Della Notte has dcor, but beware the crowds

Della Notte

801 Eastern Ave.

Phone: 410-837-5500

Price: Lunch: $10-15

Dinner: $20-25

Location: Little Italy

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Sat.-Sun.: 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

Website: http://www.dellanotte.com

One image dominates my memory of Della Notte, a popular Italian restaurant nestled in Little Italy. I wish I could say it was the rich Italian food, the sensual, romantic lighting or the indoor tree, but none of these particularly caught my attention. Instead, I remember a simple, porcelain face.

I remember a pallid Grecian bust staring dully into a maroon curtain, which was drawn to separate the tables of the crowded restaurant.

It is a careless image, almost pointless, and yet its apparent inefficiency and lack of forethought distinguished my entire dining experience at Della Notte.

Located on 801 Eastern Avenue in the heart of Little Italy, Della Notte boasts a great atmosphere, complete with dim lighting and a lulling maroon dZcor to permit a romantic evening for two. But during my visit last week, the restaurant failed to provide pristine service, and also fell short in atmosphere.

On a blistery, chilly Saturday night several weeks ago, my boyfriend and I made 8 p.m. reservations to dine at Della Notte. When we arrived, at least four groups clustered in the waiting room. Appearing flustered, the maitre'd directed us to wait for more than 10 minutes for our table.

Even after we were seated, the service did not improve. A shadow covered half the table, and the glare of a streetlight outside the window shined into my boyfriend's face. Although he repeatedly requested the waiter to the close the blind, the request was never fulfilled.

An incessant hubbub of noise hovered over the room, and the romantic dZcor certainly paled when my boyfriend and I could not forget the presence of countless other chattering people. While this is understandable due to the Saturday crowd, I think the noise could have been minimized had the tables been placed further apart.

Moreover, after we were seated, the waiters forgot our presence and bustled around serving other guests. Finally, my boyfriend had to signal to a waiter to obtain service.

The waiter was extremely affable and friendly, but appeared slightly flustered with the crowded restaurant, like most of the other waiters.

In fact, when I ventured to visit the restroom, I was nearly trampled by at least four waiters, many of whom did not have the presence of mind to spit out an apology since they were so hurried.

Here arises the important question of all females: how were the restrooms? The mirrors encircled at least two sides of the room, so I had a variety of options for make-up application.

For dinner, I ordered the Fettucino al Granchio, jumbo crabmeat doused with Housemade marinara sauce over fettucine pasta. While I had never tasted crabmeat before, I found myself completely indifferent to the dish, even slightly reluctant to waste stomach room on it when Vacarro's was only a few blocks away.

As for my boyfriend, he (in his infinite wisdom as one who fares from Brooklyn, NYC) commented that the food at Della Notte didn't taste like authentic Italian should.

Nevertheless, I do feel that Della Notte is a better deal than restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory. With meals ranging from $12-$22, Della Notte offers a more sophisticated atmosphere and better food at the same price.

To conclude, my boyfriend and I both agreed that Della Notte is a nice romantic restaurant where a couple can enjoy a pleasant night out. It's also for family outings, but not recommended for large groups as the restaurant is better suited for a more romantic, sensual dining experience. However, be prepared for nights when the quality of the food and the service are sub par