By Franklin W. Liu
Jabbing his finger in the air, Desimone emphasizes that is now all available here in Davis Square: delicious fine food at an affordable price.
With his brother and two other friends joining in partnership, Ristorante Sagra was recently launched.
With two months under its belt, the new Italian restaurant is creating quite a buzz.
The word Sagra refers to a long-standing festival observed throughout Italy when lively historical pageantry is re-enacted with sporting events like jousting on horseback while plenty of food is spread out, offering a variety of olive oil, delicious wine, robust cheese, freshly baked bread, pasta and pastry.
Centered just under the restaurant’s name are three little words: Mangia, Bevi e Taci.
I fondly recall my college days living in Rome studying architecture and art, those words mean: Eat, Drink and Shut Up (or if one is polite: be silent.) I’m most certain Desimone would not enforce the “Taci” part for he is just as likely to bound out from the kitchen to greet and mingle with diners.
Desimone said recently spotted amongst the crowd at Sagra were Mayor Curtatone, Attorney General Martha Coakley, a gang of aldermen with friends in town, folks from the Somerville’s Chamber of Commerce. And spotted chatting and dining were professors and administrators from both nearby Harvard University and Tufts University.
Sagra is not your typical red-sauce smothered pasta, chicken cacciatore covered by Parmigiana cheese type of restaurant that lacks finesse and subtlety. And the word out is that Ristorante Sagra’s 139 seat capacity is the “IN” place where community leaders mix easily in with others who are there just to enjoy a pleasant evening out.
Disimone said he intends to book Frank Sinatra-style singers to provide light entertainment as well.
And now that they've worked out the service kinks, it's a nice place to visit. Good mix of older and newer Somerville, too, which is always nice to see. Excellent pizzas. Good luck to these guys ... that space has been doomed for a while. They might just have the ticket to make it work.
Posted by: it *is* funny | May 07, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Was there 2 weeks ago and was impressed. Good service and food. Cocktails weren't bad either.
Posted by: Mr. White | May 07, 2007 at 05:02 PM
how about an address for us not-so-trendy locals. If the Aldermen are there they must be eating for free.
Posted by: Mole Fan | May 07, 2007 at 07:26 PM
400 Highland Ave. Formerly Sauce, and before that, Yee's Village.
Posted by: Ron Newman | May 07, 2007 at 07:33 PM
Yeah, this place is pretty ok. I have eaten there a couple a times. Not bad looking waitresses, either!
Posted by: fromsomerville | May 10, 2007 at 02:38 PM