Lodo

A room with a view

by Liz Zack

ON THE CHEAP

If there's a better place to survey the Big Dig than from the tables at Lodo, we don't know about it. This Hanover Street bistro, with windows that roll back on sunny days, is situated at just the right angle so you can, in theory, look out over the Boston skyline while you eat. Whenever the dig is "done" (eye-roll) you'll be able to enjoy a totally unobstructed view.

For now, what you can see is the upper half of the skyline. And that, in addition to the exposed brick and linen tablecloths, makes Lodo a very chic place -- and lunch is a fantastically cheap time to check it out. The entrées are high-quality traditional Italian (read: fresh ingredients, grandma's recipe), but with a contemporary spin (multicolored pepper garnishes; tiramisu with strawberry sauce). The half-dozen lunch specials are all priced at $4.95; we found the gnocchi and the chicken primavera to be among the best. For a splurge, try the spinach salad with generous amounts of asparagus and a tangy lemon vinaigrette for $7.95.

The only problem with dining al fresco at Lodo is, well, the noise from the Big Dig. But we only have to wait another six years for that to end. Right?

Lodo, located at 210 Hanover Street, in the North End, is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (617) 720-0052.

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