In search of a big bowl of pasta like Nonna used to make? A plate of veal saltimboccacca? A warm Italian smile on a cold day? We hear you. And we’ve pulled together a list of spots where you can get one or more of the above.
Some of these eateries have been around for decades. Others are newer on the scene. In either case, they serve us well as the little “red sauce joints”: the neighborhood spots where we seek respite at the end of a long day, celebrate a casual birthday or seek out intimate tables for a first date. The vibe is friendly and casual. The seating is close.
Walk into the dining room and you’ll see a crosssection of folks. A young couple shares an appetizer at a corner table. A family catches up over pasta and pizza. A chortling crew of regulars gathers at the convivial bar’s far end. When the restaurant is busy, the dining room hums like a neighborhood cocktail party as guests savor glasses of wine alongside simple plates of pasta, eggplant parmesan and meatballs…