Try Della Notte for buono Italian cuisine

If you're looking for the more non-traditional side of Little Italy, Della Notte is a great place to go for a date or dinner with a small group of friends. Don't expect checkered tablecloths, drippy candles, or violins; this place is almost overwhelmingly modern. Decorated with fake busts of Roman emperors, a huge tree in the middle of one of the rooms, and tons of ivy, the low-lit dining area is perfect for a trendy, contemporary dining experience. The waiters may espouse the apparently addictive school of patterned black vests, but they're friendly and funny. Service is impeccable, and the food was superb.

Della Notte has a fabulous selection of appetizers compared to many other Little Italy establishments. Try the Torte Ripieni con Granchio if you like crabmeat and filo dough. For those more accustomed to homemade Italian, order the Polpette Marinara (accurately described as "Mama's meatballs").

Or you could take the easy way out - the basic yet mouth watering Caesar salad. When it comes to the main course, even the picky eater will appreciate simple dishes like Gnocci alla Genovese - a bowl of miniature potato dumplings in pesto cream sauce or a more traditional tomato sauce. If you're into seafood and a little daring, try the Cioppino-a medley of fresh seafood over rice.

Skipping the lecture on the evils of veal, it's also safe to say that the chefs at Della Notte had neither moral nor creative restrictions when deciding upon the menu. They generously mix cremini mushrooms, artichoke hearts, asparagus and olives into many of their dishes.

I sincerely hope that you're still hungry enough for dessert by the time you finish your main course. In addition to the exquisite cannoli, the profiteroles (vanilla cream puffs drenched in chocolate mousse - mmm) or, of course, the tiramisu (choose from traditional tiramisu or tiramisu cake) give you plenty of options for a perfect end to your night (well, until you get back to campus with that new hottie, eh?).

Nothing is overly exotic; the chef sticks to a lot of old favorites when it comes to dessert. Puritans can always order the ice cream or maybe even the Tartufo (to quote the menu: "a rich chocolate mousse surrounding a vanilla cream center, rolled in crushed hazelnuts then covered with a layer of dark chocolate").

If you're lucky enough to be of age, there's also a selection of specialty coffee drinks - I like the sound of the Caffe B-52 myself. For the youths, there are also the basic latts and cappuccinos to ensure a legal fix until you can find your way to the frats.

Della Notte is located at 801 Eastern Ave., right before the Little Italy sign that stretches across the roadway. Put away the jeans for this one, but leave the suit in the closet. A collared shirt (tie optional) is sufficient attire for guys; girls will get by with nice pants, but a skirt might be advisable. Phone: 410-837-5500, or, since this is Hopkins and we're dorks, the website: http://www.dellanotte.com