_Location:_ 1305 Grindstone Parkway
_Hours:_ Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday: 5 – 10 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 8 p.m.

If you’re looking for a comfortable, not-too-fancy-yet-fancy-enough venue to take a first date or even a longtime lover, all you’ve got to do is take a quick trip to Babbo’s Spaghetteria.

Snuggled next to the AT&T store in front of a giant Walmart is a small building that could be considered as close to Italy as you’ll get in Columbia. If that doesn’t sound appealing enough, you obviously don’t understand this place. It’s romantic and intimate, but not in a stuffy old person sort of way. It’s just the right combination of picturesque, comfortable, and a bit cliché with the white tablecloths and foreign music.

The food, however, is phenomenal. Everything is fresh and cooked to perfection. Many of the ingredients are not only fresh but also locally grown. You’ll never have something at Babbo’s that you don’t absolutely love.

From the Delpietro salad down to the chocolate chip cannoli, every course of your meal will be sheer perfection. Be sure to try the Pomodoro — spaghetti with fresh stewed tomatoes, basil and garlic. It’s light and goes down easily, making it a struggle for you to leave a bite on the plate.

Even the waiters are wonderful. They are very attentive but not overbearing. They keep your drinks filled and make sure there is always bread on the table, but they don’t interrupt your date every four minutes to make sure your food is “tasting all right,” which is quite refreshing.

Overall, Babbo’s Spaghetteria is the perfect place to bring your special young lady or young fellow, especially if you want to make a lasting impression, because the atmosphere and food are sure to keep you coming back.