According to Oakland Magazine, the brick and steel building that houses the restaurant used to be a spice factory and it still has a bit of a slightly chilly industrial feeling due to the high ceilings and exposed ceiling.
![Entrance to Riva Cucina](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42f4ckMpbd35FqTiidUnYALBQoP6R3aXMqqtVL3HcLyMD8W3cLgWv4nvskL6GN4OwhOm-7_1_My2qD_BBCeLKbIbTdfdO3aJTn6kIw8Yi-bbLZR4l1OptK3kO9NJ6PvJIG7nbS8r-zHc/s400/RivaCucina.jpg)
The hostess was an extremely friendly young woman with long red hair and our waitress was also pleasant and attentive in a casual way.
She brought us large glasses of lemon water and a plate of good bread with the most amazing rosemary infused olive oil. It was really addictive stuff - luckily, they offered to bring us more after we'd polished off the first round.
![Bread with Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCKJRX0aqLurL6mXt8NptqHVpK3prG8-WWvpYNlFzGlC0XE6C8dMCzpIX9s8NWzBQUTKTx2mToeKSJUxoPKHlPfRYuh_81cSL6NeCe-Sp2teFDR52J4C8T8CfJOwS3hzm2rusbZu1GmQ/s400/rosemaryoliveoil.jpg)
Insalata da Bietole ($9) - roasted organic red and gold beets, romaine lettuce, red onion, in a red wine vinaigrette.
![Roasted Beet Salad](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3NAIH1vh_ZgsC07Y5XfTVpwk3RzMGpr0kK3DLpYX_vzcqHMFxxF4-bj_pf6AbGEe7um8-MJW8xgf9zF3hWilOmIMgTIgfksqDmFRsK4YrWcxL2E3O8yGdGWOAnSbhxFG8H3_YJm6zFw/s400/beetsalad.jpg)
The salad was very good - the dressing balanced the diced beets perfectly and the whole effect was delicate and yummy. Our only criticism was that we'd have preferred the whole affair to be a bit less chopped as the cubed beets and sliced lettuce put me in mind of a Del Monte fruit cup.
Tagliatelle Bolognese ($13) - Fresh pasta with traditional pork, beef and tomato sauce, and parmigiano.
![Tagliatelle Bolognese](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsDtfKdThE2oGOVcPLuVBqQzSkzjEmmBzSoRrmIAn8Fsz9vjjxSBB4j00ige9Wf9kMYi5dmk2PELv5lXBEmVhXTGX9pu3KHk0VQPwFXioeu-t3rDEQBnMjITkrpMQky-mzBINFXxo7x0/s400/tagliatellebolognese.jpg)
The fresh noodles and hearty sauce (which was pretty much all meat) were simple and tasty, as they should be.
Papardelle Alle Castagne ($14) - Chestnut pasta with porcini and crimini mushrooms, red onion, butter, and ricotta salata.
![Chestnut Papardelle with Mushrooms](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4GKaqXJWS6VX7VkBbe9lyTkEgWLQ_jqjor4ulZlFl-pxXnPSc6VQVoeqKIGLSPQbo9_4KUK0OJJv95PZTyWGC1qBEcU_q7XnWoxyh4YuzsjBuffoUeqewSS01XSC3MgSeYb5TN41HSQ/s400/chesnutpasta.jpg)
Despite the reasonable portion sizes, we were too full to order dessert (I blame the bread and rosemary olive oil) though they had some nice offerings.
Our meal cost $48 with tax and 20% tip.
I'd recommend giving Riva Cucina a try.
Web site: http://www.rivacucina.com/
800 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley, CA
(510) 841-7482
Hours
Monday - Friday: Breakfast 8 - 11:30, Lunch 11:30 - 3:30, Dinner 5 - 9
Thursday - Friday: Aperitiva (Happy Hour) 4-5:30
Saturday: Dinner: 5-9
Sunday: Closed
1 comment:
Vi piace la cucina italiana eh... ;O)
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