Upper West Side stand for homemade Italian specializes in gourmet family fare.

In Short
Colorful plates bring life to plain, white walls, while their pasta-filled counterparts do the same for the old wooden tables. With children in tow, neighborhood regulars feast on family recipes like rigatoni made with eggplant, tomato and ricotta, lamb shank braised in wine and a house antipasto plate, which arrives heaped with homemade goodies. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with wine bottles span the back wall, tempting diners to order from the extensive list of imported reds and whites.