Michelina   

3241 E Shea Blvd # 13
Phoenix, AZ 85028
602-996-8977

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Don't mind the surroundings of the drab strip mall -- it's only a disguise. Year after year, dating back to 1985, this charming little eatery provides an outstanding dining experience at moderate prices. Michelina DiSibio grew up near Naples, and the original art on the walls celebrates her heritage. The restaurant's two-level space is cleverly laid out to provide several intimate dining areas. Handmade vases are filled with beautiful fresh flower arrangements from her own garden, which also produces the vegetables for her meals. The tables, set with starched white linen, are decorated with more flowers. Michelina's menu covers northern and southern Italy, with pastas and top-quality chicken, veal, steaks and chops. But it's the seafood, impeccably fresh and embellished with vibrant, fragrant sauces, that truly displays the breadth of her skills. The signature oyster appetizer is a prime example -- six baked oysters in the shell, covered with three cheeses and topped off with spinach and a shrimp-filled cream sauce shot through with wine and brandy. It's not even on the menu, but is usually available as a daily special. Among entrees, cannelloni offers a pair of silky pasta tubes stuffed with meat and spinach, coated with a wickedly rich alfredo sauce. Fresh, homemade desserts provide an elegant finale, especially the light but intensely flavored tiramisu. The Italian grandmother's cooking compares with the finest in the Valley, but costs considerably less. Pasta dishes hover around $15, and seafood and veal top out at $25.