Neighborhood restaurants often go unnoticed to residents of the zip code next door. And sometimes it’s better that way: Often when the entire city tries to get its paws on your favorite spot’s homemade pasta, you’re left with a two-hour wait on a Saturday night, and gems like an old-school Clams Casino are in danger of being voted off the menu for fancier fare. Luckily, at Village Belle, the 90-seat dining room and its big mahogany bar offer ample space for neighbors and neighboring zip codes alike. And the Clams Casino appetizer is still here. Although it's often described as a Mediterranean spot with a seasonal menu, there is also a strong Italian influence here. The red gravy is the kind we try to create in our own kitchens as we imagine our visiting Nonna helping us crush the tomatoes. The meatball sliders are divine.  But it’s not all Italian-inspired: you’ll find a wealth of seafood and staples like seared chicken and NY strip steak, so don’t rule this spot out on days when you’re not craving tagliatelle. After earning two bells from Craig Laban shortly after its opening, this spot, complete with red-leather banquettes, still has a kitschy charm that keeps it as the name suggests: a village belle. Whether you actually live in the neighborhood or simply want to feel like you’re a part of it, stop in and send a nod to your friends across the Delaware through the floor-to-ceiling windows.