In an area full of diverse restaurants, it would be easy to overlook Vincenzo’s as simply another generic Italian restaurant. Vincenzo’s, however, is affordable for college students on a tight budget while still offering the ambiance of an upscale restaurant.

I visited Vincenzo’s on a cold, rainy evening with two friends and was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is softly lit by candles at every table and the interior feels intimate and cozy. In addition, the wait staff is welcoming and pleasant.

Choosing an entree isn’t an easy decision, Vincenzo’s offers a wide variety of pastas, subs, salads, and pizza. The restaurant also features different entree and desert specials every night. On Mondays, Vincenzo’s offers an all-you-can-eat special: chose between baked lasagna ($11.25) or spaghetti with your choice of sauce ($9.25). The special includes unlimited pasta, tossed salad, garlic bread, and coffee or tea; a pretty good deal!

Vincenzo’s takes pride in making all of its sauces from scratch. They are so fresh and delicious that customers buy the sauces to go. Alfredo, marinara, tomato (each $3.50 per pint) or meat sauce ($4.50 per pint) are available. I sampled the tomato sauce, which was tangy and fresh, made from ripe tomatoes and just the right amount of Italian spices and herbs.

The salads aren’t too exciting – just plain iceberg lettuce – but they are large and many of the salad dressings are homemade. A tossed salad is available with an entree for only $0.99 extra. Bypass the salad-instead, order the soup to start off a meal; my friend described the minestrone ($2.75 for a cup, $4.49 for a bowl) as some of the best he’d ever had. The minestrone is a rich tomato-based broth loaded with fresh vegetables and pasta.

The Chicken Parmagiana ($12.99) is a steaming hot chicken breast smothered in fresh marinara sauce and melted mozzarella over a heaping pile of the pasta of your choice. The freshness of the sauce completed the dish and the portion size was just the right amount. The lasagna ($10.49) is a little less flavorful, however the portion size is larger.

The variety and flexibility of Vincenzo’s menu makes it a good place for vegetarians. Most of the entrees with meat sauce can be adjusted. Ala Vincenzo’s ($9.99) is normally your choice of pasta baked with cheese and meat sauce, but marinara or tomato sauce can be substituted. Other vegetarian entrees include the spinach ravioli ($9.25) or the classic fettuccine alfredo ($10.25), although chicken can be added to the fettuccine for an additional $2.

Vincenzo’s offers a myriad of tempting deserts, which includes the traditional Italian deserts, such as Spumoni and Cannoli (both $3.99), and several variations of cheesecakes. The Chocolate Confusion ($4.50), a rich chocolate cake layered with airy chocolate mousse and topped with a decadent chocolate ganache and chocolate chips, will surely satisfy any sweet tooth.

Vincenzo’s is also available for carry-out or delivery and offers several great deals. A cheese pizza can be ordered at great rates: 16” for only $8.99, or a gigantic 20” pizza for $12.99.

If you’re having a late night craving for quality pizza, Vincenzo’s is the place to order– pizzas are cheesy and delicious and the delivery service is exceedingly speedy. On Super Bowl Sunday, my suitemates and I placed an order an hour and a half before the game started, thinking it would take at least that long for a delivery. Our pizza arrived promptly 30 minutes later and was devoured long before the game started.

Vincenzo’s strikes the perfect balance for college students – nice enough to take the parents or a date, yet affordable and casual enough for a relaxed dinner with friends. Whether hoping for a departure from the Pit or desiring some authentic Italian food, Vincenzo’s can offer you a delicious, homemade meal and friendly service.