Since I'm a cooking show nerd, I had to check this place out; I've always enjoyed Lidia Bastianich's show on PBS. Service was very friendly & attentive despite the fact that the place was packed.
The bread basket was delicious...parmesan breadsticks & rosemary focaccia with two different dips/spreads: a kalamata olive/cannellini bean & a pesto/garbanzo bean. They sat in a drizzle of olive oil & were really yummy, almost like Italian hummus.
Had the chef's pasta sampler, which included homemade fettuccine with pepperoncini & San Marzano sauce, homemade ravioli stuffed with pears in a parmesan/black peppercorn sauce & a baked ziti with sausage & cabbage. The fettucine was amazing, the pasta was super tender & the sauce robustly flavorful. The ravioli was not a combination I'd have ordered off the menu because it sounded so strange, but I changed my mind after the first bite. The sweetness of the pears was countered by the saltiness of the cheese & the peppercorns added nice texture. The ziti wasn't remarkable & the portion I was given was kinda dry & not very warm. Since they serve the pasta tableside from a big pan, I imagine keeping the ideal temperature is a challenge.
Wine list was good & the pour was adequate. Prices overall were a bit high, but that's to be expected at a place that's tied to a "celebrity chef."