Ca’ Bianca – Santa Rosa, CA
Ca' Bianca - Santa Rosa, CA
I have been traveling to the Sonoma Valley on business about once per year for the past several years. I always ask around where the locals would choose to eat and inevitably Ca’ Bianca ends up on people’s list of favorites. It has become on of my favorites as well.
The restaurant is in a large white victorian mansion (I guess that is where Ca’ Bianca comes from) and arranged in a series of dining rooms throughout the first floor of the mansion. I have only dined there in the evening and the lighting along with the small spaces gives the experience a sense of intimacy. Many locals told me that this is a place to take a date. I can see why.
The menu is not especially innovative. But what it lacks in innovation is made up with the quality of the food. The pastas are especially good. The sauces used are well prepared and it is nice that the pasta can stand on its own without being inundated with sauce.
For entrees the duck breast and the chicken ripieno were especially memorable. Duck can be a tricky thing to order out. But at Ca’ Bianca it was very moist and cooked to a nice temperature. The chicken is prepared in a puff pastry which sounded odd at first but it was actually a nice combination.
The wine list is very extensive. They carry some things that I have not found on any other restaurant list including a nonvintage red wine that I would never have ordered unless recommended.
Prices are very reasonable. The markup on the wine is also reasonable.
Service can be a little uneven.
Ca’ Bianca Ristorante Italiano www.cabianca.com