Italian culture has been romanticized and glorified throughout the media for years, especially when it comes down to their cuisine. With over thousands of restaurants in the Bay Area alone, Italian food has become a classic go-to for any occasion.
Over the month, I visited two of the popular restaurants in the Bay. From San Carlos’ newly opened Impasto to Burlingame’s classic Il Fornaio, I wanted to analyze their take on the traditional Rigatoni pasta.
To celebrate the start of the school year, my friends and I decided to try out San Carlos’ Impasto for dinner, which is typically a twenty minute drive from my house in San Mateo. The parking was overall easy as Caltrain station’s parking lot was located next door to the restaurant. This provided a smooth transition from the car to the doorway of Impasto.
Immediately as you enter, kind hostesses welcome you and there is a lively atmosphere bubbling around you. The indoor architecture was a thoughtful touch with shimmering lights floating above the tables while the outside had white bricks that stood out in the evening.
NDB Senior Lily Henry was also there that day and enjoyed the delicious food.
“The impasto atmosphere is high energy and is the perfect place for a Friday night dinner out with friends,” said Henry.
After placing the order for one Rigatoni, the food arrived quickly considering there was a large crowd that night.
The pasta came out on a plate, still hot from the kitchen and had a delicious beef pork ragu sauce mixed within the rigatoni tubes. There was a cheesy finish to the pasta which also added an amazing finish.
The overall price of the single Rigatoni was understandable and came out at around twenty four dollars without calculated tax or tip.
From the accessibility to the atmosphere and of course, the food, Impasto served as a great Italian restaurant, perfect for a simple night out with friends or a large celebration.
The next location I visited was Il Fornaio which has been my favorite restaurant since I was a kid. For this article, I visited the restaurant alongside three of my friends.
We came for an early dinner at 5:30 p.m., to celebrate our friend being back in town from Hawaii.
Parking in Burlingame is always a struggle, especially on a Friday evening when everyone is hoping to start the weekend off with good food.
However, once we eventually found parking, we were happily met with the aroma of Italian food and fresh pasta. The hostesses were just as nice as Impasto and were even able to provide us with a booth table upon request.
Once our orders were placed, we happily talked in the quieter, less busy restaurant. Since it was still early evening, there were fewer guests, which made our conversations easier to hear.
The indoor had red brick pillars while the floor had tile designs. There were also pictures on the wall that added to a homey feeling in the restaurant.
After talking for a few minutes and some bread, my order of their Rigatoni Alla Vodka arrived. Il Fornaio’s version comes with a rich vodka-cream-tomato sauce and bits of bacon. This was not my first time trying their Rigatoni; however, I found it remains a classic.
Overall, both restaurants had different takes on the Italian staple yet did not disappoint. Each plate contained rich sauces and perfectly cooked pasta tubes which provided warm meals on cold evenings. While I went with separate groups for different occasions, I found that both dinners provided a comforting, lively atmosphere to spend time with friends and enjoy great Italian food.
