At Pasta D'Arte, plates provide canvasses and owner/chef Mark Giannini perfects each piece; it's no wonder Pasta D'Arte translates to "art of pasta." The presentations comply with the design, also capturing artistic emotions.
A spot-lit Tuscan-style facade of gray stone and brick towers over this segmented portion of Jefferson Park known by locals as Gladstone. Paper-washed walls lined with rich wood paneling cradle a room of dates and groups equally. Recessed lighting adds a romantic mark, as do the splendid works of art directing visitors to Italian cities laid out in cobblestone and carved by gentle rivers.
Alternative dining includes the courtyard, semi-enclosed, beneath a tarp opening up during warmer months. Smoke-slate tiles hold up this reserve lit with lanterns and hugged with vine. Prefer easy access to the bartender? Find your way to the lounge. This lived-in setting involves a gripping wine cellar, granite-topped bar and a couple flat screens. From the bar, dole fruit-flavored martinis (average $8) like the clementini (Beefeater, Cointreau, fresh squeezed clementine juice and mint) and a range of imported beers (average $4.25).
The local alderman and Golden Globe-nominated actor William Peterson make some of Pasta's eye-popping clients. Peterson's wife and her sister make the trek more often, savoring the pumpkin ravioli, according to manager Eric Luchinski. Ask for his recommendation and he'll suggest the carpaccio di filetto (raw, thinly shaved meats ranging from octopus to tenderloin, dressed with truffle oil, capers and arugula topped with parmesan). For dinner, he prides the seasonal ossobuco di vitello: braised veal shank served in a light tomato sauce with saffron risotto, topped with gremolata ($25.95). Pair your meal with a selection from the worldly wine list (average bottle $28).
While a date on a dime can shyly walk away on a $60 tab, big spenders make up the usual clientele. Children surprisingly receive a stamp of approval for such a prim setting. Tag them along Thursdays where they eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. Pasta D’Arte is wi-fi friendly, offers sidewalk dining and small-scale catering.
Average cost: $21-$30
Centerstage Reviewer: David-Anthony Gonzalez
