It was accompanied by rosemary potatoes and a marvelous spinach sautéed with garlic and red chili flakes. Baked with white wine flavored with a touch of rosemary and garlic, the fish was delectable with every bite. My Mediterranean striped bass was also a winner. They were accompanied by fresh broccoli and superb roasted rosemary potatoes. The veal medallions, sautéed with white wine, lemon and butter sauce, were tender and flavorful. She chose veal scaloppine piccata al limone, and I picked the branzino Mediterraneo. My friend Barbara and I selected dishes from the Secondi menu. Pastas are in the $17 to $19 price category, while those with seafood are priced $23 to $25. I recall the pastas here as being delicious, from the linguine al pesto e pomodoro with the traditional homemade pesto and tomato sauce ($18) to one of my favorite dishes, linguine with Manila clams and fresh porcini mushrooms in a white-wine garlic sauce ($25). And, best of all, the calories are about a third of the usual pasta portion.

It looks like pasta, but has a splendid flavor with its tomato-based sauce and grated cheese topping. There are numerous pastas including the house specialty of pasta zinguine made of 100-percent fresh zucchini. While studying the menu you can sample the excellent fresh bread with a drizzle of the olive oil accented with a touch of balsamic vinegar. That will be my selection on my next visit. black mussels, calamari, shrimp, crab claw and fish, in a lightly spicy tomato sauce ($33). There are more than a dozen selections on this part of the menu, along with four soups varying from a simple vegetable broth ($10) to a rich mixture of Manila clams, P.E.I. This made a great start as each bite was filled with flavor, yet it was not overwhelming in size. Puree of white cannellini beans with a little bit of chopped up pasta. Vegetables 14.00 Pasta e Fagioli Chicken broth. My friend and I shared an excellent salad called peperoni arrostiti with thin slices of roasted yellow and red bell peppers brushed with extra virgin olive oil and topped with fresh parsley, all arrayed on a plate with Kalamata olives and fresh sliced goat cheese ($14). Caffe Delfini Menu - Santa Monica, CA Restaurant Caffe Delfini About Loading menu item photos Zuppe Menu powered by Grubhub Zuppa di Vegetali Vegetable broth. black mussels, shrimp and calamari with extra virgin olive oil and lemon ($22). The salad and antipasti offerings vary from a simple mista ($10) to an Insalata di Mare of Manila clams, P.E.I. You need your glass of wine to enjoy while studying the extensive list of menu items. But, of course, it is the terrific array of food that makes it so compelling and especially to those who require gluten-and wheat-free dishes.

Not only is the setting delightful with its small candles (and flashlights on each table to make it easier to read the menu), the background music is soft so that you can actually have a conversation with your dining partner. What a treat it was to return to Caffé Delfini after an interval of many months.

Caffe delfini