If you want an Italian dinner in the middle of downtown, Ciao Italian Eatery at 614 Centre Street is a father-and-son operation. Luca Misciasci runs the kitchen, and his son Brandon hosts alongside him. The restaurant describes its room as upscale but casual and modern, and its pizza crust as ultra-thin.
Ciao's own rundown of the menu starts with calamari fritti, burrata and an antipasto selection, with mussels marinara and bruschetta to share. Traditional mains include spaghetti con polpette di carne and gnocchi aurora, and the house specialties include tortelloni con porcini and rigatoni Ciao. Prosciutto and margherita pizzas, seafood, and meat and fish entrees fill out the rest. The full bar pours hand-crafted cocktails and Peroni on tap, and the wine list mixes Italian and American bottles picked to go with the food.
Ciao serves dinner only, 5 to 9 p.m., every night but Tuesday. You can request a table through the booking form on its website. For parties, Ciao says it can handle anything from a surprise birthday for ten to a corporate dinner for sixty, and it asks you to send your budget, head count and any special requests.
Ciao sits in the 600 block of Centre, a short walk from Pepper's Cocina Mexicana and Tasty's Fresh Burgers & Fries on the same street. If you'd rather have wood-fired pizza, Arte Pizza is closer to the river on North 3rd. When a group dinner needs a table held, a reservations hand can take care of it.