Piastra

Piastra Restaurant Review:

Greg Lipman and his mother Betty Bahl joined forces to open this family-run Italian restaurant on Marietta's downtown square. "Piastra" means "plate," but also it references an old silver coin that was used in Sicily and Naples in times past. If you have some, you won't spend many of them eating well in this restaurant. Décor is just a few framed photos of Italian scenes, such as Florence at night. Start with the mozzarella scottato; round patties of the house-made cheese are crumbed and fried and served with a fresh tomato sauce (it’s rich, so one order is plenty for two as a starter). Then perhaps move on to share a substantial portion of lasagna, or any of the house-made paste. Add either the fennel sausage or a meatball to any dish for chump change. Handmade stone-oven pizzas also are on the menu, and we're tempted by the fresh cod (bacalao) with preserved lemon and sea salt. For dessert, opt for the lemon tart, although the cannoli are quite good, too. The wine list is short and mostly Italian; it is focused on the familiar, but still offers such selections as a Soave, which is not often seen.