"Rita and I consider ourselves fortunate to share meals with our friends and neighbors everyday, rediscovering lost recipes or techniques, giudied by the seasons and, of course Italian culture, and our own sense of adventure."

Sottobosco raw porcini with shaved parmesan, dried wild blueberries and walnut vinaigrette; coniglio fritto-fried rabbit with rosemary, garlic and fried bread; tortino di carciofi: soft frittata with artichokes.

There's more to Via Carota than exquisite Italian food – though this is certainly reason enough to visit. With a mind focused on the environment, this neighborhood restaurant features a vegetable-heavy menu. They're also striving to become plastic free and reduce waste through, in their words, "good old fashioned thriftiness". Now that's something we can get behind.

"Via Carota feels essential to me. I like the rhythm of the crowd, a clear mix of locals and visitors. I love the craggy brick walls, and the list of negroni variations, and the soft light that seeps through the picture windows, and how a crostata sits displayed on a small table in the center of the dining room, tempting you until you can’t resist ordering a slice." –Bill Addison, Eater