A blue crescent awning and blue striped curtains dress the blue-framed glass door of this cash-only "home style" Italian restaurant. Taylor Street, which is, contrary to logical thought, located on Central Street, looks like the spawn of a loft and a diner. Sleek light fixtures and pale brick complement the light wood booths and coat hook-studded storage space. Framed photos of the staff and signed pictures of celebrities speckle the walls, and the orange and blue color scheme somehow avoids the "Go Bears!" association, appearing sophisticated on vinyl-covered chairs and a marble-meets-cafeteria patterned table top.

The bar could be bigger in such a laid-back space (though the restaurant is still waiting on a liquor license), and gets crowded from people picking up take out and reading specials (like eggplant parmesan for $9.50) from the hand-written menu board.

The menu itself—a Xeroxed, Microsoft Word-printed piece of paper—reflects the simplicity of the food. Soup and salad go for about $5, Pizzas range from $9-$16, and the usual gang of pasta and Italian subs/beef range from $6-$10.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Puhala