Bites Nearby: Bravo! Cucina Italiana

The central location of — at the Lehigh Valley Mall —makes it a handy meeting place for friends and families. Serving lunch, dinner and drinks seven days a week, the restaurant is a reliable go-to spot, especially for patrons fond of Italian cuisine.

The Bravo! chain of restaurants describes itself as simultaneously upscale and affordable. The dining rooms are spacious with comfortable seating, understated décor and full table service. The majority of dinner entrees on the full menu are $14.79 - $22.49 (a few steaks are higher). Soup and salad are a la carte. Two favorite soups are lobster bisque and Italian wedding soup. The chopped salads, cobb salad and grilled salmon salad can be meals by themselves.

In addition to plenty of pasta specialties, chicken dishes, steaks, chops and seafood, Bravo! offers several varieties of pizza and savory flatbreads. On one flatbread, chicken, spinach and bacon meet under melted mozzarella and provolone. Another blends caramelized onions, roasted portobello mushrooms and gorgonzola. Both are available in full and half portions.

Diners also have the option of creating a three-course dinner for $19.95, choosing from a specific selection of salads, entrees and desserts.

Lunch entrees are generally in the price range of $10.25 - $13.25, with three daily $7.95 specials until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch can be substantial and classic Italian (eggplant parmesan, beef ravioli, lasagna Bolognese) or lighter with a contemporary sensibility (mahi mahi wrap with jicama slaw; turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich; boursin, broccoli and sundried tomato frittata).

Drink specials and bar bites are featured weekdays in the bar only. Sometimes after a power shopping session, this is what hits the spot. Pick-me-up sized bruschetta, flatbreads, burgers and shrimp wait to be washed down with a pomegranate cosmo, mango mojito or white peach sangria.

950 Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall, PA 18052.  610-266-4050.  www.bravoitalian.com