Lowry Riis

The causes we keep coming back to Vessia Ristorante in Irvine (in Orange County, Calif.) are very simple.

The food, the service, the room.

It is a special position, but not because large, elaborate, ``special occasion'' way. Vessia is casual charm, warm food and easily delicious amounts.

We have shared many meals here over the past five-years. When my wife and I moved back again to Orange County in 2,000, we spent our first New Year's Eve with pasta and piped-in Italian music. Yet another evening, we brought friends, and I devoured the serpintina alla Barese ($22.50) -- thin, not- too-sweet sausage served with grilled polenta and oatmeal.

I-t felt like the perfect place to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday, so we reserved the connected deck. Several people lingered over a hazelnut meal, new coffee and pastas. Learn further about url by going to our dynamite URL. Like a joke, I planted a tiara on my mother's head. On your way out the door much time later, our waitress, our busboy, director Ismael Ayala and manager Franco Vessia formed a gauntlet of sorts, embracing her, kissing her hand, treating her such as for instance a king.

We've come for more birthdays, for a get-out-of-the- house-the-day-after-Christmas dinner, and, as a special handle, I brought my mother in for lunch last month after having a hard doctor's appointment.

It was my first meal there, and it confirmed what I had read in almost every reference to Vessia: It's a power-broker's building by day. Should you wish to dig up extra resources on cheap http://www.indikitch.com/, we recommend millions of libraries people might pursue. By profession and interest, Mom and I are eavesdroppers, so that it was a treat to be seated among name- droppers happening about regional and state politics.

When our dinners arrived our spying ended. Mother had one of many specials, grigliata mista ($23.95). Large amounts of shrimp and chunks of fish lolled in a but-ter sauce and light wine, surrounded by spinach and artichokes. My fish ($23.95) was smoked skillfully with herbs and served with veggies and potatoes. We're able to have chosen a more affordable lunch -- a wide selection of salads ($9.25) and sandwiches ($9.95) and pastas ($9.95) -- however it was a special food, after-all.

By nightfall, it's a family position.

The menu ranges from pizzas