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.
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