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Homemade Italian dishes are plentiful at Cafe Assisi in Wrentham

The chicken Mediterranean entree at Cafe Assisi, on South Street in Wrentham.Rose Lincoln for the Boston Globe/Globe Freelance

IN THE KITCHEN Dereck DiBiase grew up in an Italian household where good food was an expectation and the center of family life. For the past 12 years, he’s tried to replicate that experience as owner of Cafe Assisi in Wrentham, serving fresh, homemade dishes that represent both southern and northern Italian cuisine. Some of the recipes he learned at home.

“Food was always a focal point,” said DiBiase. “I grew accustomed to good Italian food and how things are supposed to be made.”

His restaurant recently expanded beyond its original footprint and doubled its size, allowing him to add a full bar and more tables. The cafe now seats 55. Despite the added room, the restaurant fills quickly, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The food is the big attraction here, with fresh ingredients and ample portions.

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“We always try to provide the best possible experience, with an authentic style and fresh ingredients,” DiBiase said. “Everything is cooked to order. We’ll make dishes. As long as we have the ingredients, I’ll make anything you want.”

THE LOCALE The cafe is on Route 1A in a small retail development, not far from Interstate 495 and the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. The dining room is divided into two spaces, with the original restaurant kitchen in between and partially open, allowing patrons to watch their dinners being prepared. The decor is fairly traditional without being stuffy: comfortable seats and white cloths on the tables. On a busy night, it’s interesting to watch the energy of the kitchen. “It’s nice for the customers to be able to see what’s going on,” DiBiase said.

ON THE MENU Everything is hand-tossed or house-made, including the pizza dough and the entree sauces and fillings. Both lunch and dinner menus are lengthy, offering classic salads, antipasti, calzones, gourmet pizza, and a good selection of chicken, veal, fish, and pasta dishes. The dinner entrees fall into the $15 to $20 range, making this an affordable night out for families. Reservations are a good idea for dinner, even on weeknights. There is no formal wine list; instead the waitress will explain the selections. I chose a glass of the house pinot noir ($7), which was smooth and quite good, and the Italian bread served before dinner was a delight. For an appetizer, I chose the rottini di Bolognese ($8.99), rolled, breaded eggplant stuffed with Bolognese sauce and four cheeses and topped with a cluster of basil leaves. The eggplant was tender and the house marinara was just right, sweet and fresh. As an entree, the choice was one of the cafe’s signature dishes, chicken Mediterranean ($18.99), a chicken breast layered with spinach, roasted pepper, eggplant, ricotta, and mozzarella. The portions are more than ample: they’re almost double servings. My entree was delicious, and filled the plate, seemingly 4 inches high, served with a pink vodka sauce over squid ink linguini.

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Cafe Assisi, 667 South St., Wrentham, 508-384-9400, www.cafeassisiwrentham.com

Mary MacDonald can be reached at maryfmacdonald3@gmail.com.