(707) 766-7600
Hours: Open daily except Sunday for lunch at 11:30am and daily for dinner at 5pm
Parking: limited street parking in front and rear
http://www.risibisirestaurant.com
Last Visited: February 28, 2010
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
It was Sonoma County Restaurant Week, and I nearly missed it since I wasn't aware of it until the last day. For $39, risibisi was serving up a four course menu (this made it stand out from the others as many were only serving three courses). A few people had told me to check out risibisi in the past, so this seemed like a great opportunity - my fridge was empty and it was dinner time.
risibisi serves rustic Italian-California cuisine including pastas, salads, and main dishes like saltimbocca. risibisi is committed to using local sustainable ingredients.
risibisi's prix fixe looked pretty interesting - I always appreciate a good minestrone. Like many restaurants along Petaluma Boulevard North, risibisi is housed in an old brick building and the environment is set up with a rustic flare. Chairs are hung from the ceiling which seems to give the place additional character. The bar is in the back, and if you walk into the hallway, you'll be able to look into their kitchen. Their front door has a drape hung around the immediate area to reduce the draft from outside. I wasn't all too sure that this was a safe practice, but it seemed to work. Upon arriving, we were given bread accompanied by some olive tapenade.
- Homemade Organic Sonoma Vegetables Minestrone - For the first course, we were given a bowl of minestrone. It had good flavor and was typical of what you might expect of a minestrone, but I was dissatisfied by the temperature. I wasn't sure if it was because it was a cold evening, but by the time the soup came to the table, it wasn't hot and that seems to always take away from the experience of eating good soup.
For the second course, we had a choice of an Organic Baby Spinach salad, steamed Bodega Bay Mussels, or a Baked Puff Pastry Organic Sonoma Vegetable Roll.
- Bodega Bay Mussels - These were cooked in white wine with garlic and tomatoes and served with toasted baguette slices. The portion and flavor were good and I liked the broth.
- Baked Puff Pastry Organic Sonoma Vegetable Roll - From the name, I expected an individual pastry, but it turned to be three slices of a larger roll. Also, after selecting it, I was told that it was going to be served at room temperature. I have to admit that just learning this had me disappointed, but I was willing to give it a try anyway, thinking that it would be an individual pastry. Instead, the roll came out served in a star pattern with a drizzle of watercress pesto, and although nicely presented, I was disappointed at how cold it was. Perhaps it had been in the refrigerator and brought back to temperature, but the pastry was no longer crispy, and the roll was limp and soft. Disappointing. In this case, I think listing on the menu that it is served cold would better prepare patrons for the upcoming experience. I wouldn't have selected it had I known.
For the entree, they offered a choice of Parppadelle, Organic Sonoma Farms Half Chicken "Al Mattone," Risotto, or Pan Roasted Fresh Pacific Salmon.
- Pan Roasted Fresh Pacific Salmon - The salmon was presented on a rectangular white plate with an organic watercress pesto. The grilled texture and flavor were great, although the pesto didn't have a lot of flavor. What I really liked about this dish was the side of vegetables. Carrot or yam (something orange) and possibly spinach (something green) was layered into a souffle-like mass shaped into a bowl. The texture was creamy and slightly sweet making it a very nice contrast to the texture of the fish. It was also unusual in its pretty presentation and the way it had been cooked. I would recommend this dish.
- Risotto with Fresh Organic Local Artichokes - The risotto was rich and creamy and the portion filled the entire large plate. I only managed to eat half of it, but the parmesan flavor was noticeable and I enjoyed the dish even more as a leftover.The fourth course was a choice of Homemade Sicilian Canoli or Homemade Tiramisu.
- Sicilian Canoli - If you've had a canoli in Sicily or Italy, this doesn't compare. It tastes good with its creamy filling, but the canoli itself lacks lightness. One order gives you two canoli.
- Homemade Tiramisu - Given the choice, choose tiramisu. It's creamy and good and the ladyfingers are homemade. That's all you need to know.
Overall, food and service were okay. The soup and appetizer both needed to be served piping hot. The service seemed to lack a certain warmth to it, and though they were attentive, the wait staff was not as polished as the prices seemed to warrant. Whether it was bringing or removing knives, handling soup bowls, or something else, I expected more out of risibisi because of their atmosphere and reputation.
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