"I recommend arriving early since the restaurant opens at 4 PM. It's best to get there before 5 PM unless you're prepared to wait in a compact waiting area that reminded me of an elevator in the Empire State Building.
We kicked off our dinner by sharing Focaccia Bread (photo: [hidden link]) and the $18 sautéed seasonal vegetables, which were fresh from the farmers' market—broccolini, cauliflower, mushrooms, romanesco, and cherry tomatoes (photo: [hidden link]). It was a lovely, healthy start leading into our individual pasta dishes. Jamie opted for the restaurant's signature dish, the $17 Tagliatelle al Sugo, accompanied by a couple of their large meatballs (photo: [hidden link]). The pasta was simple and fresh, very thin, and topped with a rich tomato sauce. It was light but satisfying thanks to the moist meatballs.
I chose the more decadent $27 Pappardelle Bolognese (photo: [hidden link]), which is renowned for its eight-hour-stewed beef and pork shoulder ragu that envelops the noodles. The pappardelle was wonderfully velvety and provided an indulgent, meaty experience.
You might think we'd be completely full at this point, but we couldn't resist splitting a $13 slice of Tiramisu—a delightful handmade dessert that was surprisingly light (photo: [hidden link]). When we left, the crowd was overflowing out the door, reinforcing the need to arrive early.
Overall, I’d rate the experience as follows:
FOOD: 4 stars—authentic homestyle cooking with generous portions
AMBIANCE: 3.5 stars—always crowded
SERVICE: 4 stars—our server was attentive
TOTAL: 4 stars—I'll definitely need to return more frequently, but I’ll remember to come early!
If you're exploring Berkeley, check out this collection of places I’ve visited and reviewed: [hidden link]."
