Hand-crafted pasta to perfection

Beyond the pizza joints whose main draw is their cold beer, Italian dining near Penn's campus is hard to find. Little do most students know that across the Walnut Street Bridge, exists an option for finer Italian cuisine.

Salento, located just before 22nd Street, offers students willing to spend a few extra dollars the chance to experience the tastes that made Italian food ubiquitous in American culture.

Though it may get noisy when full, the restaurant is a perfect place to bring a date or for a small group of friends. Plus, for those of you who are 21, the B.Y.O.B. option provides a nice addition to the meal.

Salento is the second restaurant from the owners of L'Angolo and provides the same service and food quality that has made L'Angolo one of the most visited restaurants in Philadelphia. Salento , however, provides a better option for Penn students because it is possible to walk there and the food is just as tasty.

For the antipasti, which range from $6 to $10, I ordered an arugula salad with calamari, while my date ordered fresh buffalo mozzarella and vegetables. Both dishes were good choices, but the mozzarella was especially nice because it came with a full ball of mozzarella.

The pasta dishes offered many options that could have filled my appetite. They are some of the best choices on the menu and range in price from $13.50 to $17. I chose the homemade veal ravioli special that came with a particularly rich cream sauce.

My date ordered the pan-crisped ricotta gnocchi served with mushrooms, olive oil and garlic. The gnocchi had the perfect texture with an al dente exterior and a smooth center.

Although most people next order either a pasta dish or a "secondi" dish, those who want the whole experience can order half size pastas before the second dish.

Though slightly more expensive than the pasta dishes (ranging from $16 to $24) the second dishes are the heart of the meal.

I ordered the veal shank special that came with hand shaped pasta and marinara sauce. The meat was so tender that it was easily pulled off the bone with a fork and melted in my mouth.

The maiale that my date ordered was also delicious. The dish was made up of pork tenderloin, pancetta, white wine and thyme. The pork was executed nicely. The mixture of tastes made the dish scrumptious.

I highly recommend Salento for all those interested in a real Italian meal, and I don't mean pizza from Penn Dining. The food and atmosphere give you a taste of the bistro appeal that provides a reason to return.

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