Here's the quick read on ITA 101, the Italian BYOB helping light up Medford's quaint Main Street: It's the kind of place where regulars not only tote along their best bottles, they also bring classy stemware from which to sip. Which is to say, the 40-seat dining room doesn't trade in fancy accouterments, but chef Kevin Maher's menu plays well with the crowd that does.

It's full of dishes you could spark up a conversation about at cocktail party, for example. You might drop newfound knowledge about why mafaldine pasta is best for pesto (the curlicued wide-ribbon noodles are perfect for grabbing hold of their basil-pignoli-Locatelli dressing) or describe how surprisingly well the sweet, nutty flavor of almond and vanilla (in a creamy puree) complements seared bluefin tuna.

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Source: http://www.courierpostonline.com/