Photo by: photos Crimson Canary Facebook page

In the space Mona’s Restaurant used to occupy, Crimson Canary’s old mafioso decor is accented by a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.  

Crimson Canary Boss Italian American Cups and Plates was opened in early November 2011 by partners Joey Newman and brothers Andre and Aaron Lobato at 141 S. Broadway.

The black and white tiles on the bar and photos of mobsters on the walls bring to mind a family-owned Italian restaurant from the ‘70s.

One can almost imagine that, while  enjoying a hearty meal, a member of the Mafia is out back “dealing” with a late grocer.

If one ever wished to exist in such a world without actually fearing for their life, Crimson Canary is a hip and exciting place to get a meal or a few drinks with friends.

Perfect for a date, this restaurant offers great food, a fun atmosphere and friendly staff.

Dubbed as “Boss” Italian food, Crimson Canary is definitely more than just “Mama’s cooking.”

The menu is full of sweet, salty and spicy delicacies, with a full bar and an amazing dessert selection, including a dark chocolate cake with spumoni ice cream, tiramisu with amaretto syrup and NY Cheesecake and fig compote.

Appetizers include a legendary cured meat and cheeses platter, as well as calamari, a warm bread basket and a decadent Caprese salad.

For the main course, Crimson Canary entrées are large. Ranging in price from about $10-15, splitting a meal with a friend or date can maximize wallet and stomach space for the delightful appetizers and desserts.

The shrimp risotto with sweet peppers is a popular dish, and rightly so. Perfect al dente risotto sits in a warm sauce beneath a bed of shrimp and is garnished with the sweetest peppers. This dish is light and hearty, sweet and salty and delicious in every way.

Crimson Canary has a wide range of desserts. The tart sorbetto napoleon on top of a sweet lemon wafer makes a refreshing and delicate monument to end dinner. This sorbetto will be a godsend this summer when the hot nights on Broadway bring the masses in for refreshment.

Owners Joey Newman and Aaron and Andrew Lobato also own Interstate Kitchen & Bar on 10th and Sante Fe, where comfort food and whiskey dominate the menu in a ‘50s style diner.

These guys seem to have mastered the art of epic dining, fun and hip décor, friendly staff, artisan twists on classic dishes and of course, a dab of self-indulgent pop culture.

Crimson Canary is a small restaurant and reservations are necessary if you want to sit in one of their limited booths. However, sitting at the bar is a fun way to meet people and watch the bartenders at work.

Crimson Canary is all about the food and mood, serving up delicious and unique dishes, and providing a dark, faux-seedy atmosphere with the red velvet wall coverings, low-lighted chandeliers and Christmas lights above the bar.

You might wish you were meeting the Don here instead of your friends, but either way, Crimson Canary will be a delightful experience.

Situated on South Broadway, the restaurant is only a short drive from campus. Students can also take the lightrail F-Line, get off at Alameda and walk a few blocks.

Crimson Canary is open 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m., and the kitchen is open until midnight.