TRATTORIA SIMPATICO,

Perhaps it was reminiscences of our sunny days in the Keys that led us to these appetizer choices: grilled chicken satay ($8.95) and Phyllis's panzanella ($8.95). The former had cilantro and lime rubbed into the chicken pieces before they were smothered in a spicy peanut sauce. The panzanella was a treat, with diced red and yellow sweet peppers, red onions, tomato chunks, cuke slices, Kalamata olives, and large bread cubes soaked in the balsamic and olive oil dressing. Entree decisions were quite a bit trickier for this indecisive duo. Should it be chef Cliff Dimon's polenta-crusted pork loin with chipotle-roasted sweet potato and black bean salsa? The pan-seared tuna with sesame and an-orange basil sauce? Or one of the half-dozen pastas, including lobster risotto and goat cheese ravioli? In the end, we chose the sea scallops over buckwheat tagliatelle ($19.95), with baby arugula tossed with the pasta and the three-mustard cream sauce. I was enamored of my entree: panko-crusted roasted salmon ($19.95), a substantial portion atop two wedges of grilled polenta and surrounded by a four-lentil salad with lovely cumin shadings and a pile of fresh baby greens . . .

Full review.