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Review content:
This is our favorite restaurant of many years, with a quaintness and coziness that are hard to find on this side of the Atlantic. We eat in the bar, where there's dim lighting and old-fashioned, roomy booths. Strains of Frank Sinatra waft through the room. It's a place to soak up atmosphere and people-watch, as much as anything. Often there are large family groups celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special occasions, and watching the desserts delivered is especially entertaining. On a quieter evening, just your own conversation becomes more special in this ultra-relaxing setting. Dinner begins with melt-in-your-mouth bread with butter. The basket will be refilled as many times as you like. It's hard to choose from the menu when you know how good everything is, but my favorite is the scampi, while my husband favors the scallops. The seasoning is delicious and unique. We've tried several appetizers, including the caprizzi, zucchini, and shrimp cocktail, and enjoyed them all. Desserts are equally good, and they add new ones here and there. Service is friendly and helpful and you're never rushed as you enjoy the experience and watch the sunset through the big window in the bar. There's also a TV featuring the most timely sports events, for those who are interested. At Christmas, the whole bar area and the adjoining restaurant are lit with colored lights, and in the bar they're reflected off the window to make it even more festive. Our Riazzi's Christmas dinner is an important part of the holidays. This is a family-run restaurant, small and intimate, not a ""chic"" or ""upscale"" joint for people seeking to impress or be impressed. It's a Left Bank kind of place, not fancy but full of character and tradition, and if that's what you love best, you'll enjoy Riazzi's.
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