Referred to as “Bel Air’s Own Little Italy,” Buontempo Brothers, located at 1 South Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, definitely has earned that title.  Just by walking into the restaurant you are guaranteed friendly greetings from the workers as well as a delicious meal.

The atmosphere at Buontempo Brothers is unbeatable. The restaurant is located along Main Street, and the small size contributes to its casual, welcoming environment.  In addition to the ambiance, the employees are helpful, professional, and friendly. Buontempo’s has a wonderful selection of food on their menu. They make strombolis, hot and cold subs, tons of pasta dishes, and desserts. They also sell every type of pizza imaginable, including veggie, B.B.Q. chicken, and seafood pizza. With the wide selection of meals, everyone can find something that appeals to their tastebuds.

After contemplating the varied menu, I decided that I could not go wrong with cheese ravioli, my favorite pasta dish.  I’m a tough judge when it comes to my favorite dish. Luckily for Buontemp Brothers the cheese ravioli did not dissapoint.   The pasta itself was cooked perfectly. It was not too al dente but it was not too soggy either. The sauce was sweet, seasoned wonderfully, and the consistency was perfect. The cheese was deliciously melted on top and the entire dish was topped with a garnish of basil.

The meal was huge and after eating just one of the giant raviolis, I was stuffed. The meal was large enough to take home.  I was happy to enjoy the meal again the next day.  The meal came with salad and breadand this proved to be the worst part of the meal. The salad was lacking taste due to the watery consistency of the dressing.  The bread did not make up for the salad because it was stale.

Even though the salad and bread were subpar, they did not take away from the entrée. I still enjoyed the meal because the wonderful pasta made up for these disappointments.

The restaurant offers specials every Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, an entrée of ravioli, spaghetti, stuffed shells, manicotti, or lasagna is only $5.99. On Tuesday, if a customer buys a large 16-inch pizza, the second large pizza is $2.00.

So the next time you’re in downtown Bel Air drop into Buontempo Brothers, ask for a pasta dish instead of the typical slice of pepperoni pizza. You will not be disappointed.

Caroline Spath is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and JCpatriot.com