This is Italian!

Remember the delicious culinary moves of Bella Napoli founding chef Giavanni Di Maio? (I still miss that place.) Okay, now recall that I recently re-discovered Di Maio cooking in an underwhelming setting? Right. Well, Di Maio has just taken over the kitchen at Greg D’Innocenti’s delectable Star Bene on East Cliff. Authentic Italian comfort food made by an authentic Italian is yours nightly from 5pm, or at lunch on weekdays. Di Maio is 100% Neapolitan and specializes in the sauce-intensive, luxurious dishes of southern Italy. The Pasta Norma, oh God. The veal marsala, mi piace moltissimo. Star Bene, easily one of the prettiest little dining rooms in the county, is still located at 21245 East Cliff Drive (between the Yacht Harbor and 17th Avenue). 479-4307. Bring a big appetite. And just say “Ciao!”