Que Bella
The California fires are a tragedy, but they sure give us interesting sunsets. Looking towards the Carquinez bridge, and the smoke dimmed the sun enough that you could look directly at it.
We were in Benicia to have dinner at a new restaurant–Bella Siena. At the end of First Street, an old building has been imaginatively refurbished, with phenomenal views of the Carquinez Straits, the bridge, and the setting sun.
The interior matches the grandeur of the view. Not too many tables, warm lighting, excellent sound-dampening make it an inviting place to enjoy a meal.
And then the meal is top-notch.
Grilled Salmon
Reed had the gnocchi, with the shrimp sauce instead of pesto.
Gail had capellini al pomodoro, angel hair with fresh tomato sauce, that was so good we’ve had pasta the next two nights because she’s hooked.
Service wasn’t bad, and this is a new business still shaking out the flaws. Prices are more than reasonable.
Bella Siena is busy. There is a large outdoor patio area they aren’t yet using until they get running more smoothly, so there are more clients than tables sometimes. You need to go to opentable.com and make a reservation, and that’s not a bad thing. When they get the patio going, we’ll be there every night with Claudia.
Totally Unauthorized 