Featured Restaurant (October 2007) - Ca’ Dario Ristorante Italiano Ca’ Dario Ristorante Italiano 37 East Victoria St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 884-9419 www.cadario.net

This is the first time we’ve done a restaurant review during lunch and it was just the excuse we needed to spend the day in Santa Barbara. CT and I are always amazed at how little we make the 30-minute trek to the “big city.” I guess we have almost everything we need right here in the Santa Ynez Valley, although it was time for a little fall shopping, so we headed off to Paseo Nuevo and then up to Ca’Dario for a noontime meal.

I had only been to Ca’Dario for dinner and I have to say the dinner menu is much more extensive. But we found some interesting specials on the Monday menu so we ordered a glass each of their 2005 Lageder Pinot Grigio and 2004 Pieropan Soave Classico Superiore and looked forward to some lovely Porcini Mushroom Risotto as an appetizer. The wines were both excellent along with the risotto, which made us very excited to try a bottle of red and some more classic Italian entrees. We decided on a 2003 Icardi Barbera d’Alba to accompany the Spaghetti with Clams in a garlic, white wine sauce and the Ahi Tuna topped with a bruschetta sauce. The Barbera was rich and full-bodied and I’m hoping to buy some more once I track it down. Our entrees were good, but definitely made us want to come back for dinner soon, when the menu is more complex and creative.

We finished off with the Affogato del Cafe (vanilla gelato covered in espresso and cream), a dessert that I came to love during my time in Italy. Ca’Dario is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area and I only wish I was able to go more often. The setting is romantic and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely a great place for a first date or with a group of friends.