La Baita, an Italian restaurant located in Butler at 98 Main St., offers customers a unique dining experience by making them feel as if they have stepped right into the heart of Italy.

By name, La Baita translates to "the refuge," and the restaurant surely offers diners an escape from everyday life into a friendly Italian atmosphere.

Walking into the restaurant, I noticed that customers dining are quick to make conversation with each other, making you feel as if you were attending Sunday dinner among family.

Fresh seafood, pork chops, pasta, daily specials and exquisite homemade desserts are just a few things on La Baita's menu. Gluten-free wheat products are also available upon request.

Although La Baita is BYOB, the restaurant is one of the few that serve wine from New Jersey's very own Westfall Winery.

Owner Edwin Melgar has worked in the restaurant business for years before managing and eventually opening La Baita in 2003. 

Italian classic songs played in the background, as my guest and I were quickly attended to and read the evening's specials. Most Italian restaurants serve warm fresh bread, but La Baita goes the extra step and serves it alongside a delicious chickpea salad.

After hearing the specials, my husband had remembered a tuna martini ($12.95) that had been a previous special of the restaurant. It consisted of raw tuna in between mango and avocado, served in a martini glass. He asked if they could prepare the tuna martini for an appetizer on this particular night.

The waiter went to the kitchen and promptly came back to let us know they had the ingredients on hand. I ordered the potato soup (soup of the day), which was creamy and filling. All questions were answered honestly and we were given great suggestions for our best menu choice.

I ordered off the menu and had the gnocchi, prepared in a hearty bolognese sauce ($11.95) that was rich in flavor. The sauce was exactly what I was looking for on a cold night. My husband ordered the veal chop special ($30.95) which was a nicely sized portion, served as a thick cut and cooked to perfection. Although we had a big meal and skipped dessert on this evening, our favorites at La Baita are the flan and Tartufo.

This was not the first time we dined at La Baita, and it certainly will not be our last. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for an authentic and hearty Italian meal.

Sunday's early-bird menu is served from 1 to 4 p.m. for only $14.95 per person, and if you order off of the prix-fixe daily lunch special menu, it is only $7.95 per person. La Baita is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.

The restaurant is also available on Mondays for private parties and offers catering as well. They have a parking lot and have valet parking on the weekends.

For reservations, call 973-838-2100. All major credit cards are accepted.