Plates of roasted vegetables draw your eye to the front window, and the accompanying aromas will reel in the rest of you. Don't resist -- this is a neighborhood favorite for a reason, and a good stop for Freedom Trail walkers. The best appetizer is a sampler of those gorgeous veggies. Move on to superb roasted meats or bounteous home-style pasta dishes. Roast lamb, penne alla puttanesca, and chicken stuffed with ham and cheese are all terrific. Panini (sandwiches) are big in size and flavor -- the prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato is sublime, and chicken parmigiana is tender and filling. Originally a little takeout place, Artú now fills three storefronts, one of which holds a marble-topped bar. It isn't a great place for quiet conversation, especially during dinner in the noisy main room, but do you really want to talk with your mouth full?

There's another Artú on Beacon Hill at 89 Charles St. (tel. 617/227-9023). It keeps the same hours, except that it opens at noon on Sunday and 5pm on Monday.