Cruets of olive oil for the Italian-style bread and balsamic vinegar complete the table setting. A black awning over the wine and coffee service bar gives an outdoor cafe look to the room. Thirteen tables are scattered in the room, and an upstairs area has room for a couple dozen more patrons. Above a wine rack is a pass-through into the kitchen with a shelf that's lined with cans of olive oil of various brands. Large windows with lace curtains look out on busy Healdsburg Avenue.
Service is given by two people who know how to be snappy and solicitous.
My waiter made a pleasant meal even more pleasant by his attention to the details of my comfort, including helping me carry leftovers out to the car. The wine list carries 42 bottles, almost half of which are Italian, with 11 of the selections available by the glass. In other words, here we have an unpretentious, pretty, nicely turned-out neighborhood Italian restaurant that should be able to build on Claudio's success. As for that dish I'm still dreaming about, you'll find it listed below. It's the only one with my five-star rating.