Best of Boston

2011 Best Restaurant, General Excellence, West

Il Casale

The rustic ambiance of chef Dante de Magistris’s ode to homestyle Italian cooking belies the refined dining experience here. Service is warm and knowledgeable—and the food ethereal, from the tangy tomato bread pudding to the gnocchi with a basil-pistachio pesto that’s as fresh as spring.

50 Leonard St., Belmont, 617-209-4942, ilcasalebelmont.com/