Bertolucci's

Their bread basket has pizza bread. yum! Also, their baked polenta and eggplant Parmesan are pretty good. Say cheese!

This is not, I repeat NOT the Bertolucci's I remember.  Gone, are the big 4 page menu, the separate wine list and the old school no none sense waiters ( older gentlemen with serving jackets).  What's also gone is my favorite dish, Carpaccio!  This is no longer the old school Italian joint hubbs and I frequented while we were dating.  It's hard to find a true old school, family style Italian restaurant here in the bay.  Harder now that Bertolucci's is no longer on that list.

I had been wanting to try this place forever, so when my sister was in town last weekend, we decided to give it a whirl.

I was able to make a reservation on Open Table (through yelp) for three at 8:30 p.m. that same evening, which was impressive!

We arrived with minutes to spare.  We were able to get parking in the parking lot behind the restaurant.  I'm always grateful when a restaurant has its own parking lot these days.  Having grown accustomed to street parking, I'm grateful when I don't have to circle blocks for 30 minutes, waiting for someone to leave.  

We walked in and were welcomed by a friendly host.  We were sat immediately.  (Hurrah!)  

Our server came by shortly afterwards and took our drink order.  I ordered a Sierra Nevada and my sister ordered an iced tea.  Our server came back with the iced tea and a sprite.  Hm.  I ordered a Sierra Nevada (beer), I explained.  She said that they didn't have Sierra Mist, but that they had 7-up.  Hm.  Was it possible there was someone in California who didn't know about Sierra Nevada?   Yes, yes it was.  No sweat though, I told her it was a beer and she corrected the order quickly.  My sister then ordered a glass of prosecco, and all was well.  

They brought out a bread basket right away.  The bread basket is pretty great--they bring several slices of pizza-esque bread (which is great for the kiddos), as well as sliced french bread.  

My sister ordered veal saltimbocca and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs.  My sister loved her entree (the very thought of veal makes me queasy, but live and let live).  My entree was as tasty as it was plentiful, so I had meals for two days afterward.  

My niece loved the minestrone soup, and our server kindly brought her an additional side of it after she served our entrees.  

My sister ordered spumoni for dessert.  I don't like the part of the spumoni that is chocolate. I like the green and pink parts.  I also dislike spumoni that has fruit or nut chunks in it.  I'm picky.  Thankfully, I was able to get a few tastes of the green part, with no fruits or nuts, and it was delicious.  

You know, there's not a lot of old world Italian restaurants on the west coast.  Having grown up in a mecca of authentic Italian restaurants, I am happy to have found this place.  Although I'm not quite certain Michael Corleone would hide his gun in the bathroom here, he'd at least consider it.  

Overall, Bertolucci's is a solid restaurant and a good place to take family on the peninsula.