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Ciao Restaurant: A Taste of Italy

Ciao Chicken

Ciao Restaurant, 1410 East Roseville Parkway, Roseville, 916-782-0404, ciaoroseville.com


After spending 15 years in Italy, where he met his future wife and opened a motorbike touring and rental business, Joe Charity and said wife Miranda decided to bring their passions to California and open a motorcycle business. Oh yes, and an Italian restaurant. I can’t speak to the former, but the latter has been a highly anticipated and wildly popular dining destination since opening last December—thanks in part to Chef Marc and his culinary creations.

I stopped in to sample their offerings and started with the clam steamers (you can also opt for mussels or a little of both) and a slice of smoky-grilled baguette to plunge into the briny, buttery, white wine studded sauce with arugula. Oliver Twist said it best. “Please, sir, I want some more!” Poor Oliver missed out on the Caprese salad I ordered next, featuring fresh mozzarella, whole basil leaves, local olive oil, lemon, Italian sea salt, and a beautiful balsamic reduction to complement the plump red tomatoes.

If one should go through all of the expense and trouble to order an imported pasta maker from Italy, your pasta should be mind-blowing, and from my point of view as a certified pasta snob: bellissimo! My revelation came in the form of Amatriciana—one of Italy’s favorite dishes from the city of Amatrice. This version featured a melt-in-your-mouth smoked pork belly, savory tomato sugo with plenty of red chile, and that beautiful spaghetti di la casa. “We’re frequently asked for familiar dishes like veal picatta and chicken Parmesan,” Joe told me over a glass of Chianti, “but we want to bring a more authentic Italy to our customers.” No argument here Joe—keep that pasta machine rolling, brother! 

Next, our waiter brought the Ciao chicken—a locally sourced, roasted half chicken with rich herb jus, al dente green beans, and roasted red potatoes. The dish was the epitome of Italian country-style cooking: simple, quality ingredients elevated by skilled hands.

I have to personally thank Joe for contributing to my newly acquired dessert addiction: the banoffee cup. This British classic—chock-full of dulce de leche cream, chocolate chips, bananas, crumbled cookies (and a dose of willpower breaker)—is sure to send diners scurrying home to dust off their treadmills (or to their couches). And, just to clarify, metric system be damned: It’s a huge bowl—not a “proper cup!” Thanks Joe and Miranda…mangia bene!    


Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sunday), 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Monday-Thursday), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday-Saturday)

Try This: Steamers, Calamari and Shrimp Frito, Caprese Salad, Amatriciana, House Ragu, Lasagna della Nonna (limited quantity; available Friday and Saturday only), Ciao Chicken, Banoffee Cup, Cappuccino

Drinks: Beer and wine

Tab: $$

Heads-Up: Spacious patio; kids’ menu; wine bar with extensive selection of Italian and California wines; espresso drinks made with genuine Lavazza coffee; daily Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m.; private dining room available for private parties; all pastas are made in-house; gluten-free and vegetarian options; locally sourced ingredients


By Lorn Randall