Bites Nearby: Papa Vino's Italian Kitchen

Rich italian dishes are best enjoyed slowly. Much like the French, Italian meals are grand and time-consuming, which is to say that they are savored, not rushed through.

is a slice of that heaven, inside which the atmosphere lays out like a bustling Italian streetscape. Its sprawling dining room rests upon a slate gray cement-textured concrete floor, with tables juxtaposed against Italian paintings, wine racks and shelves lines with jarred tomatoes and peppers.

The tables are lined with crisp linens, topped with white butcher paper, framing delicate stacks of plates and thier unique Italian olive oil bottles (which is accompanied by a plate of roased garlic and warm baked bread). And running the length of the back of the dining room is an open kitchen, in all its shiny stainlees steel glory.

Servers in crisp black and maroon uniforms glide through the restaruant, carrying trays of white dishes with red white and green (the colors of Italy) nestled into them in the form of crispy veal parmesan, chicken arrabiata and shrim and scallop scampi.

Eminating from behind the kitchen counter are the sounds and smells of these dishes grilling and sauteeing, as orders are called out to the line of cooks in white chef coats. There is constant, organized motion (like the measured ticking hands of a clock), though these movements rarely effect the overall dining experience.

The fare ranges from the simple (lasagna and fettucini alfredo) to the pleasingly complex (linguini pescatore and country pene pasta dishes). Prices follow suit. Pizzas begin at $8, pastas around $12 and heartier entrees near $20 (their juicey grilled ribeye steak). In between the majority of dishes hover around $15.

For more information on catering and carry-out menus, call (248) 449-4664 or log onto www.papavinositaliankitchen.com