It's surprising what a good renovation can do to a restaurant. After years as a run-of-the-mill fast Italian restaurant, Amici along Connecticut decided to have a facelift. To be honest, I didn't even know that they had closed temporarily, despite the fact that I pass by there almost every other day. They only recently reopened, and when my friend suggested we have dinner there, I was initially indifferent to the choice, but I was pleasantly surprised once I got there. The establishment didn't stand out strongly, but it was definitely an improvement. The atmosphere was much more pleasant, and the integration with its gelateria was better. The big surprise however, was the improvement in the food. Without upping their prices, they offered more variety and more familiar dishes. Their Aglio olio was solid, and their pizza crispy yet delicate. The gelato didn't improve, but wasn't bad. Rest assured I'll actually notice the restaurant from now on. read more