La Bella has been an Italian staple in Oak Park for years, but like computers, cars and cell phones, it has gotten smaller as of late. Its South Boulevard location is just around the corner from a wine and cheese shop, an alley decked with fire escapes gives a romantic city feel, and it's only neighbor across the street is the CTA. Stepping inside, the four-seat bar immediately welcomes to your left, or grab a table to the right (reservations are accepted and not a bad idea).

Michael J. Pace and his staff have composed a menu of familiar favorites and a few old surprises for those who think they know it all about Italian dishes. Appetizers include usual suspects like ravioli and stuffed artichokes, but also curveballs like a fish salad ($10) or New Zealand green lip mussels ($13, and also available as a main course). Ten-inch pizzas from $11-$13 include styles like the slightly less traditional BBQ chicken, or the pizza bianco (with prosciutto and artichoke hearts).

Chicken or veal can be made marsala, parmiagiana, saltimbocca, picante, or in several other varieties with pasta and choice of soup or salad for $17 and $19 respectively. A rotating specials menu runs closer to the $25 range, but regular specials include decadences like pork chops blackened in Cajun seasoning with spinach and linguine for $20. Don't count the pastas out, though – the spaghetti with arrabiata sauce has a spicy marinara with prosciutto and jalapeno, and the eight-finger cavatelli ($15) is a sizable bowl of pencil-thick, doughy noodles in a decadent vodka sauce sure to make you scrape the bowl.

And while they have fountain drinks and sparkling water, go the extra step and throw in a bottle from their list of red, white and sparkling wines, which can go for as little as $6 a glass or $23 for a bottle – your palate will thank you.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Dan Morgridge