VASCO
106 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 381-3343
When the proprietor at the Sax Consignment shop in Mill Valley told me that someone had purchased my ex-sweater and that I had made $17.00, I knew what I had to do--collect the rupees and scour downtown MV with my buddy Ellen, for a place to spend it.
Of course it was okay for Ellen to shop for what seemed like about five hours in the consignment shop but when I slowed down our progress to check out the new wool pants at Banana Republic, all of a sudden she was starving! As it turns out, I’m glad she was in a hurry, because it got us to a wonderful restaurant a little faster.
Vasco’s is a friendly neighborhood trattoria, on the corner of Throckmorton and Heaven. I use the word "trattoria" because I have already used the word "restaurant" about a million times, not because I know what the hell a trattoria is.
Vasco is small and welcoming. Like most Marin eateries, you feel comfortable there in jeans or a dress. Unless you are a man, then the dress might prove awkward.
There is a full bar that at night is packed with good looking people sipping modern drinks. The wine choices are outstanding and the by the glass selection is great, as well.
"You gotta look at these napkins!" Ellen exclaimed as we sat down, "they’re like stretch pants!"
The light streamed through the windows. Ellen described it as the "sunny day of dreams". Marin weather.
And the greatness did not stop with the napkins. We both ordered the fire roasted beet salad ($6.00!!) and iced tea. The salad was big and fresh and the price small and unbelievable. We had neither the nobility nor the integrity to point out to the waiter that perhaps they were not charging enough. We simply enjoyed every el cheapo bite.
The menu is inexpensive and the food is always excellent and original. Who would have known that beets could be anything but what your Aunt Marion always added to the salad on Thanksgiving to give it that festive look?
In this salad they were like actual food. Of course there was arugula in the salad, too. It’s actually a Marin County ordinance that you have to have arugula in every salad. Radicchio can serve a substitute if absolutely necessary.
The menu offers antipasti, gourmet pizza, varied pastas and specials, all in a price range of $5.00 to $11.00.
I offered Ellen advice on her stock portfolio and shared the secrets of my own…How to Lose Money Painlessly…just don’t ever look at the portfolio after you’ve invested. I defended my Disney stock. Like bell bottoms and 50’s furniture, I know it will rise again. On this optimistic note, Ellen opted to pay for lunch. I congratulated her on her excellent investment.
Monday through Friday 11:30 to 11:00 pm
Sat-Sun Brunch 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sat-Sun 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
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