Luigi’s Italian Restaurant

The Littleton location of the Luigi’s brotherhood (the other restaurant is in Aurora) features photos of celebs such as Marlon Brando with fake testimonials (“Your lasagne is to die for,” Don Corleone wrote), and shelves on the painted exposed-brick walls that overflow with old clocks, plastic flowers and Chianti baskets. During the day, this Luigi’s is a nice, quiet spot for lunch; at night, the circular bar in the center, surrounded by high-backed red vinyl chairs, makes for a fun people-watching fishbowl. The many wine bottles in the dining room serve as a good reminder of Luigi’s wonderful wine list, which is filled with interesting picks from Italy at prices the average family can afford — and, yes, this outpost offers Luigi’s famous minestrone, too. We doubt anyone this side of Italy has anything to beat this bewitching brew, which has an appropriately rough-edged flavor and is available by the cup, the bowl and the really big bowl.