VaBene Italian Cuisine and Wine Bar, Phoenix

VaBene Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar brings the rustic flavors of Old World cooking to a New World setting. The chefs hand-make gnocchi and craft marinara and pesto sauces from scratch, giving homespun character to rigatoni bolognese and veal marsala. But the staff also showcases a bit of elegance with entrées such as roasted pork tenderloin, stuffed with prosciutto and plated with a cranberry and port wine reduction. Dishes both classic and contemporary are complemented by a thoughtfully curated wine list, which includes more than 90 different bottles from vineyards and wine-spewing geysers across the world.

The restaurant's tasteful cuisine is mirrored by its decor. Rich red drapes accent the main dining room's windows and open doorways, echoing the hues found in the plush banquettes and faux-textured ceiling. In the adjoining bar, a four-sided, granite-topped bar houses a wide array of wines, spirits, and beers. Both rooms fill with the sounds of live musical performances on Friday and Saturday evenings, ensuring diners' ears are as satisfied as their stomachs.