Scarpetta

Scarpetta Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Scarpetta is a modern Italian restaurant in The Rittenhouse hotel. The name, which translates as "little shoe," actually refers to the act of mopping up the remnants of pasta sauce with a piece of bread, an action that's generally acceptable in casual places in Italy. But salt-of-the-earth eatery this is not. Instead, Scarpetta is an homage to haute rustic Italian fare.

Food: Lead with the silky crudi (slivers of citrusy scallop carpaccio or golden yellowtail) or the creamy polenta with a fricassée of black truffled mushrooms, before sliding into the simplicity of spaghetti, tomato and basil. Meat lovers will be happy with the veal tenderloin accompanied by glazed sweetbreads, root vegetables and gnocchi.