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Via Baci is the route to summer eats
Contributed by: Anthonette Klinkerman on 6/11/2007

Food-wise, as I've admitted, I will try pumpkin anything. And now I don't have to wait until Fall to have pumpkin ravioli. Via Baci, located in Lone Tree in the Super Target parking structure, provides this delicious entrée year-round.

This year I will happily stave off the cold months for as long as possible, so when I read Via Baci's menu selections advertised in The Post and found my weakness listed, I knew where "Date Night" would be.

I suppose I could get a pasta machine and learn how to make pumpkin ravioli myself, but the perils of the Weight Gainer 2000 (a.k.a. bread machine) quickly became evident.

Via Baci is by most measures a standard wood-fired pizza/pasta/salad restaurant. This funky, industrially decorated sit-down or take-out eatery has a small patio, and since it was a pleasant evening we chose to sit outside.

The scenery is nothing to mention unless parking lots are your thing, but amusement is provided by patrons continually trying to open the exit door. Granted, it IS a little confusing - it has a giant red arrow on it that points left to the actual entrance, and the words "Exit Only" are rather small. Still, school's been out what, only two weeks?

They have a nice wine selection, and a kids' menu that offers typical selections from buttered noodles, spaghetti, and mac-and-cheese, to pepperoni pizza.

For starters, we ordered the Caprese. The mozzarella seemed a little chewier than expected, and the grape tomatoes were awkward when trying to get the perfect bite of cheese/tomato/basil. Yet, the balsamic vinegar dressing was nice.

My predetermined selection is listed as one of Via Baci's favorites. The pumpkin ravioli comes in a brown butter sauce with plenty of garlic, shallots, tomatoes and toasted pistachios. It seemed to be missing something, even with the fresh sage, but was remedied with a shake of Parmesan cheese.

The filling in the al dente, herb-flecked pasta pillows tasted both sweet and savory. Definitely pumpkin. My taste buds will be happy until Fall.

My husband ordered the Adriatico pizza. There was a misunderstanding that it did not come with chicken - that is the Bianco Pollo, also marked as a Via Baci favorite. The floury crust was thin and light, and the combination of artichoke hearts, garlic and mozzarella was enlivened by the addition of toasted pine nuts.

Service was exceptional and speedy, but not so much so that our plates arrived on top of one another. The manager checked on us frequently, and even bought us dessert to make up for the pizza miscommunication. This is the kind of customer service that can teach a few other establishments a thing or two.

The tartufo, ice cream rolled in cocoa and topped with hazelnuts, was an amiable accompaniment to the meal and the warm evening. Within the chocolate ice cream was another frozen cream center that brought to mind the flavors of eggnog or butterscotch. A raspberry sauce was laced over the rest of the plate.

For service, and light summer meals (though the seared beef tenderloin looked pretty tempting) I am already looking forward to a return visit to Via Baci.

Grade: B+

Via Baci
10005 Commons Street, #200
Lone Tree, CO
303-790-0828




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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Anthonette Klinkerman

Castle Pines North

Anthonette Klinkerman has posted 80 stories and 44 comments since joining on 4/14/2006. Anthonette Klinkerman 's average story rating is 4.95.
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