The structure was gutted, rebuilt inside and reopened as Arthur’s Café, a cozy, family-friendly eatery serving lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. The leaded glass door leads to a comfortable interior that encompasses eight booths, two tables, and a full-service bar with stools for six. The left side of the restaurant has three booths and the bar, while a stone fireplace highlights the far wall on the right.

The walls are of light wood paneling on the diagonal and the tables and booths match. The chairs and the booths have padded seating.

Arthur’s Café specializes in Italian food and offers large portions at moderate prices. All dishes are available for takeout, but pizza is the favored food in that department. Grinders, and eggplant and chicken parmigiana follow.

The menu is the same for lunch and dinner, and most food desires can be met, be it for something light to full-course meals. Daily specials are also available.

Diners can begin with a choice ten appetizers, ranging from bruschetta at $3.95 to shrimp cocktail, hot Buffalo wings, or clams casino, each at $6.95. Arthur’s lists its fried mozzarella ($4.95) as a “house specialty.”

Two soups are offered, either by the cup, $2.75, or bowl, $3.50, as are three salads: tossed, antipasto and Caesar ($3.50–$5.75).

Pasta entrees include a choice of soup or salad; meat and seafood entrees offer the same choice plus pasta, rice, or vegetables.

There are seven specialty pastas, ranging from $9.50 for pasta with fresh mushrooms to $12.25 for linguini with calamari and clams in fra diavolo sauce; seven baked pasta dishes — including lasagna, manicotti, and eggplant rollatini — from $7.95 to $9.95; and seven additional pasta choices. These include pasta with marinara sauce, $6.95, ravioli, $7.50, and cheese tortellini Alfredo, $10.50.

The entree menu also has nine chicken choices, each $12.95, seven veal at $13.95, eight seafood from $11.95 to $15.95, and five from the grill, $14.95–$19.95. Veal and chicken dish preparation includes picatta, francaise, and cacciatore; the top priced seafood dish is seafood combo Picasso, which includes shrimp, clams, broccoli and wine over linguini.

Grill choices include baby backed ribs, full or half rack, T-bone steak, and filet mignon.

Those seeking lighter fare can get burgers ($5.95–$6.95), grinders ($5.95–$7.95), calzones ($6.50–$9) or pizza in one of three sizes and a variety of toppings. A small cheese pie is $7. Unusual favorites at Arthur’s Café are the salad pizza and the baked penne pizza.

A daily selection of desserts is also offered, each $3.75.

Diners can also choose from mixed drinks; six beers on tap, 12- or 16-ounce glass or by the pitcher and several in the bottle; and a half-dozen wines by the glass or bottle.

Arthur’s Café, 133 Mt Pleasant Road, is open Monday through Thursday from 11 to 9 and on Friday and Saturday from 11 to 10; closed Sunday; 426-2226. Senior citizen discount available.