Fratelli Ristorante

Fratelli Ristorante, in Sandy's Quarry Bend shopping center not too far from Rio Tinto Stadium, serves a well-chosen menu of Italian favorites such as pizza, pasta, salads and grilled entrees. Fratelli's chic ambience is a bit surprising, given its suburban retail location. Fratelli, which means "brothers" in Italian, is owned and operated by brothers Pete Cannella and Dave Cannell, whose family also owns the popular Canella's Italian restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City.

The atmosphere at Fratelli is sophisticated but casual, with high ceilings, huge windows, and accents of copper and dark wood throughout the interior. It's perfect for a business or friendly lunch, casual dinner with friends, or date night. Almost everything about Fratelli is a little restrained, from the elegant decor to the well-chosen menu to the moderate portion sizes and correspondingly moderate prices. At Fratelli you can get wonderful Italian meal for about $15, excluding beverages. The most expensive item on the menu is the "smoke topped" Tuscan New York steak, priced at $22.

Fortunately, the flavors at Fratelli aren't restrained, with bold tastes throughout the menu from the sweet, tangy, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette salad dressing to the fresh, herb-infused Grandma's marinara sauce to the spicy Colossimo's sausage that accompanies many of the dishes. My favorite menu item at Fratelli's is the Fratelli pizza, with mascarpone, prosciutto, gorgonzola and pear topped with arugula and a balsamic reduction. The rich mascarpone, salty prosciutto and gorgonzola, fresh, peppery arugula and subtly sweet pear are a delicious combination. While all the pizzas I've tried at Fratelli have great flavor, the thin, Napoli-style pizza crust can be too chewy.

Fratelli makes all their pasta and sauces in house, and my favorite selection from their pasta menu is the spaghetti with meatball and Grandma's marinara sauce. I was less impressed by the lasagna, which was flavorful but very soft.

Fratelli has a great selection of desserts, including house-made gelato and their signature dessert, "The Cake," a pistachio cake topped with layers of lemon mousse, fresh raspberries, buttercream, marzipan and lemon glaze. They have a large selection of wines by the bottle or by the glass, including several Italian wines.

Fratelli Ristorante
9236 S. Village Shop Dr. (approx. 1000 E.) in Sandy
801-495-4550

Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Lunch items $4-$14
Dinner entrees $9-$22