I actually laughed out loud when I read that review about the pepper. Not precisely tailored to your individual demands? Perhaps. ""Blah,"" ""little taste"" and ""less than par""? Give me a break! Wasn't that review about being too spicy (without any black pepper, mind you...)!? Anyway, not to get hung up on that, this place is my favorite ""Italian"" joint (that qualification brings terrible cliches to mind that are certainly not in effect here) in the city, and certainly up there across the board, and for good reasons. It's both cozy and alive and unneeding to cater to the boring masses (this ain't the Olive Garden), with great ambience and decor (know of any other restaurants sporting a shrine to the Bucs?) that serves the best Italian/Sicilian dishes along with an great wine collection I know of around these parts.
Pros: Food with character, great ambience/decor, visible kitchen
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