Il Colosseo

The 18th Avenue area of Bensonhurst is a blend of older Italians and younger Asians living in two-family homes with driveways and garages. Il Colosseo, open since the early 1990s, is where you'll see evidence of the changing demographics and how lovingly prepared Italian food and wood-fired pizza brings disparate people together. The laminated menu is a classic document of old favorites: pasta e fagioli, veal piccata, chicken marsala and all manner of pasta, plus the declaration, "If there is something you would like and you don't see it in our menu, please ask us!" There are American concessions, as in butter pats served with crusty loaves of peasant bread and lemon slices automatically delivered with water. It's a bustling, well-run place, the food far better than you might expect and the Italian wine list fairly priced. A party room is available for up to 90 people.