Sarello's Restaurant & Wine Lounge

The chef/owners of this spot worked as cruise-ship officers before opening their restaurant in 2000. Consequently, they emphasize courteous and friendly service almost as much as the Italian cuisine. Sarello's is a clean, modern cafe with a classy feel from its vibrant artwork. The menu, with entrees ranging from $17 to $32, features such items as Sicily Chicken (scaloppini of chicken breast pan-fried with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and rosemary), beef tenderloin Marsala (scaloppini of beef tenderloin with mushroom Marsala sauce) and vitello tricolore (scaloppini of veal topped with tomato, fontina cheese and basil pesto sauce), each served with potatoes and seasonal vegetables. We enjoyed red curry shrimp and scallops and crostini with a Gorgonzola custard, sun-dried tomato pesto and basil pesto. Their wine list is extensive, but not snobbish. It's broken down by intensity and sweetness/dryness and includes a half dozen sparkling wines. The chef is something of a local celebrity due to his Saturday radio show. He also conducts live cooking demonstrations at the restaurant.