Inspired by the mom and pop bistros sprinkled throughout Italian towns and cities, a mano came to the Old Fourth Ward at the beginning of July, bringing with it a little slice of Europe. What a mano's menu lacks in length it more than makes up for with the quality of its classic Italian cuisine, according to its ever-growing roster of local fans.

When you come to check out a mano, begin your meal with the popular charred octopus antipasti. The chef complements the carefully seared octopus with potato, caramelized fennel, and a light citrus salad. Then move on to the primi portion of your meal, perhaps the fusilli with diver scallops or the bucatini alla Bolognese with pork and beef ragu. You can also skip straight to the secondi, which offers entrees such as porchetta with burnt carrot puree and a molasses glaze or flank steak dressed in balsamic, peppers, and lemon. Cap off your meal at a mano with some honeysuckle coffee gelato and a glass of wine or a sip of espresso.

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