After having traveled to Italy, I have to say this is the closest dining experience I have had in the Twin Cities. Italians make an occasion out of a meal, it is not the quick in and out of most American restaurants. Thus for those reviewers that were complaining about the slow service, I think this was more because they were expecting a typical American experience. They were very helpful with wine selections, questions about the menu and making accomodations as necessary.
As to the food, it was excellent. Nothing was ""bland"" in my opinion and all of the ingredients were fresh (yes, especially the tomatoes). Though it may not be the best Italian I have had in the cities, it is pretty darn close. The wine recommendation was superb (so much so that we went out and bought a case of the wine after our experience).
Pros: Food, Experience, Authenticity
Cons: Hard to gt table
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