The odd name refers to the Italian ancestry of celeb chef Todd English, who mines his European roots to great effect at this high-ceilinged Italian restaurant. The dining room, with its massive glass vases sprouting stark branches and heavy linen-clad tables, looks plenty plush, but the food is a casual affair. Heaping platters of Italian “farmhouse” fare – salami antipasti, peppered ricotta gnocchi, rich cannelloni – are served family-style. Come with a serious appetite; the prix-fixe meal brings forth a seemingly endless parade of plates that leave the table – and its occupants – groaning by mid-meal. A word to the wise: Go easy on the warmed appetizer breads and bruschetta because the later entrees, including thinly sliced sirloin and a crisp duck stuffed with pork, veal, and rice, are worth saving room for. Don’t miss the buffalo mozzarella, which is made right at your table. The dress code is casual-chic, and you’ll see plenty of jeans and sports jacket. Kids (and adults) with a sweet tooth will salivate over the Nutella bread pudding.
