Center City offers so many posh places to dine that it can sometimes be intimidating trying to maneuver a menu. It’s refreshing when a tradition of comfort in the kitchen drives offerings that are familiar yet still intriguing – and this is the case at Girasole. For nearly two decades, Girasole was located at 13th and Locust and played host to many a performer including opera singer, Pavarotti. But for the last three years, the Mediterranean Mecca has been situated on the ground floor of The Symphony House, in the heart of the city’s theater district. Here, high ceilings, plush banquettes and ample seating give Girasole a spacious and lofty feeling. The room is wrapped in gold lame, making for quite the lavish spot on Broad Street. An inviting bar greets guests as they walk in the door. And when you walk in, you might want to order the restaurant’s signature drink, the Girasole Martini, which is a wonderfully refreshing mix of amaretto and pineapple juice that’s perfect for any night … Or day. And in the kitchen, a group of Italian women is hard at work creating each of the day’s house-made offerings, which includes homemade pastas and mouthwatering desserts. The menu includes a multitude of carpaccios for meat eaters and seafood lovers alike. There are house-made pastas as well as dried pastas, and a seafood risotto that might just be the highlight of the entire menu. For dessert, a labor-intensive semifreddo known as the Crocantino is made each day on a cold marble tabletop and makes for a wonderful finale.