Porto Bello

Food: Italian

With a soundtrack ranging from the Rat Pack to the Four Tenors and an atmosphere rife with checked tablecloths and soft candlelight, Porto Bello is a haven for partisans of old-school Italian dining. The small room is split into two sections by a divider laden with wine bottles and Italian pottery, allowing for a measure of intimacy in a space that would otherwise seem cramped. The menu is markedly traditional in emphasis, catering to Neapolitan tastes with staples such as spaghetti with meatballs, chicken parmigiana, stuffed manicotti and several varieties of ravioli. Those seeking slightly less predictable cuisine should opt for an entree from the nightly specials board, which leaves red sauce behind for adventurous dishes like lobster-gorgonzola ravioi and chicken with mascarpone curry sauce. Fetishists of authentic Italian pastries should make sure to save room for dessert, as Porto Bello's tiramisu and cannoli make for sweet endings to any meal. -- Julia Clinger