There are two Divino's on the same street-one is a restaurant with a piano bar and the other is this one, mainly take-out and delivery but with a bright little dining area as well. I prefer to come to this one because the atmosphere is more casual and service is quick and friendly.
This may not be the best Italian food in town, but this could be called Italian comfort food. You always know what to expect, the standard has been consistent through the years, and most of the menu is quite authentic. Start with a glass of the house wine, and take your time scanning the menu. I usually start with the Zucchini Fritti or the Vitello Tonnato (fried zucchini or veal with tuna sauce.) The portions are on the large side so make sure you don't order too much.
There are usually a list of specials written on a blackboard. There range from a salad, soup, and a few pastas and entrees such as fish. My favorites are the Rigatoni Siciliana (with eggplants and mozzarella) and the Linguine Clam Sauce (white sauce, and I usually exchange the linguine with spaghetti.) The Gnocchi Divino (with a meat sauce) is good but very heavy. Unless you are extremely hungry, you are better off with something else.
Meat and fish dishes are also good, with Veal Piccata, Marsala, Chicken Parmigiana, Sorrentina and others on the menu. These tend towards the American Italian variations but are made well. Sometimes, the specials are salmon, grilled or poached and other types of fish. The Seafood Crepe is another one of my favorites, although I take the appetizer portion, which is more than enough.
There are some good desserts here. The tiramisu is always reliably good. There are also Zuppa Ingelese (trifle) and Fragole con Zabaione (delicious strawberries with zabaglione sauce or whipped cream.) The cakes tend to be too heavy. If you wish, you can also have them pack your dessert to go.
The dining room here is small, fitting about a dozen tables. There is a food counter at the back and then the open kitchen behind that. The space is bright and cheery. More often than not, there is no wait as most of the business is in delivery or take-out.
The other restaurant is called Divino Ristorante. It is located at 1556 Second Ave (80th & 81st Sts.) tel: (212) 861-1096. It has a completely different atmosphere. Most nights, there is music and live music with piano and a singer (they are a couple who have been with the restaurant for ages.) The crowd is older, middle-age, and there is sometimes even dancing late at night.