Now that the rain is gone and the sun is shining, a perfect restaurant to enjoy the beautiful weather at is on the patio of Paesanos located at 1806 Capitol.

Located in an ideal location, the restaurant offers all different seating areas. You can choose to sit outside on the patio for lunch with a girlfriend, inside for intimate candlelight seating on a date, or at the bar top for a drink and a quick bite to eat.

Wherever you sit, you will have the ability to choose from the long list of wines or to have a mug of the Paesanos signature beer, Sac Brew Red Horse.

Paesanos is a hip and casual restaurant, that anyone will find comfort in. It serves great Italian food at really reasonable prices and is unlike your typical Italian restaurant.

Besides the decor of the establishment that includes artwork that reflects the Italian culture, it is a very casual atmosphere with a mix of American music playing from the speakers and the plasma TV’s showing the latest sporting event.

The establishment is very open, but quaint and provides a dark and comfy setting. The walls of the restaurant are completely brick, embellished and are accented by the red velvet curtains that hang from the mirrors on the walls.

After you notice the cool and hip decor, you’ll notice the friendliness and efficiency of the staff. All the servers are very welcoming, informative and more than willing to recommend their favorite dish.

My server was very helpful in deciding the best dishes to go with. Considering it was my first time at Paesanos, I wanted to make sure that I experienced the very best it had to offer.

As an appetizer, my date and I went with the Bruschetta, which I highly recommend. Bruschetta is toasted sourdough bread topped with melted smoked mozzarella, vine ripened tomatoes, basil and garlic. It is seriously so good and worth ordering at every visit. The best thing about this appetizer is, unlike other restaurants were starters are typically $8, the Bruschetta is under $6.

As for entrees, our server recommended the Spinach salad, which I wasn’t very excited about, but I willing to try something new. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the salad, as it was different then any salad I have ever had before. The salad consisted of spinach leaves, topped with bacon, goat cheese, papaya, polenta croutons and tossed in a honey Dijon vinaigrette.

I only ordered a half size, which I couldn’t help but regret; yes the salad was that tasty, and again reasonably priced at $5.50. I was envious of my date as he ordered the Spicy Creole. Once again after taking a few bites, I was convinced that Paesanos was my new favorite restaurant in Sacramento. The pasta, priced at $9.75, was fettuccini with shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, tomatoes and bell peppers. For sure going to get that dish on my next visit.

After we were nearly stuffed from our Bruchetta, and entrees, I was still determined to try a dessert. The gelato stood out to me, not only because it’s not a typical dessert you see very often but also because it cost $3.95. There are two flavors to choose from, vanilla bean and chocolate hazelnut. Since I couldn’t decide between the two I went with a mix of the two flavors.

Just when I thought this restaurant could not get any better, I was wrong. The gelato is to die for. It’s similar to ice cream but thicker and creamier and doesn’t melt nearly as fast. I must say, the vanilla bean was a bit tastier than the chocolate but that’s just personal preference.

Everything about Paesanos was great. The hip atmosphere, the friendly service, the awesome food and the unbeatable prices qualify Paesanos as my new favorite restaurant in midtown. The best part about eating at Paesanos is even after a three-course meal. After paying the bill, you’ll still be able to hit the movies after with all the money left in your pockets.

Jessica Rojo can be reached at [email protected].