From looking at its unassuming storefront on an entirely inconspicuous corner of the Ballston area, you'd never guess that Tutto Bene has such a strong following among critics and neighborhood diners alike. And while Tutto Bene fancies itself more of a destination for fine dining, with white tablecloths, cloth napkins and roving opera singers on select evenings, the spacious interior is more of a kitschy homage to Italy -- done up in dark reds, oversized murals of Italian landmarks and other Mediterranean tchotchkes.

The regular menu is an extensive roster of traditional Northern Italian dishes, including an extensive list of starter plates that come in both half and full portions. Favorite options include an appetizer-sized portion of fried calamari and artichokes, veal served as both a chop and done scallopini, shareable portions of pasta, and thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas. At lunchtime on weekends, a guitar player steps in to entertain diners, and more than a dozen Bolivian specialties are available from a menu written in Spanish -- most notably "saltenas," Bolivia's version of an empanada. Expect to be flanked by local regulars who know both the menu and the songs by heart. -- L. Adrienne Wichard

Categories: Restaurants-Italian, Restaurants

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