Ristorante Rumari serves up authentic Italian cuisine for takeout, delivery or to enjoy on the patio.
By Sharon Stello
Caprese salad, spaghetti carbonara, rigatoni with rich Bolognese sauce, homemade meatballs, chicken Parmesan, veal piccata and made-from-scratch cannoli. These are just some of the mouthwatering traditional Italian dishes filled with rich flavors at Ristorante Rumari, which was started in 1989 by chef Vince Crivello, originally from Sicily.
The authentic flavors continue more than 30 years later under a new proprietor: Chris Keller, the former owner of La Casa del Camino hotel and its restaurant, K’ya Bistro, bought Ristorante Rumari in 2019. Chef Craig Connole also came over to the eatery from K’ya and now runs the kitchen. The updated menu is currently available for takeout, delivery and dining on the patio for an alfresco meal. The charming space, featuring a partial ocean view, has been transformed from a parking lot (behind the restaurant, at the top of the steep driveway) with tables and umbrellas as well as strings of lights and shrubbery.
To start, enjoy a glass or bottle of wine from Rumari’s extensive selection, or try a $20 value cocktail to go: Choose from a Negroni, Old-Fashioned or espresso martini. Each comes with two servings in a bottle, ready to pour over ice at home, and are available through delivery services Postmates, DoorDash and Grubhub. Sip them with appetizers such as the grilled lamb chops, which are marinated in garlic and herbs then served with agrodolce, a sweet yet tangy Italian condiment made from vinegar, sugar or honey and fruit, like dried cherries, in this rendition. The dish hits all the right notes with savory, sweet and tart flavors that work perfectly together. Or, keep it light with the caprese salad, a tantalizing mix of heirloom tomatoes cut into wedges, burrata cheese, fresh basil leaves, extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction.
For entrees, options range from pasta to seafood and more. The sauteed jumbo scallops will have you savoring every last bite. The well-sized scallops are seared until slightly caramelized then served on a bed of saffron risotto and wild mushrooms cooked with white wine and butter. Or try the grilled swordfish with tasty lemon-caper butter, plated with creamy polenta and sauteed broccolini.
Of course, at an Italian restaurant, it would be a mistake to skip the pasta—particularly the rigatoni topped with rich, meaty Bolognese sauce. Every hearty bite is filled with well-rounded flavor from the veal and beef ragu, pomodoro sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Many other favorites are also offered, from chicken Parmesan to Lasagna Verde, made with spinach pasta, beef ragu, Italian sausage ricotta and pomodoro sauce, and spaghetti carbonara with pancetta, egg yolk, green peas and Parmigiana. The restaurant also has several family meals available that serve two to four people.
But make sure to leave room for dessert in the form of Mamma Bina’s Sicilian-style cannoli. This homemade delight is filled with ricotta cheese and topped with sweet, fresh berries and chopped pistachio nuts, all drizzled with chocolate sauce. It’s the perfect ending to a delicious Italian meal.
