La Viola is a family-run Italian BYOB serving tasty food for relatively low prices in West Center City. My favorite dish is the penne in vodka sauce with pancetta which for $9 is meaty, delicious, and filling. Also tasty are the chicken dishes, the spinach gnocci, and the seafood risotto. A must try is the three mushroom appetizer in a garlic sauce and, when it's available, the salad with pears and gorgonzola dressing. Pastas run from $9 to about $13 and entrees a few bucks more. However, be careful of the daily specials - these items can easily be in the mid-$20s. The desserts are standard Italian restaurant fare like tiramisu and are only so-so. The place can be quite crowded and packed in - atmosphere suffers some as a result. But eating outside in the summer is quite pleasant. It also is cash only and reservations are recommended for weekend nights.
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