Stepping into Quanto Basta is like stepping into an oasis away from our new normal. It’s a beautifully appointed space that captures the best elements of the 1950s (Sinatra music without all the segregation and polio). The building has an elegant minimalist design with a central fountain and exposed brick.

The Scenery

The place was built for social distancing.  It’s a master class in constructing an eatery for a global pandemic. Spacious walkways give ample space between tables and the option to open 6-foot windows on temperate evenings provides fresher air while the recessed design keeps out the noise of downtown.

But you probably want to know about the food. Dining alone I had to make certain calculations and skipped the charcuterie over my tongue’s objections and ordered a more modest appetizer. 

Arancini di Riso is a surprisingly light take on fried rice and mozzarella, but the real story is the San Marco sauce. This classic but uncommonly good tomato sauce combines Italian favorites like oregano into a mild but flavorful complement.

The Delicious Meal

Bolognese is a family favorite and I couldn’t pass it up. Quanto Basta’s version puts a heavy emphasis on the ground meat giving it a hearty flair.  But the dish isn’t heavy thanks to a delicate, high-quality tagliatelle. It’s amazing how that stuff we buy for $1.09 at the grocery store warps our minds into thinking that’s how pasta has to be. Quality matters.

I’d like to say I behaved myself, but since this meal was professional and not personal I pressed on. I ordered a pizza to take home (because pizza is meant to be taken home) and a lovely Butterscotch Budino. It’s a wonderful custard dish that offers just the slightest hint of a burn in the throat that good butterscotch does.

My plan was to eat a slice of my Salsiccia pizza an hour or so later to get a feel for the flavors and save the rest for the next day. I failed that test of willpower. The sweet caramelized onions coupled with the sweet and spicy Italian sausage rendered me powerless to resist and that pizza never saw the sunrise.