Arkibar

If the menu looks brief when it arrives, don't fret. Order a glass of vino, sit back and wait for the personable Susy Esposito to whip you into a frenzy with a verbal menu bigger than the one you're holding. Depending on the season there may be chunks of braised lamb tangled in linguine with crushed cherry tomatoes, or a seriously smooth baccala dip with olive oil and char-grilled bread. Home-grown and marinated olives, golden arancini, a selection of bruschetta, and unapologetically large antipasti typify homely Italian cuisine. It tallies well with the simply dressed contemporary dining room that, on any given night, feels like a bustling trattoria. At times, service can become stretched but the personality of the space overshadows occasional negatives. To finish, tiramisu offers a chocolate and coffee explosion, or try one of the chef's family recipes. a delicately sweet sponge with a light mascarpone filling.