Entering Erba feels like being wrapped inside a butternut squash-stuffed ravioli. The intimate space is framed by burnt orange and white walls and dark wooded carpentry; low yellow lighting warms the interior, where a few framed panoramic mirrors and exposed wooden rafters across the dormer ceiling hearken a rustic aesthetic. Striking the perfect balance between classy and cozy, there's just enough room to offer diners privacy for their conversations while still enjoying the quiet presence of their neighbors.

A walk around the side of the building leads to a secluded back patio. Save for the perky flower boxes and pristinely manicured bushes, the space is as equally minimalist as the indoor dining room. Anticipate an herb garden in bloom starting in patio season of 2007.

The restaurant exclusively serves supper, a moderately priced meal of antipasti ranging from $7-$9 and primi and secondi entrees priced between $12 and $19. Options don't stray far from traditional Piedmont (Northern Italian) cuisine; antipasti include steamed mussels with tomato and scallions; prosciutto with asparagus, parmaggiano and white truffle oil; and roasted beets salad with arugala, fennel and orange-thyme vinaigrette.

Primi consists of pasta dishes with cutesy names like Discombobulated Lasagna in a Bowl, Spaghettini One Way (with tomato, hot pepper, guanciale and thyme) and the Other Way (with rock shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari). The wine list is pure-bred Italian, with bottles ranging from $24-$46.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jessica Herman