For the past three years I’ve been dodging tips from friends and readers, who’ve suggested that I travel across town to dine at Antica Italian Kitchen in Avon. When it comes to driving long distances to review Italian restaurants, I’m definitely a “once bitten, twice shy” kind of guy.

But earlier this year, I ran out of excuses. That’s when owner Fadi Daoud opened a second location of his popular Italian restaurant, this one on my side of town. After a recent visit, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about: Antica rises a few rungs above the typical neighborhood trattoria to deliver a reliable, consistent and satisfying dining experience. All the classics are here, deftly prepared using high-quality ingredients and delivered in a professional manner in an attractive space.