Step into Bella Napoli, the latest offering of veteran restaurateur Lucia Longo, and you’re instantly transported to Southern Italy, where the blue of the Mediterranean Sea seems to float right up to your table. Hand painted murals of a coastal Italian village wrap the walls of the establishment, enveloping the diner in an azure haze. Don’t let that cloud your eyes of the great dining value, especially on Monday and Thursday nights.

Although you can pretty much dine for under $20 any night of the week, at Bella Napoli, located in the old Assagio’s on Chatham Street the Monday and Thursday night Dinner For Two special gives you a taste of “Little Italy” without having to get a passport. This generous deal consists of soup or salad, pasta and a bottle of wine for $29.95. For diners wanting to take a trip to Italy more often, Bella Napoli offers their very own “Passport” which allows diners to receive a 10% discount on their total check every time they visit, or a 15% discount on purchase of a bottle of wine and dinner.

Cold antipasta for two is a lavish beginning, consisting of Prosciutto di Parma, Sopresatten salami, imported provolone, homemade mozzarella, olives, roasted peppers and marinated artichoke hearts over mixed greens. Another fabulous starter is the Salsiccia and Broccoli Rape, homemade Italian sausage sautéed with rapini, garlic and olive oil.

In a pasta mood? Your choices are almost overwhelming, seventeen if I counted correctly; everything from the sublimely simple Spaghetti Aglio e Olio to Gamberi Fra Diavolo - shrimp sautéed in a spicy red sauce, served over linguine. Then there’s chicken nine different ways, as well as numerous veal and seafood offerings. Lucia, we’re glad to have you back!