THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sante Ristorante

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sante Ristorante Restaurant Review:

Give yourself over to the charms of owner Tony Buonsante and his son Johnny; despite the upscale price tag, this La Jolla Village restaurant manages to feel homey and comfortable. Whether you prefer the intimate back dining room, the open-air patio or the bustling bar (where the La Jolla elite hob knob), Buonsante's Northern Italian cuisine is first rate. We were wooed by the refreshing melon-mint soup. We like the addition of crushed pistachios to the very fresh insalata de Cesare. The pappardelle with wild boar ragù sauce combines rich tomato and carrot flavors with hearty ground meat and homemade pasta. For a lighter touch try the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach and drizzled with yellow tomato sauce. Our veal was a tad overcooked, but the complex wild mushroom-brandy cream sauce made up for it. The filet mignon is superb---served with crispy oven-baked potato halves and thin spears of asparagus. For dessert opt for the torta della luna, a light lemon pastry made with pine nuts, or the mini chocolate cake that is nicely accented with a scoop of rich coffee gelato.