Good food is hard to come by these days, especially when all you see are chain restaurants and diners that claim to have the “world’s finest sundaes” or the “best burgers in Boston.” So naturally when I came across this restaurant, with pasta that tasted like it had come from Italy, and bread that made me even more addicted to carbs than I already was, I instantly wanted to share my excitement to the world, or at least to all those who read this newspaper. At last, I had found a restaurant that does not fry every single item on its menu.

    Located at 75 Washington Street in Pembroke, Orta is an exquisite restaurant which seats about 94 people. Although it doesn’t look large from the outside, entering the restaurant is kind of like stepping into one of those magical tents in Harry Potter; it resembles an average-sized camper on the outside and a mansion on the inside. As soon as my family and I walked inside the restaurant, I knew that this dinner would be a special one.

    Upon entering Orta, my eyes immediately landed on the huge wood-fire pizza oven in the corner of the room. Catching a glimpse of the inside of the oven, I noticed how the round piece of dough rose up and down in the heat, with cheese melting on its crispy crust. Already, my mouth was watering.

    As for the surroundings of the restaurant, the music was mellow and diverse, a pleasing combination of contemporary songs and jazzy instrumental tunes. This made it especially easy to talk to other people throughout the dinner. In addition, while the dim lighting of the restaurant gave it a romantic atmosphere, the soft touch of the candles lying on the tables made the place seem extremely comfortable and homey.

    That night I ordered the pesto pasta special. The plate was hot when the waitress placed it before me, and the combination of perfectly cooked noodles, steamed shrimp, pesto, and parmesan cheese set off fireworks in my mouth. It was almost like eating in Italy, but better, because the place was only 15 minutes away from my house.

    Everything about the restaurant was rather impeccable, especially the wait staff. Throughout the night, our waitress checked to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. When she served us our appetizers, the waitress even made me a cool smiley face out of the olive oil and balsamic. Now that’s what I call excellent service.

    As for the menu, there was a plethora of meal options. Because there were so many different options to choose from, it was slightly overwhelming at first. If you are a picky eater or someone who gets easily anxious in terms of decision-making, this may not be the place for you. For all those who do not enjoy Italian food, I would say the same thing to you.

    Another slight problem I faced at this restaurant was remembering my manners and trying not to eat off other people’s plates. I constantly struggled with keeping my eyes on my own food, not because I didn’t like what I ordered, but because I was fascinated by all the other meals on the table.

    Apart from the danger of eating with other people who will eat off your plate, or the constant temptation to eat until you drop, or the fact that the restaurant is difficult spot at first due to its small blue sign, Orta is definitely at the top of my list for “favorite places to eat at.” And hopefully, it will be at the top of yours too. All you need to do now is get in your car, text a few friends, and drive over to Pembroke to enjoy a perfect meal.