From the outside, the Tuscan Kitchen — which opened in Salem Depot in 2010 — can be a little daunting due to the sheer size of the place. But we were pleasantly surprised that when the doors were opened for us to the three-floor, 17,000-square-foot restaurant the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

Menu: 17/20

The menu is varied and includes everything from small plates to salads to wood-fired thin-crust pizza to pasta to entrees that include duck, veal, chicken, lamb and seafood; pretty much what you'd expect to find at a restaurant specializing in regional Italian cuisine. While you may have some trouble pronouncing the dishes as we did, there's plenty to choose from. Vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant have several choices. And if you are a wine lover, you'll want to take some time going over the long list of libations.

Assagi (small tastes): 17/20

Our Gourmet: There are several “small tastes” on the menu, many of which sounded delicious, but I couldn't pass up the Salumi e Formaggi, a tasting of artisan cured meats and specialty cheeses, which included Prosciutto di Parma, Coppa, Soppresata, Parmigiano Reggiano, Burrata and truffle honey ($9 per person). Served with freshly baked ciabatta bread, it was a great way to start a meal. Actually, it would have made a great meal in and of itself.

TDC: I had the Wood Roasted Portobello Mushroom (1 for $4, 3 for $11, 5 for $17). It was cooked just right to give it a nice meaty texture to go with the earthy flavor enhanced by roasting. The Portobello was slightly salty, but that worked for me.

Entrees: 14/20

OG: I ordered Pollo Arrosto ($24), a spit-roasted rosemary half chicken served with sage roasted butternut squash & caramelized walnut mista, crispy pancetta spinach and extra virgin drizzle. The chicken was tender and tasty but I was disappointed the skin was neither brown nor crispy, arguably the best part of any roast chicken. The pancetta in the spinach tended to overwhelm the dish with its saltiness. The first two forkfuls were good, but I'd had enough after that. (7/10)

TDC: The Tuscan Kitchen offers half orders of their pasta dishes for those who like to mix it up. I chose a half-order of the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese (Full $14/Half $9), a signature dish from Emilia Romagna, a historic section of Italy well known for its pasta and a half-order of the Scampi. Unfortunately there was a mistake in the order, and I got a full serving of the Bolognese instead. Our server was quick to apologize and was ready to fix the order, but I chose to dive right into the pasta plate in front of me instead. The thin noodles are house made, which is apparent in their fresh flavor. The beef and veal Bolognese sauce and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano complemented the pasta, giving it a nice classic taste. (7/10)

Desserts: 17/20

OG: After the server told us all the desserts are made in their in-house bakery, I knew I had to order one. It was hard to choose but being in the mood for chocolate I ordered the Chocolate Ganache Cake ($8), a flourless chocolate cake, with amarettocherry sauce and Chambord-orange zest reduction.

The cake was a round disk of deep chocolaty fudgy goodness. If, like me, chocolate is one of your four food groups, you'll enjoy. However, I challenge you to finish the entire thing. (9/10)

TDC: For dessert I had the House Made Tiramisu ($8). The dessert, served in a teacup, is layered with espresso and rum-soaked ladyfingers, marscapone crème, and hazelnut biscotti. It was packed full of rich and creamy flavor that kept my spoon digging in until there was no more to dig for. (8/10)

Final thoughts: 19/20

You will definitely feel taken care of at Tuscan Kitchen.

Optional valet parking and coat check elevate the experience.

From the décor to the service to the fireplaces, the restaurant has a definite “warmth.” The live entertainment (Wednesday through Saturday nights, according to their website), was so good we perhaps lingered over dinner longer than we normally would.

There are plenty of seating options, which include grabbing a seat at the wine bar, which we did while we waited for our table. Also, even though we went on a night when there was a 45-minute wait, and the tables were obviously full, the place does not feel crowded because of how the seating is arranged. Tuscan Kitchen seems like it'd be a great spot to grab a glass of wine and hunker down when the snow really starts to fall.

Total: 84/100