Il Terrazzino  

In palace country, hidden from the race with the chic Italian spots of Monaco, Rafaele Russo's verison of Italian has the family atmosphere of a village trattoria. Antipasti; eggplant gratin; tomatoes, parmesan and basil; "calzone" (smoked mozzarella with ham and ricotta cheese); curd raviolis; bracciola Neapolitan (beef stuffed with pinenuts, pan fried and stewed in tomato sauce); ricotta tart and orange-flower cream, Maresca coffee, citrus desserts.... Good Italian labels can be found on an accessible wine card. Invigorating welcome from Raffaele, in a colorful setting. He also manages Il Giardino, 29 Blvd. d'Italie.