| rev:text
| - After reading the other reviews, I thought perhaps I would weigh in - they seem to be all over the place. The critics are correct that the decor seems dated. To me, having grown up back east with this very sort of restaurant, it was charming. The restaurant is particularly enjoyable to visit at night, when they turn on the lights in the garden.
I enjoy the layout of the dining room, although I agree it is a 'cooler' experience to eat in the bar. I guess some people could be offended that the staff sit down and eat in the bar when it is slow, but I'm not one of those people - I think it adds to the charm.
I had a very late lunch yesterday - around 3 - thanks to an appointment that went on forever. So we ended up heading to Riazzi's for a late dinner, around 8:30. At that time of the evening, the dining room was closed., so we sat in the bar.
Their service is truly one of the strengths of this restaurant. On this night, they were unusually attentive - even for them. The waters came out immediately upon sitting down, then they took your drink order - as it should be. Neither my iced tea or water ever got below half a glass. This is something I occasionally find annoying at places where the staff draws a lot of attention to itself when they refill drinks - particularly when it interrupts the flow of conversation. Not at Riazzi's - they are attentive but unobstrusive.
Their bread is my favorite restaurant bread in the Valley - hands down. It is actually better than the Italian bread I grew up eating back east in Hartford, New York, Boston and Providence. It's so good that I wish they had loaves available. You have to possess a lot of discipline not to fill up on the bread.
The salad is as others have described it - traditional, but fresh.
My favorite item on the menu is now listed under pizzas and described as a Spinach Pie. This used to be listed under appetizers as the Grass Pie, but if you order a Grass Pie, they'll still know what you mean. It is a cheeseless pizza with spinach and arrabiata sauce. Confession: I love all things arrabiata. But this combination here is perfect. For about 1.50 (I can't recall the exact figure), they'll add mozzarella to it, but I've never done that because it is perfect as it.
They bring you a healthy amount of tasty parmesan cheese, so you can always throw that on the Spinach Pie.
So, I had that. Outstanding as usual. My wife ordered the Penne Primavera, which was very good. Last time I was there with my daughter, she had the penne with garlic and oil, which I thought was just superb. Simple, but perfect for a garlic fan like me. I have a feeling most folks skip over such an entree in favor of something more elaborate, but I recommend it.
We didn't have an appetizer, and even though I wouldn't describe the portions as enormous, they were generous and neither of us could finish our entrees.
Is Riazzi's going to be sexy for the young, hip crowd? Probably not, although it is romantic at night with their lights and sunken/elevated dining room, and has the 'cool' factor of the bar. It totally hit my 'nostalgic for the east-coast Italian restaurant' needs.
I just wish the service at most modestly-priced Valley eateries approached Riazzi's. You can get spoiled with the bread and service over here.
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