Lots of windows and open spaces, a huge stairway with a white banister, and beautiful blue decorative ceilings mark your entrance to Hot Tomatoes. In fact, it was the look of the place that sent me back one day with my husband to try the food.

A great time to try Hot Tomatoes is about 2pm on a weekday. The lunch crowd is gone, and you'll receive personal service with a smile. The atmosphere here is much more spacious than that of many New Haven restaurants, with mirrors, high ceilings and windows that line College Street. Even on the busy street, it was quiet enough inside to feel virtually alone.

Their selection of martinis is mind-boggling. Jason tried the key lime, and I tried one with strawberry and lemonade. Both were delicious, and you'll notice that the cost of $8 each isn't on the menu.

For lunch, I had the panini with applewood bacon and cheese. It was a step above the average sandwich, cooked on thick white bread with a little butter. The side dish of tomato bisque was my favorite part of the meal, and it blended perfectly with the panini. Jason isn't a soup person, so he wasn't overly impressed. But I thought the flavor and spices were just perfect, and the fresh taste of the tomato was the best part.

Jason had the Torte Rose, which is cheese tortellini in a light cream sauce with sausage, mushroom, tomato and spinach. For a sausage fan, this dish is delightful and reminded me of some of the dishes we had in Italy. It wasn't too heavy, so it's just right for lunch or dinner.

We splurged and tried dessert, when we also sampled a couple of different drinks. Jason had a martini with espresso and vanilla, and I had a coffee with Irish cream and Godiva chocolate. Mine was mellow and smooth, while Jason's packed a definite punch. The sugar stick was needed in his! We also tried the Hot Tomatoes Ice Cream Sandwich, which is homemade chocolate brownie surrounding coffee gelato. It's not a dense chocolate dish, which are my favorite, but we enjoyed the flavor and finished it off. When we asked to take home a few leftovers, the waitress gave us an additional side dish to take with us.

We'll be returning to this restaurant for the atmosphere, service, and the delicious food.