THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Far Niente

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Far Niente Restaurant Review:

Founded in 1987 by owner Antonio Guberti, Far Niente features a pair of cheerful storefront dining rooms that turn romantic at night, when candles flicker on the cozy tables. We recommend the more sophisticated wood-clad room to the left of the entrance, which has the look and feel of a San Francisco establishment. As soon as you're seated, a puffed-up loaf of pizza bread, fresh from the oven and brushed with olive oil, arrives at your table, along with generous shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Meals begin with solid renditions of standard trattoria starters, such as beef carpaccio, Sicilian anchovies marinated in olive oil and garlic, and a first-rate Caesar salad. Pastas (e.g., spinach ravioli in a tomato-basil sauce, chicken risotto and lobster fettuccine) and thin-crust pizzas are always reliable. And for entrées, you'll find a butter-tender calamari steak, beef medallions with porcini mushrooms, and shrimp scampi. An unusually long list of daily specials might include veal Marsala, cioppino or lamb shank. Desserts --- a deftly prepared thin apple tart, a winning tiramisu and an always interesting selection of house-made gelato --- are consistently rewarding. Several Italian varietals are well represented on the wine list.