Aficionados of Piccolo's in Columbia - which closed a year ago - are getting an encore of some of their favorite Piccolo's dishes at the new AIDA Bistro & Deli. Several folks from the defunct Italian eatery are now in the kitchen at AIDA, also in Columbia.

Owners Mary and Joe Barbera brought on board former Piccolo's chefs Michael Wagner and Fred Eklund - as well as pasta maker Anna Alfeo.

"We [Columbians] only get chain-restaurant food, so there's been no great Italian fare [since Piccolo's closed]," Joe Barbera says. "Now we're getting lots of calls from people thanking us for bringing the chef and the food back."

There are two parts to AIDA. The deli offers a variety of soups, sandwiches, wraps and salads, while the bistro menu includes some salads and soups, and a variety of antipasti, fresh pastas and entrees such as eggplant parmigiana ($9.95) and grilled salmon ($12.95), each with a side of fresh linguine.

While AIDA has had only lunch hours (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) in its first month, tonight the restaurant begins dinner service, with an extended list of entrees, such as grilled New York strip ($17.95); chicken stuffed with fresh spinach, prosciutto and mozzarella ($12.95); and pan-seared scallops with fresh spinach, oven-roasted tomatoes and pine nuts in a wine-butter sauce served over linguine ($15.95).

AIDA is at 7185 A Columbia Gateway Drive. It's open for lunch Monday through Friday. Dinner hours are 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.

A stabilizing influence

If you're a regular at the Polo Grill (4 W. University Parkway), you may have noticed some changes recently. Owner Lenny Kaplan says chef Steve Bohlman has been "tweaking" the menu since he arrived in early April.

Kaplan says Bohlman was sous chef at the Polo for several years before going on to become executive chef at Kaplan's now-defunct Lenny's Chop House. But, says Kaplan, Bohlman is bringing back some of the favorites from Lenny's, such as its famed veal chop, as well as restoring some of the Polo's classics, including the corn and crab chowder, and the penne pasta with blackened chicken, peas, pine nuts and Parmesan butter.

Kaplan says Bohlman is also using his experience gained as chef at Kali's Court and the Rusty Scupper to put more of a focus on fresh fish dishes. But, adds Kaplan, the best thing Bohlman is bringing to the table is consistency.

"You can have talent to make good food, but that food has got to have the same wonderful taste each night," Kaplan says. "Steve is providing the consistency that's been lacking here for the last year and a half."

Adios, El Rancho

After less than three years in business, El Rancho - an American/Spanish eatery in Fells Point - has closed its doors and disconnected its phone. There's no word on why.

Table Talk welcomes interesting tidbits of restaurant news. Please fax suggestions to Sloane Brown at 410-675-3451 or e-mail her at sloane@livetabletalk.com.