Dussini's Mediterranean Bistro   

The Old Spaghetti Factory never looked so good. That's because the company that owned and operated the former family-style eatery has remade the location into an intimate, upscale bistro with a loft bar, a billiard room, a three-story glass wine cellar and a brushed-steel staircase placed prominently in the center of the main floor. There's even a modernist fireplace to complete the cozy ambience. A patio also is available for alfresco dining during the warm months. Of course, the menu has been totally redone as well. The new dishes find their flavors along the sunny Mediterranean. Starters offer several variations on the famous seafood of that region, including a "seafood martini," Dungeness crab cakes, mussels au gratin and grilled bruschetta topped with pureed albacore tuna, anchovies and garlic. You might go Greek with dolmas or the traditional salad of romaine, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. You might try Italian with a choice of five pastas, including lobster ravioli and penne with wild mushroom. Or you could go fishing with the monkfish "alla Nicoise," halibut with a herb-flavored potato crust or jumbo scallops wrapped with prosciutto. Dussini really shines with its "signature selections" -- lobster macaroni and cheese, osso buco alla Milanese and Spanish paella. The tried-and-true desserts include creme brulee, tiramisu, New York-style cheesecake and panna cotta, an Italian pudding. The restaurant offers a kids' and lunch menu as well. The bar specializes in fun and inventive cocktails, such as a pomegranate martini or a Mediterranean-style mai tai with Amaretto.