Little Sausalito Caffe

with a Huge View

By Mary Swift-Swan

Il Piccolo opened on the Sausalito waterfront at 660 Bridgeway, Suite 3, under the Water Street Grill in the late fall of 2003. The Tuscan-style coffee house has sheltered outdoor tables so patrons can enjoy spectacular views of San Francisco and the ferry docks looking down Raccoon Straits. Piccolo means little one, and though this is a little shop, it has a big espresso bar with eight yummy coffee drinks plus regular coffee, tea, and chai. Il Piccolo opens at 7am each day, and serves fresh foccacia bread and Italian pastries, which can be enjoyed while looking out over the Bay or taken to the park or ferry.

For lunch, Il Piccolo serves minestrone, plus salads like Saporita, with mixed greens, Parma prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted eggplant; or sandwiches such as Parma prosciutto, carciofini (small artichokes), and Brie cheese on grilled focaccia bread.

Starting in February, partners Stefano Scali and Mauro Dosolini have readied their menus for new, expanded hours of service to accommodate the Ferry Schedule. The new menu offers a classic Tuscan-style breakfast, including crespelle (light crepes), cronetti (large croissant), and tosti, which will all be available for early morning commuters as they head off to the ferry. Later evening hours will allow ferry riders to drop by after commuting home for wine and tapas.

Mauro moved to the United States ten years ago looking for adventure. He has worked in the food industry all his life, first owning and running a restaurant in his parents’ hotel in the coastal town of Viareggio, part of the Italian Riviera. His parents have since sold the hotel and retired. Viareggio is a boat-building town, a classic seaport and resort town reminiscent of the Bay Area. Mauro’s first stop in California was San Francisco. Three years ago, he opened the popular Café Divino, a Tuscan-style restaurant on Caledonia Street. Café Divino is open 7am to 11pm, seats 45-60, and offers live music on the weekends.