This is a tough category. Everybody loves Italian food, and everybody and their mother has a favorite spaghetti joint. Well, go tell it to the Readers Poll, pal, because for our money--and for the years that trying to park in Little Italy inevitably shaves off our lives--La Tavola has Baltimore's best Italian food. We say so with a few caveats. The place has gone through periods when it seemed chronically understaffed, resulting in patience-stretching waits between courses and up-and-down food. (Although on recent visits the service has been impeccable.) Also, it didn't take long after La Tavola opened and was hailed (by this paper and elsewhere) as an affordable alternative to its neighbors that its own prices started going up, steeply. But you'll still probably pay less here than at other Little Italians (especially if you skip the invariably wonderful-sounding but budget-busting nightly specials), and for fresher, more eclectic, and better-tasting food. The smart diner at La Tavola will avoid the noodle-ranch clichés like lasagna or spaghetti Bolognese in favor of the restaurant's creative homemade-pasta dishes, intriguing salads, and truly great desserts. The calamari alla griglia is a standout, perfect by its tender, lemony self or over black linguine, and the kitchen also has a way with a tomato-vodka-cream sauce. The signature dish, mafalde alla fiorentina, is a symphony of the subtle flavors of spinach, pine nuts, raisins, and ricotta, with just a kiss of nutmeg. And be sure to save room for dessert--the tiramisu here is worth every creamy calorie.

Baltimore City Paper

812 Park Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21201

(410) 523-2300

Contact CP | Advertise | National Advertising | About Us | Work Here | Staff Directory

All parts of this site Copyright ©2013 Baltimore City Paper.