Beginnings and endings
We paused at Vino Santo just as the dinner rush was ending on a Friday night and were urged to try it by the man entering the restaurant in front of us. Waitstaff were quick and courteous in seating us in the intimate dining room.

The menu is divided, in the traditional Italian fashion, into primi piatti (pastas) and secondi piatti (meat dishes). However, primi piatti portions are large enough for a meal, especially if preceded by an appetizer. The bread basket is accompanied by olivata rather than the usual vinegar-and-oil.

The polenta appetizer was a revelation: light but tender, with a delicate mushroom sauce and a sprinkling of feta. Main dishes did not quite live up to this start: both the risotto of the day and the fettucini vino santo were visually appealing but blandly flavored. The fettucini's tomato cream sauce, in particular, distinctly lacked tomato zing.

Spumoni ice cream and creme caramel were both competently prepared and generously sized. If we were to eat here again, we would order multiple appetizers and then skip straight to dessert.    []

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: polenta

     ­Anonymous   

Vino Santo Bistro - Redwood City
The first time we went to Vino Santo Bistro with our dinner group of six people, and all were impressed with their meals. Three weeks later my wife and I went there again and were very pleased with the meal. Both times my wife had the risotto, which she says is the best she's ever had. The first time I went there I had the veal chop, which was excellent, and Friday night I had the calamari steak, which was marvelous.

If you're looking for new place to try, I recommend Vino Santo Bistro.    [17 Sep 2005 22:14:15]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Risoto, Veal chop, Calamari steak

     ­JK