say this place is a neighborhood secret, considering its history is based on the former similarly named restaurant, but we were very impressed with this old-school Italian spot. As we were served course after course, we realized how special this place really is. They did everything right.
Our waiter Manuel was a seasoned professional. His timing and demeanor were indicators he knows his job and does it well. His supporting staff of young men, bussing in ties, were attentive and helpful.
Decor is dated but homey and friendly. If you're looking for downtown chic, go downtown. Sconces, knotty pine, and framed paintings are what you'll see here. There's a large dining room, a large patio, and a bar at the entrance. Plenty of choices.
It is difficult to believe I'm saying this, but some of the food we ordered at our recent visit was among the best I've had for that dish: Probably the best chicken marsala I've ever had -- juicy mushrooms and a perfect sauce that was not oversalted which happens at other places way too often. Probably the best minestrone I've ever had: its vegetables were not overcooked, still held texture and flavor, and the broth was the right combination of spicy and sweet.
My wife's seafood combination was a beautiful array, plated perfectly. She loved it. Even their fresh bread service has extras like olive oil infused garlic cloves, butter and ricotta. It felt like they really value their customers.
This is clearly a place that families have visited for many, many years. Except for one table of four people in their 40s, the rest of the diners were well past 70 years old. They were not newcomers. Another large party arrived to celebrate a grandmother's 90th birthday. People come back again and again, because they appreciate the quality of food and service. I'm already looking forward to another visit, even if I'm far younger than their typical customer age.