Achilles Forgione, an artist with a studio on Mount Hope, told us that Rochester didn't use to have many Italian restaurants because the Rochester Italians ate at home and couldn't really afford to eat out. That has all changed, of course. He recommended this place but couldn't remember the name. He described the location.

We stopped in after cross country skiing in Durrand Eastman Park. It was a Friday night and we didn't have reservations. They were able to seat us but the place was packed. It is a very cozy room with salmon colored walls and a non working fireplace. They seem to have their own faithful crowd of regulars and we could easily become some of them.

This place is right there on East Ridge near Culver but it was really tough to find. We drove by it twice before zeroing in. The building is really an old house and it is turned to the side and it sits behind another house. If you're lucky you'll see the Italian Flag flying out front. Or you could pretend you were going through the drive through window at Popeye's and you would be right next to La Trattoria. It is on a short street that leads to a cluster of stores. It is not actually on East Ridge. I'm trying to help you find it because I highly recommend it.

We were there in the middle of winter but the patio looks comfortable. The soup of the day was a chicken brooth, eggdrop, escarole combination that was divine. We ordered a nice $15 bottle of Montepulciano and two chicken dishes. The Pollo Cora was prepared with asparagus and shrimp in a Marsella sauce. The Pollo d'Abruzzo had mushrooms, procuttio and canellini beans. The plates were deliberatlely mismatched. The service was friendly and professional. This could be our favorite place in the whole batch. We will have to return.