On its surface, Vaso Azzurro seems like your typical old-school Italian restaurant, with crisp white tablecloths and a menu of classic Italian American dishes. But sit for a bit and you’ll quickly realize just how unique the place is.
Waitstaff randomly burst into operatic song, serenading tables and eliciting smiles. The majority of guests are regulars and are greeted with a hug and boisterous banter from members of the Sadri family, who’ve owned the restaurant since 2005.
“We always treated this place as a sanctuary,” owner Michael Sadri said. “This is where (guests) come to be attended to. This is where (guests) come to be listened to. We heal our guests, and the guests heal us in return.”
But after service on Wednesday, Vaso Azzurro will no longer be at its longtime address in downtown Mountain View. The Sadri family sold their lease to a new owner, Virginia Qian, who will transform the space into Cafe Ikebana, a day-to-night cafe and lounge. Michael Sadri said he hopes to reopen Vaso Azzurro in a new space within walking distance of its current location, although no lease has been signed. If all goes to plan, he’ll announce the address of the new location by the end of the year and reopen in March, he said…