@beam, I have no use for Wells. When it comes to media reviewers, I prefer Adam Platt (Grub Street/NY Magazine). He gave italienne a pretty enthusiastic 2 stars.
However, since those reviews came out, there have been significant changes at the restaurant. Several months ago, they changed from having two different menus (bar room vs. rear dining room) to just one menu throughout. And they recently rebranded as Trattoria Italienne.
Our first visit was right after they opened towards the end of 2016. We immediately became fans and have been back more than a dozen times (it’s a short walk from our apartment). In addition to Chef Sippel’s delicious cuisine, the welcome is warm, service is excellent, and the ambiance is pleasing. Definitely a winning combination.