Fodor's Expert Review Savio's Bistro by La Dolce Vita

It's the 30-year success of this downtown restaurant that draws people in, but it's the fresh seafood, homemade pasta and warm atmosphere that keep them here. As one of the newer eateries to join the Hotel Zone, this fine Italian restaurant has an elegant dining room and multi-level patio overlooking Laguna Nichupte. Request a table on the palapa-covered terrace, dimly lit by candles and woven lanterns. (Note that smoking is permitted outside.) Keep a lookout for the resident alligator that occasionally pops his head out of the lagoon. For an exceptional meal with a view, try the signature Boquinete Dolce Vita, a local snapper encased in puff pastry and topped with shrimp and mushrooms. Breads and pizzas are baked inside a brick oven and sprinkled with fresh ingredients like arugula and grape tomatoes. The shrimp lasagna is creamy and flavorful, and the wines are remarkably affordable. Gluten-free pastas are also available. Drop by on Friday night for live jazz, but be patient because service is not this restaurant's strongest suit.