IT’S Monday evening, the eve of a public holiday and Knutsford Boulevard has a Friday feel about it. We’re heading up to Johanna Thwaites’ three-year-old restaurant, aptly called ‘Up On The Roof’ (or D’Roof), where she is this evening inviting folks to Eat Italian.

Our knees do not (thankfully) let us down as we make it all the way to the top. Because of the inclement weather we’re indoors with little or no hope of enjoying the Knutsford lights nor curling up in any of the comfortable soft outdoor furniture.

But hey, inside offers just as much ambiance, with the classical offerings of singer Josh Groban as well as mouthfuls of tasty mango bruschetta and a glass of Merlot immediately setting the mood.

Italian Mondays have been up and running since July 3 (the first Monday) and continue for the month of August, and we’re happy to see that it attracts a crowd even in the rain. Brian, the bartender, is busy pouring wine as well as creating frozen mudslides and Bob Marley Funeral, a mélange of strawberry syrup, crème de menthe and Galliano.

Bruschetta out of the way, we pass on the zuppa de pesce alla Romano (the soup course) and move instead to the Insalata de Pesce, the palate-cleanser salad ahead of the super creamy, rain-comforting fettucine with chicken and bell pepper cream sauce.

The smooth classical sounds of Josh Groban have been replaced by the distinct and genre-defining voices of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. It’s one of those comfortable evenings with no one in a rush to leave. We should, in fact, explain that the recorded music is in lieu of flautist and saxophonist Nicholas Laraque, whose performance under the stars was interrupted by persistent rains.

Thankfully, the consistent good food from the kitchen continues to take centrestage with Uncle Tom’s Italian cream cake all set to close the meal (we won’t ruin the surprise twists nor the ingredients, but leave you instead to enjoy your own decadent mouthful).

Johanna Thwaites, beautiful and dramatic in full white (rain certainly didn’t dampen her wardrobe choice) moves from table to table greeting guests in her own inimitable style.

“Much has changed on the Boulevard over the last three years,” she shares with SunDay Cuisine.

It has indeed, with restaurateurs ‘competing’ with the informal lunch trade (interpret this to mean food from the back of a van) and beggars all over (we counted five on leaving the restaurant). The very visible police station seemingly does very little to bring a sense of order to the ‘unruly’ Boulevard.

Eating out in the city ought not to be this stressful but it is, so hats off to all the restaurateurs who bravely keep their establishments open and use lots of creativity to lure diners. Up on the Roof offers diners an additional reason to want to eat out, for Italian Mondays inclusive of a glass of wine, starts at J$1,200.