I was tipped off to this elegant spot in sight of the Eiffel Tower by my Italian colleague Davide Quaglio Cotti.He and Franco, the ebullient owner, were pals on the Adriatic coast. For 25 years Franco ran a successful restaurant in Paris and when this spot became available he grabbed it. He will welcome you with warmth and geniality and his wife, fill prepare your meal.

I was tipped off to this elegant spot in sight of the Eiffel Tower by my Italian colleague Davide Quaglio Cotti.He and Franco, the ebullient owner, were pals on the Adriatic coast. For 25 years Franco ran a successful restaurant in Paris and when this spot became available he grabbed it. He will welcome you with warmth and geniality and his wife, fill prepare your meal.

My daughter Patricia was running slightly late so I took advantage of a complimentary prosecco and was engaged in conversation by my neighbor, an elegant 80 year old notaire with an office in the quartier. He dines here at least twice a week, often with his wife. I took it as an omen of good  things to come.

Once she arrived we were served an anitpasto and bruschetta. Franco opened a Barbera purchased from a friend of Davide-it was excellent and no doubt will soon appear on the menu.

There was no need to change wines for the filet de boeuf à la plancha with a mound of spaghetti-simple and flavor. The litmus test for me at an Italian restaurant is the house tiramisu. At Ville Verdi it is silky smooth and Patricia and I loved it.

Many of neighbors were enthusiastically emptying their plates of a diverse range of pasta dishes including penne all’arrabatia, ravioli aux quatres fromages and caneloni à la ricotta. I’ll be back soon with a posse of pals to test them all.

With luncheon menus at 24 euros (entrée, plat ou plat dessert) and 30 euros for all 3 courses Villa Verdi is a place you can return to with regularity.

Villa Verdi• 42 rue de Suffren

Daily lunch & dinner except Sunday

Reservations: 01 47 34 62 22

Metro: Dupleix