A move back to the restaurant’s original location on Ark Row included an expansion into a neighboring ark. It’s fitted with a bar and petite tables on the patio, the better to showcase the enoteca’s expansive Italian-focused wine list. Across the way, chef Massimo Covello dishes up seasonal southern Italian fare in the full-service restaurant. Place the starched cotton napkin across your lap to prepare for bruschetta al pomodoro splashed with peppery olive oil or shrimp fettuccine flecked with chard and spicy ‘Nduja sausage. Yum. Though the menu changes frequently, the roasted half chicken with herbs and broccolini almost always makes an appearance due to customer demand.
Don’t miss: Halibut Crudo with Pomplano Pepper, Cucumber, and Lime; Pappardelle with 8-hour Braised Beef Genderloin Ragu; Amalfi Spritz Cocktail with House Made Limoncello
The old adage to never order the chicken at a restaurant does not apply at Angelino where the chicken diavola is the stuff of legend. “When it’s not on the menu, customers ask for it,” says second generation chef and owner Alfredo Ancona. Call it chicken under a brick if you must, but there’s something about the crispy skin and vinegary, peppery, rosemary-flecked sauce that hits all the right notes. The daily specials menu brims with fresh flavor – grilled tuna with salsa verde, house made Trofie pasta with pesto – and a Paper Plane cocktail is served up, as it should be. Located on Bridgeway with views across Richardson Bay, the front tables are popular so grab a seat in the back, order a glass of Falanghina del Sannio, and chill.
Don’t miss: A la minute Cannoli with a glass of house made Nocino for dessert
Aided by the light flickering from real candles, the cozy vibe at a restaurant across from Depot Plaza is undeniable. The bar is bustling, especially if American football or the Italian national soccer team is playing, but families and couples may prefer the back room or the covered patio for a somewhat quieter experience.
The house Sbagliato and Negroni are must-try cocktails, lovely with a plate of burrata styled for the season or a margherita pizza. There’s a burger on the menu, too, but then you’d miss the spaghetti alle vongole and zuppa de pesce. And if you've got a hearty appetite, they serve an Ossobuco special on Saturdays that'll have your tastebuds screaming "Mamma mia!"
Don’t miss: Carpaccio Veneto, Risotto of the day, Tiramisu
Run by sisters, the aptly named restaurant (“sorella” is Italian for “sister”) is beloved for its friendly vibes and large, definitely-share-this portions. Bistro tables are placed around a central hearth so everyone has a window seat and a seat by the fireplace.
Fried calamari comes with spicy marinara sauce, zaftig crab cakes are topped with mango salsa, and lasagna Bolognese arrives cradled in its own casserole pan. It’s as if your favorite aunties invited the entire neighborhood for dinner. Now pass the pasta!
Don’t Miss: Penne Melanzane, Cioppino, Side of Two Meatballs (they’re huge!)
Because Chef Duilio Valenti updates the menu each day, today’s fried zucchini with tomato passata may give way to Monterey calamari, its sauce spiked with Calabrian chilies. No matter the season, the warmly lighted dining room is inviting and cozy, the wine list by the glass, carafe, or bottle balances Italian and American options, and delicious aromas waft from the open kitchen.
Life’s essential pasta is a must but we’re partial to chef’s interpretations with duck, currently gussied up for the season with grilled pear, caramelized onions, and a balsamic sweet and sour reduction.
Don’t Miss: Pappardelle with Braised Rabbit Ragú, Mondeghili (Milanese-style meatballs), Pan-roasted Breast of Duck
At this West End spot, perhaps best known for the raviolo uovo – a plate-sized stuffed pasta dish – chef Alexander Alioto leans into what’s fresh and in-season. You can’t go wrong with crisped cheesy polenta, a foil for maitake mushrooms adrift in a sea of Italian porcini-enriched broth. Or a salmon confit and butter lettuce salad, the almond crunch balanced by the vinaigrette’s zingy lemon. There’s a pizza menu, too, for those days when a spicy coppa or an anchovy and garlic pie are a must.
Master Sommelier Nunzio Alioto’s wine list runs deep into French, American and Italian selections, including over 30 options by the glass. Nice!
Don’t miss: Spanish Octopus and Caponata, Roasted Petrale Sole, Beignets
