Sotto

Sotto has quickly become one of those places that locals quietly love and visitors stumble upon and can't stop talking about. The two-level setup is the key to its charm: upstairs, the enoteca is bright and bustling, perfect for a glass of wine and a plate of gnocco fritto — crispy, puffy, and dangerously addictive. Downstairs, the trattoria is candlelit and intimate, the kind of basement room where you want to settle in for a couple of hours and let the evening unfold.

The menu isn't long, but everything is executed with real care. The rigatoni alla norma is rich and comforting, the pasta properly al dente, and the seasonal dishes rotate through with genuine Italian sensibility rather than Scottish-Italian compromise. Chef Francesco Ascrizzi brings Calabrian roots and experience from Edinburgh's best Italian kitchens, and it shows — this is food that tastes like someone's grandmother would approve, just plated with a bit more polish.

What really sets Sotto apart, though, is the wine. Over 200 Italian references, and the mostly-Italian staff guide you through them without a shred of pretension. You'll find something new every time you go. The service is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic — these are people who love what they do. It's not cheap, but for the quality, it's excellent value. Book ahead, especially on weekends, because Stockbridge locals have made this their regular.