Sophia is a great spot to go Italian. Located among a row of restaurants on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn it offers a casual yet classy setting with linen-topped tables and friendly service. The food stands above what you'd expect at a neighborhood restaurant. Appetizers include baked clams smothered in lemon-butter sauce. Fried calamari, lightly coated and crispy, is cooked in Italian olive oil and served with a tomato dipping sauce. Larger plates include pasta dishes, like penne with shrimp and vodka sauce; tortellini with fresh tomatoes and mushrooms; and linguini with shrimps, scallops and crab meat.  Veal is cooked several different ways including a broiled veal chop, and Scaloppine Di Vitello Alla Sorrentina made with sautéed veal, eggplant and topped with fresh mozzarella. It's excellent. Desserts include a traditional tiramisu and spumoni drizzled with chocolate syrup.

- Thomas Rafael