Overview
Sarafina's Italian Kitchen is a well-reviewed, cozy Italian spot on CA-4 in Arnold serving generous portions of fresh pasta, ricotta ravioli, and house-made sauces. It draws a crowd — especially on weekends — so reservations are a smart move. A reliable mountain-town dinner stop with real neighborhood warmth.
What to Expect
Walk in and warm bread lands on your table almost immediately. That sets the tone. The kitchen leans into Italian classics done well: reviewers rave about the lobster ravioli in cream sauce, seafood risotto loaded with flavor, and veal scaloppini with marsala. Portions are large. Reviewers consistently note that splitting a pasta and an appetizer between two people is a perfectly reasonable strategy, especially if you start with the roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and blue cheese dressing or the bruschetta.
Nettie's Caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes and the lobster bisque are both worth ordering if they're on the menu that night. The servers know the food well. One reviewer asked about the seafood risotto versus a steak and got a confident, spot-on recommendation. That kind of attentive, knowledgeable service is a recurring theme here.
The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, though it gets genuinely loud when the dining room fills up, which happens fast, even by 5:30 on weeknights. Outdoor seating with propane heaters makes the patio a good option when weather allows.
Best for: date nights in the mountains, post-hike dinners with a group, or anyone craving a satisfying bowl of pasta after a day on the slopes.
Why Visit?
- Lobster Ravioli - Served with cream sauce, a standout pasta dish praised by multiple visitors
- Seafood Risotto - Full-flavored, perfectly cooked, and recommended confidently by the staff
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts - Crispy, topped with bacon and homemade blue cheese dressing
- Warm Bread on Arrival - Brought to the table right away, a small touch that makes a real difference
- Heated Patio Seating - Propane heaters keep the outdoor tables comfortable in cooler mountain evenings
- Generous Portions - Pastas and entrées are large enough to share, especially if you order appetizers
Menu
Antipasti
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Fresh tomato, basil and garlic in extra-virgin olive oil, served over crostini
Calamari Fritti
Lightly floured and fried calamari, served with a lemon-caper aioli
Sauté di Gamberoni
Sautéed prawns in a white wine-garlic sauce
Torte di Granchio
Housemade crab cakes over mixed greens, served with a lemon-caper aioli
Nettie's Caprese
Fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato and fresh basil, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Antipasto al Italiano
Salami, prosciutto, mortadella, provolone, artichokes, olives, and roasted red peppers
Salads & Soup
House Salad
Mixed baby greens, balsamic vinaigrette, diced tomato, toasted almonds, feta cheese
Caesar Salad
Hearts of romaine, housemade croutons, shaved parmesan, and our Caesar dressing
Minestrone Soup
Italian sausage, fresh carrots, zucchini, squash, garlic and herbs in a tomato-based soup. Cup $4.50, bowl $5.95.
Primi Piatti
Nonnie's Spaghetti con Polpette
Traditional spaghetti and meatballs like grandma made
Penne alla Norma
Penne pasta tossed with fried eggplant and fresh basil in tomato sauce
Sarah's Favorite
Cremini mushrooms, Italian sausage and arugula in a tomato-cream sauce, with penne pasta
Fettuccine Alfredo o Verdi con Gamberetti
Creamy garlic-alfredo or pesto sauce with bay shrimp, tossed with fettuccine
Spaghetti Puttanesca
Kalamata olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic in a spicy red sauce, with spaghetti
Risotto ai Frutti di Mare
Calamari, prawns and bay shrimp in a garlic-tomato sauce, served over risotto
Ravioli al Burro e Salvia
Ricotta and parmesan filled ravioli in a light butter-sage broth
Tortellini della Mamma Maria
Prosciutto and peas in a tomato-cream sauce, tossed with cheese tortellini
Scampi Mediterraneo
Prawns, kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and feta cheese in a white wine-garlic sauce, served over spaghetti
Secondi Piatti
Pollo al Parmigiano
Panko-crusted chicken breast, baked with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese (eggplant substitution available). Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Involtini di Pollo
Rolled chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and asparagus, panko-crusted and pan-fried, finished with a four-cheese sauce. Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Vitello alla Marsala
Veal scaloppini sautéed with cremini mushrooms, garlic and marsala wine (chicken substitution available). Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Vitello al Limone
Veal scaloppini sautéed with lemon and capers in white wine (chicken substitution available). Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Salmone ai Capperi e Pomodoro
Fresh filet of salmon with lemon, capers and diced tomato in a white wine butter sauce. Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Bistecca ai Funghi, Rucola e Pomodoro
Premium Angus rib-eye steak with a mushroom, arugula and fresh tomato sauté. Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
New York alla Gorgonzola
Premium Angus New York steak with a gorgonzola-red wine reduction. Served with fresh veggies and garlic-mashed potatoes.
Sides
Perfect accompaniments to complement your meal.
Sweet Endings
Delicious desserts to complete your meal.
Tiramisu
Lady fingers soaked in espresso and layered between sweetened mascarpone cheese and cocoa powder
Crème Brûlée
Light vanilla custard, caramelized to a crispy golden brown
New York Cheesecake
A tall slice of traditional vanilla cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, finished with housemade raspberry sauce
Chocolate Lava Cake
A petite but decadent warm chocolate cake, finished with a touch of whipped cream. Add vanilla ice cream $2.50.
Bananas Foster
Fresh ripe bananas sautéed with butter and brown sugar, finished with coconut rum and served over housemade crepes. Add vanilla ice cream $2.50.
Italian Lemon-Cream Cake
Light lemon layer cake with a lemon-cream filling
Spumoni
Chocolate, cherry, and pistachio ice cream layered together and topped with whipped cream
Lemon Sorbet
Tart and refreshing, the perfect end to any meal
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Just vanilla ice cream, plain and simple. Chocolate syrup and whipped cream upon request.
Reviews
- 11 months ago -
Tim Fagundes
"Stopped in mid week with a friend and had a simply wonderful meal. He had the lobster ravioli with a cream sauce and I asked our server about the seafood risotto vs the steak. She asked a few question..."
- 4 months ago -
Amalia
"We (5 people) walked in unaware of how busy it would be, but the host was very accomadating and sat us at the bar adding an extra seat. The food was absolutely incredible. We started with the caprese..."
- 11 months ago -
David
"We visited Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen in late October and absolutely loved it! The parking lot and road were packed, but even without a reservation, the staff found us a cozy table outside under a w..."
- 2 months ago -
Terri DuFore
"The food and service are both excellent. We started out with the bruschetta and the roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and blue cheese dressing. The dressing was homemade the brussels sprouts were cr..."
- 4 months ago -
Carolyn Potter
"It was very crowded...I know its popular. Really good food. Great service. But a little loud for our taste. We celebrated our 40 year anniversary and could hardly talk. And we had the early seat..."
