When the original Forli Ristorante closed a few years back, many locals said it left a hole in the dining scene of Contra Costa County. Now Forli’s original owners are back, and with a renovated and relaunched Italian bar and restaurant.

The interior’s new design is classy and modern, with a spacious bar area, fifteen tables in the dining room, and a row of horseshoe booths in the back. As you’re seated, an order of warm, house-baked bread will arrive at your table, and you can order a glass of wine to sip while you peruse the menu. The rainbow beet salad and fried calamari are popular appetizers, and Yelpers recommend the veal piccata and braised short ribs from the entree menu (though regulars say you can’t go wrong with any of the pasta dishes, either). If you’re squeezed for time or have a smaller appetite, sharing a pizza can be another good bet. Reservations are recommended during the weekend, as this place gets busy.

Public Domain/Photo by Travis Yewell on Unsplash