Americatus Restaurant and Market

Iain Chisholm, chef/owner of Americatus Restaurant & Market, which opened in the summer of 2012 in the Ballpark neighborhood, is the epitome of an entrepreneur. His first food venture was a lemonade stand when he was in elementary school; he went on to earn two degrees from Johnson & Wales and work for local restaurateur Jenna Johansen. Then he got a gig in the construction industry for three years, learning skills that would help him save lots of money when he finally opened his own place. Although he scrimped on the buildout and still focuses on manageable food costs, he’s dedicated to serving new-world Italian cuisine at affordable prices. The highlights are his housemade pasta dishes; the roster always changes, but the high quality is a constant. Other reliable deals: the sandwiches at lunch, the Monday-night dinner special of roasted suckling pig or linguini, and the Tuesday Cheap Date Night with a $50 dinner for two, wine included.