Due Venti

A sedate trattoria with a sophisticated Northern Italian kitchen, Due Venti's dining room seats around 50, with walls painted a warm yellow hue and decorated with several paintings. The small room and the fact that Due Venti is open only for dinner make reservations a must. Emphasizing local produce and preparing everything from scratch, including the pasta, the owners have put together a brief but inventive menu that changes with the seasons. And, perhaps as important, all but one of their elegant mains are in the $17-$20 range. Despite that they have only a small winemaker’s license permitting them to serve only wine by the glass, the Michigan reds were competitive with house pours in many other establishments. The dessert list, which again reflects a complexity of ingredients, is highlighted by a warm apple tart and a delicate flourless chocolate cake.