Last Sunday while in Cleveland on a visit we decided on Italian food for dinner and went to Valerio's on recommendation of a friend. The meal that we had was by far the best, authentic Italian food we have eaten in ages, probably since Italy. We shared a special antipasto of bresaola served over arugula with parmesan curls brightened by a squeeze of lemon: simple but perfect due to the quality of the ingredients and the perfectly balanced proportions. I ordered the osso buco served over creamy parmesan infused risotto cooked to perfection with a deeply flavored sauce bringing the whole dish together. The risotto had the right texture....creamy, moist but not soupy. My husband had the penne Bolognese, a traditional dish found in most Italian restaurants. But let me tell you that this was no ordinary Bolognese: in fact it was extraordinary with a complexity and blending of flavors that epitomize the wonder of true Italian cooking. Accompanied by a good and generous glass of red wine the meal was sublime. The portions are very generous and left us room only for due espressi.
The restaurant is welcoming and intimate and the waitress, daughter of Valerio, made us feel at home and comfortable throughout the evening. Valerio regularly visited the dining room to check on diners and to greet regulars sitting at the small bar. The atmosphere and fantastic food here makes you want to become part of the "regulars". Buonissimo! Bravo Valerio!