Fodor's Expert Review Ristorante Pappagallo

Pappagallo, Italian for "parrot," hauntingly perches on the edge of a lagoon in a 14-acre bird sanctuary. Inside, riotously colored macaws, cockatoos, and parrots perch on swings behind plate glass, but Italian-born chef Alex Menegon's food is definitely not for the birds, especially his sublime risotto, pasta, and oh-so-yummy osso buco. The lost-in-the-jungle exoticism is enhanced by locally hewn stones, bamboo, homemade rope, and thatched palapas for outdoor seating. Yet the sleek deco-inspired black marble and polished brass accents bespeak the underlying seriousness. Be sure to thank Bogey, the African gray parrot, who really rules the roost.