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Isabella's is about as see-and-be-seen as the relatively unpretentious Upper West Side gets. The airy bi-level space is perfect for people watching, as is the patio, where diners overlook the Museum of Natural History while picking at dishes from a Mediterranean-tinged menu. Filling homemade pastas, like the seasonal dessert-y pumpkin ravioli in brown butter sauce, and lighter fare, but skip the talked-up but ultimately mediocre brunch if you’re hungry for more than an eyeful. — Gabriella Gershenson