Cotoletta: Homemade Italian in Bala

Beth Amadio, who with her husband, Lou, ran a small restaurant called Homemade in Narberth from 2010 to 2014, has surfaced on the Main Line.

And by surfaced - up high: Belmont Hills.

Cotoletta (201 Jefferson St., Bala Cynwyd, 610-660-5224) last week took over the spot that seemingly for eons was Mel's Italian on the Hill. (Mel's closed over the summer.)

Amadio's cozy BYOB specializes in veal and chicken cutlets (Milanese, Parmesan, marsala and piccata) - pretty much Homemade's bread and butter.

Amadio, who grew up in her family's ad premium/promotions business, got into the food biz after raising four hungry kids and hosting a lot of family meals. Homemade started as a sandwich shop but toward the end of its run added dinners.

Menu is here. She re-creates the retro-style Milan salad from the old Jimmy's Milan - iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, bacon, chopped hard-boiled egg, and shrimp.

If last weekend's crowds are any indication, she said, "90 percent of my customers knew each other" - either from Homemade or the area.

It's open for dinner only, from 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. Sunday brunch is on the way.