From the marble floors and polished wood bar to the crisp, white table linen, Tuscana West has class written all over it. The waiters are attentive, the service is quick and it seems that the chef puts as much effort into the food's presentation as with the ingredients.

If you have too much of the wonderful fresh focaccia bread, you may be too full to enjoy one of the many fresh pasta dishes. You'll especially want to try the ravioli filled with roast chicken, herbs and vegetables. The fettucine and linguine dishes come smothered with an array of fresh toppings including mushrooms, clams, chicken, shrimp and vegetables.

Pizzas at Tuscana West are cooked in a brick oven, and come topped with everything from shrimp and pesto to artichokes and fresh tomatoes. There's plenty of seafood to choose from as well, including fresh clams and mussels. Tuscana West boasts one of the best tiramisu in town, so it's definitely worth sampling.

By day, Tuscana West is a favorite for a sit-down lunch with the suit and stockings crowd near Franklin Square. By evening, it's a good spot to unwind with a drink at the bar and enjoy the popular happy hour (from 5:30 until 7), when the restaurant offers complimentary pasta or some of that brick-oven pizza and salad.

-- Karen Gutloff