Pictures of all sizes, enclosed by a variety of different wooden frames hang in no conceptual order, yet do not appear to be cluttered. The art is a reflection on the country known for producing wine, cheese and sassy European flair.

Two years ago, a very good friend of mine and I would meet up at the charmingly authentic Sala da Pranzo weekly for steamy panini, bottomless glasses of ice water and the occasional slice or two (or three) of cheesecake.

We would catch up on our lives, gossip about people we knew and dream about the day we would finally be able to order a glass of vino with our lunch, and then go right back to class an hour later.

Those days have sadly come and gone, but Sala’s charm and whimsical elegance will always remain.

Pictures of all sizes, enclosed by a variety of different wooden frames hang in no conceptual order, yet do not appear to be cluttered. The art is a reflection on the country known for producing wine, cheese and sassy European flair.

Sala’s ode to Italy does not stop at the artwork. Sitting at the bar alone or dining with a companion, I will often hear Italian opera over the speakers. It’s subtle and not overpowering.

The wine list features almost exclusively Italian wines, some that are hard to find on the shelves of any local wine retailer.

Sala da Pranzo makes perfectly brewed espresso and amazingly grilled panini. The panino (the singular form of panini) is easily one of my favorite types of sandwiches, but it is oftentimes difficult to find one that is authentic and grilled evenly.

There is nothing worse than eating a panino with warm bread and cold insides. Sala will absolutely not tolerate anything but authentic perfection.

The panini that stand out on the menu are the Liberta and the Oliva (both $7.25). The simplest combinations of warm goat cheese, fresh basil and roasted red bell peppers are what do it for me.

This is one of those types of easy, savory meals I always want to take my time eating. The bread is crispy and the fantastic grill marks are always a beautiful golden brown.

The Oliva is laced with a simple olive tapenade. A mixture of olives (usually green and kalamata) are crushed with olive oil and parsley to create a slightly chunky and spreadable texture.

The panino is layered with gooey Swiss cheese and red onion. The first bite is always a pleasant explosion of salty and sweet, thanks to the red onion.

I had the Caprese ($8.95) salad this past July and the flavors were extraordinary. The heirloom tomatoes were in season and the fresh mozzarella, while I doubt it was made in house, was truly authentic.

Thickly sliced disks of milky goodness covered with delicate ribbons of basil were all drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This is a true summer dish and I felt very lucky to have eaten at Sala’s in the prime tomato season.

The Bruschette ($8.95) (also known to many as Bru-Shetta, but that is clearly not how it is pronounced) was nothing less than fabulous. I ordered this appetizer in November when tomatoes are long gone from Farmer’s Markets. Despite being out of season, the tomatoes did not leave any sour notes.

Along with the diced tomatoes was a mixture of garlic and basil. If the tomatoes were to stand on their own, it would have been a tasteless disaster. But it wasn’t; in fact, it was quite good and so addicting we had to order another round of them.

Sala da Pranzo is open for dinner too, but it can get on the expensive side for the average student. Nonetheless, it is always fun to go and have a couple appetizers and at the very least share one of their huge dinner entrees.

This bistro is a wonderful little hideaway just across the street from campus. When you find yourself strolling aimlessly through the Union, turning your nose up at all of the food options the University has decided to offer us, walk on over to Sala. For less than eight bucks you can get a warm sandwich, a side salad and maybe even a spirit-lifting espresso. Say arrivederci to Taco Bell and ciao bella to Sala da Pranzo.

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