Glamorous Bella Piatti serves authentic Italian fare in Birmingham

Bella Piatti means literally "beautiful plates" and the eatery’s kitchen crafts authentic Italian dishes, like this specialty “Linguine Frutti di Mare” that brims with mussels, scallops, clams, and shrimp bathed in a tomato garlic white wine sauce. The dish is topped with a langoustine.

Designed by Royal Oak’s Jeff Fontana, the glamorous spot boasts dusky murals, soft lighting, antique chandeliers, tan linen-covered tables and a metal mesh curtain used to define the space. Large windows look out onto Townsend Street and its namesake hotel.

Executive Chef Francesco Apollonia, left, and owner Liz Cutraro stand near one of the restaurant’s large murals that are taken from details of dramatic Baroque paintings by artists Caravaggio and Gentileschi.

A house specialty is the delicate appetizer called Carpaccio di Polipo-- thinly sliced octopus topped with a mix of fennel, celery, grape tomatoes, capers, lemon, and extra-virgin olive oil.

Hailing from Venice, Executive Chef Francesco Apollonia is a purist, sending out dishes that reflect his heritage but also represent all regions of Italy.

On the menu, pastas, like this Linguine Frutti di Mare, are prominent and include linguine with littleneck clams and white wine, gemelli with tomato sauce and fresh ricotta cheese, and tagliatelle with the classic Bolognese meat sauce.

Charlotte Wong, left, and her neighbor Pam Bhathena, both of Bloomfield Hills, sample an Italiano Panini of prosciutto, mozzarella, grilled pears and arugula and the orecchiette with pancetta, rapini, garlic and crushed red pepper respectively.