Sausalito, the 21st Region of Italy!

By Mary Swift-Swan

Poggio, a year in the making, has opened its doors filling the ground floor under Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa. The reinvention of the Village Fair of old Sausalito’s art colony is finally complete with coherent style and grace and a bit of Tuscan flare. The last of the old Village art colony workshops, stores, and cafes to fade away were two art gallery stores that showcased local artists. As artists moved on, Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa remodeled the upper building a few years ago, and quickly became a destination hotel. It is fitting and complementary for a quality restaurant and gathering place to become the foundation of the establishment at 777 Bridgeway.

Mahogany framed floor-to-ceiling windows face Bridgeway for the length of the building. Accordion window coverings folded behind wooden flower boxes are opened partially or fully when the sun is shining. There are café tables available to place outside and standing heaters for outdoor nighttime dining. An intimate classic curved bar area has a mahogany partition that separates diners from those in the bar. The dining area offers comfortable table configurations for 2 to 12; private dining rooms upstairs can easily accommodate anywhere from 12-100 for special events. Diners can view the exposed wood-fired rotisserie and pizza ovens the along the window wall while they feast on elegant cuisine. An extensive wine cellar is showcased along the west wall of the restaurant .

Larry Mindel is a gifted and much celebrated restaurateur who started creating Poggio over a year ago. Larry is the CEO and driving force behind the successful Il Fornaio chain and a Sausalito resident. He is the only non-Italian to receive the award for preserving Italian culture outside the U.S. "I want Poggio to be as close as possible to what I perceive as the very heart of Italian cooking and hospitality," says Larry. "It’s a spirit that emanates from the people, whether they’re people I know well or people I’ve never met before. It’s unique, it’s warm, and it’s genuine." Together with partner Chris Fernandez, the executive chef, they have created an excellent restaurant serving the very best Tuscan-style food and bringing a bit of the famed Italian sea coast to the kindred city of Sausalito. "Larry and I talk about how we feel Northern California is like the 21st region of Italy. But at Poggio we’ll also follow the lines of what makes Northern California cuisine great: high-quality, local, fresh ingredients prepared with care and respect." They created Poggio as a place people can adopt as their own for regular gatherings, special occasions, and dates, as well as a place to meet others or feel comfortable enough to eat alone or simply have a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

"Restaurants have become more than just a place to eat. You can eat anywhere but where do you want to be? Restaurants have become a part of an American’s extended life," said Marla, part of the managing duo for Poggio. "At Poggio, it’s about doing what you love and doing it well. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere are our commitment to our customers. We provide free valet parking arranged with reservations. Larry has an incredible eye for quality and detail. Chris creates a new menu each day, after he’s gone shopping and sees what’s fresh that day. He has a vegetable and herb garden out back just for our restaurant. Larry and Chris love what they do and it shows. That is what makes coming here so fun and working with them such a pleasure."

One of Poggio’s signature dishes is the fresh local Petrale Sole with Buttered Spinach and Poached Potatoes with a Lemon Caper Sauce for $14.50. Other mouth-watering menu options are: Wood- Roasted Mussels with Saffron Tomato