There's a lot more to Italian cuisine than spaghetti and meatballs with red sauce, and the folks at Vaso Azzurro Ristorante want to introduce you to the full array of traditional Italian dishes. You will, of course, find spaghetti, lasagna, and chicken parmesan on the menu, but you'll also find a number of regional specialties that are more seafood- and vegetable-focused.

You might try the salmon with herbed risotto for a hearty, homey meal, or perhaps you'd prefer a bowl of penne tossed with fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, and roasted garlic. Whatever you choose, regulars at this popular Mountain View restaurant say you should be sure to leave room for dessert, as this place has an expert pastry chef on staff. They also give special praise to the kitchen's apple strudel, which is baked in house-made phyllo pastry and served with vanilla gelato.

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