Dinner in Little Italy: A Visit to La Scala in Baltimore

Believe it or not, in the eight years I’ve lived in Baltimore, I had never actually had dinner in Little Italy. I’ve eaten plenty of Italian food across the city, but somehow never made it to this iconic neighborhood for a meal.

That finally changed when a friend and I decided to fix that with a little help from Foursquare. We searched for the best-rated dinner spots in the area, and La Scala came out on top. With a menu full of traditional Italian dishes, it felt like the perfect place to start my Little Italy dining adventures.

When we sat down, I spotted Polenta alla Griglia on the menu — and if you know me, you know I have very strong, loving feelings about polenta. The dish came with three baked polenta cakes topped with pancetta and porcini mushrooms in a rich cognac and porcini sauce.

While the sauce was absolutely wonderful (I could’ve eaten it with a spoon), the polenta itself wasn’t my favorite — I usually prefer it creamier or fried. Still, that sauce would have been incredible over pasta.

My friend went for the Pollo Abbruzzese, a boneless chicken breast sautéed with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and white wine sauce. It was flavorful and well-prepared — classic Italian comfort food — though not the most memorable dish of the night.

Since we were in Little Italy, I had to give in to my pasta craving and ordered the Fettuccine Verdi alla Bolognese. The dish featured fresh spinach fettuccine tossed with a creamy, beefy Bolognese sauce. The pasta was perfectly tender, and the sauce hit every comforting, hearty note I was hoping for. Exactly what I wanted from an Italian dinner.

If you’re craving straightforward, classic Italian fare — the kind that feels familiar, comforting, and satisfying — you’ll find it at La Scala. Plus, they even have an indoor bocce ball court, which is a pretty fun bonus!