Risibisi Restaurant – Italian

Patio dining at Risibisi along the Petaluma riverfront.

154 Petaluma Blvd N / Petaluma CA / 707-766-7600

Category: Italian

Open: 7-days     Mon-Thu 11:30am-9pm    L – D
Fri-Sat  11:30am-10pm     L – D
Sun  4pm-9pm   D only
Full bar.

**** 8/3/2011           $$-$$$

Stopped in on a Sunday evening to check this 5-year old restaurant out. Busy at 6pm might be an indication this place is good or, perhaps due to the fact Cucina Paradiso is closed on Sundays they were getting their business?  Since we like a cocktail before dinner we went straight to the tiny but well stocked bar. Turns out the bartender was also the owner; a good looking Italian with a friendly personality. I asked several questions about the menu, in particular his signature dishes. For the antipasti he recommend Caprese, $10.95 – heirloom tomatoes, fresh Burrata mozzarella, basil and of course EVOO. I believe the mozzarella was house-made and what a treat. Creamy texture that spread like butter on the toasted baguette bread served with the dish. Next, house-made gnocchi (Gnocchi al Cinghiale, $18.95) with wild boar sauce. Excellent pasta but, the sauce was a touch over salted. The owner recommended 2 exceptional Italian wines by the glass for each of my courses, an ’09 Soave, Pieropan-Veneto, $10  and a ’09 Primitivo (Italian Zin) Matane-Puglia, $8. I will revisit this charming restaurant to sample other dishes and sit out in their lovely riverfront patio. Prix Fixe lunch special and private dining available.