Risotto (Il)
Eloy Alfaro N34-447
Cuisines: Italian
About
Semiformal and almost always packed, this longstanding option is one of the top Italian restaurants in town. The menu is dauntingly long and covers cuisines from all regions of Italy -- I like coming with a group so I can taste a wide range of the choices. The heart and soul of the menu is a range of pastas and risi. Everything is very well done. I like the risotto salmone e rucola (salmon and arugula) and the house penne, which comes in a thick tomato sauce with eggplant, capers, anchovies, and both green and black olives. For something more exotic, try a risotto with frogs' legs. More substantial entrees include captretto alla messinese, a goat dish cooked with tomatoes, rosemary, and potatoes, as well as veal Bolognese. There's an inviting antipasti buffet and a less-outstanding dessert buffet. The wine list is long, but much heavier on Chilean and Argentine offerings than on those from Italy. Try to grab a window table in the main dining room, which features wood floors and a few Tiffany-style lamps. There's a cozy but viewless dining room below the main room, which is used for overflow. Note: This place is closed on Saturday.
