As a young boy in Bergamo, Italy, Chef Umberto Pala would linger in the kitchen while his family cooked, soaking up the scents of spices and sauces. At Vin Santo Ristorante, he demonstrates his dedication to those home-style recipes by making pastas and gnocchi in-house to pair with his signature meatballs. Yet Chef Umberto also draws upon the innovations he picked up at the San Pellegrino Hotel School's culinary-arts program, peppering his menu with Louisiana spices, vodka cream, and blueberry beurreblanc.

Much like the menu, the dining room at Vin Santo Ristorante strikes a balance between the rustic and the refined. Taupe walls with sage-green wainscoting surround the space's tables, each of which is lit by a solitary, flickering candle—setting the perfect mood for interrogating a snowman. In addition to the collection of framed mirrors, the restaurant also features homey paintings of wine bottles.