The old tables and chairs remain in the cozy little Italian restaurant on San Ramon Valley Boulevard, where the spirit of Gianni’s has been revived with new owners, a new chef and a new look.
Rosmarino, a Californian-Italian inspired restaurant that hopes to keep the tradition of Gianni’s alive while serving a new menu, is now open.
“We did a little facelift,” said owner Theresa Shreiber. “We didn’t rip down any walls. We built the bar up, did a lot of cosmetic stuff, new floors, gave it a color re-do. It had a lot of old wood and now it’s more bright. I think people go in and they say, ‘oh my goodness,’ but the layout is the same.”
Shreiber, who also owns Livermore restaurants Azotea Cocina and Cocktail Club and The Syndicate, wanted to showcase a small Cali-Italian menu that allows chef/partner Margarito Paz to make everything in-house.
They plan to expand the menu at a future date, but for now it includes only five appetizers, five pastas and five main courses. The tiramisu ($11) has been popular for dessert.
The pastas are fresh and the lasagna ($24) is becoming “what we’re known for,” Shreiber said.
It’s made to order — not ahead of time — and can be suited for vegetarians or made with a bolognese meat sauce.
“It comes out like a big, bubbling plate of cheesy deliciousness,” she said.
The frutti di mare ($34) showcases fresh scallops surrounded by heirloom tomatoes, squash, corn, arugula, peas, basil and champagne butter.
At the bar, Schreiber is proud of a cocktail program that features Italian spritzes and classic cocktails like the Italian sidecar, with aged cognac, fresh lemon juice, a walnut liqueur and a sugar rim.
The “Siesta” is an Italian margarita made with Campari and served in a martini glass. The Clover Club is a raspberry lemon drop made with egg whites to make it taste like a raspberry sour. Espresso martinis are popular.
Schreiber said she makes all her martinis with nice Italian olives and will make any drink a customer is looking for.
The wine list features Italian-style wines from California as well as imported wines from Italy.
Schreiber said the best part is getting to meet all the customers, many who are grateful to see the Gianni’s space open again.
“We’ve talked to a lot of people and they’re excited,” she said. “They’re like, ‘we waited so long!’”
The restaurant will also bring back the popular “Tips for Change” program, which invites local charities into the restaurant, where volunteers act as servers on Monday evenings and all tips go to the foundation.
“It’s one of the reasons we decided to do this adventure,” Schreiber said. “So we could keep that going.”
Details: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m., with hours expanding soon, at 2065 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon; www.rosmarinosanramon.com.
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