Manzo's looks like the kind of place Buca Di Beppo's design team tries to rip off. Its quintessential-Italian-eatery decor includes dark burgundy carpet, green "marble"” columns and pale salmon-colored linens covering the brown booths and tables. On the walls hang old paintings depicting simpler times, and a large white buffet sits in the center of the room. Anyone who likes "Goodfellas" should fall instantly in love with this place.

It's not a hip place to eat, though, but it does dish up good, well-priced, homemade food in large portions. So, while you won't find any sort of "Italian fusion" on the menu, you'll notice all your favorites like mostaccioli, manicotti, ravioli and spaghetti. Signature dishes (eggplant parmigiana, stuffed green peppers and bracciole), as well as a whole section of veal plates, steaks and seafood round out the menu. Almost all meals come with bread and a salad drizzled with homemade dressing. On the weekdays it offers a $6.95 lunch buffet and daily dinner specials. The raved-about Sunday buffet, which runs from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., costs $15.95, and the spread covers all eats from eggs at breakfast to thick cuts of meat.

The 160-seat restaurant has a small room available for private parties, and a fair share of its business involves catering. If you live nearby, you should take advantage and get a saucy thin-crust pie delivered right to your door.

Centerstage Reviewer: Christy Bonstell