Picture a small, cozy Italian trattoria that’s homey and inviting, with full wine racks on the wall, a small bar and tables scattered randomly.

Tuscany? Umbria? The Amalfi Coast? No! We’re in Rocklin, California…Via Roma on Sunset Boulevard, to be exact.

From the minute you enter and are greeted warmly, you know the food is going to be exceptional. A family with young children enjoys spaghetti and meatballs with the requisite “slurping” of the pasta. A middle-aged couple lingers over glasses of wine, deep in conversation. An older couple with a grown daughter eagerly peruses the menu for choices. Two girlfriends chatter happily over salads and pasta.

My husband (half Italian and a self-pronounced Italian food expert) and I chose the Caprese Salad for our appetizer. Prepared with homegrown tomatoes and care, the olive oil and balsamic reduction was delicious. As summer continues, heirloom tomatoes will be added to the mix, further enhancing the salad’s flavor.
While one of Via Roma’s most popular pizzas is the Pescatore, featuring fresh shrimp and scallops, I couldn’t pass up the Margherita. Topped with garlic, tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese and olive oil, with a lovely thin crust and just the right amount of tomatoes and basil, it didn’t disappoint.

The “Italian expert” chose Fettuccine Pollo, a house favorite. House-made ribbon pasta, sautéed crimini mushrooms, garlic, white wine and herbs surrounded sliced chicken in a crème sauce. This huge plate of pasta was enough for two, and the first descriptive phrase that came to mind was “to die for!” With just-enough garlic, strips of chicken instead of chunks, and an accompanying sauce that didn’t drown the dish, this pasta alone will bring us back to Via Roma.

Sharing a flawless, traditional Tiramisu – no exotic added ingredients – and a cup of espresso, was a sweet ending to a perfect Italian dining experience. Note: Via Roma is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Via Roma Pizzeria con Cucina, 1230 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 600, Rocklin, 916-663-6141, via-roma-pizza.com.

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