By Callie Rogers

The weather was 85 degrees and sunny, with a light breeze and clear sky. Mondays are my off night of the week from sports practices, and I had a light load of homework, so I texted my mom, Lauren Rogers, during my last period class and asked “Can we go out to eat tonight?” Her response was enthusiastic, and she was relieved to have a night away from cooking. My parents recommended Azzurro, as it is only about seven minutes from our house and a frequent choice for my family when we are in the mood for Italian. We were easily able to find seating on OpenTable about four hours prior. 

The first thing that stood out to me when walking up towards the restaurant was how charming the building and outside seating area is. The outside seating sits next to River Road but is well protected by fencing and greenery, so it feels very secluded and calm. When we walked in, we were met by a kind hostess who promptly led us to our table.

The dining room at Azzurro.

The inside dining area has dark floors, white linen-clothed tables, and various chandeliers which provide excellent lighting to the room. I was immediately impressed by the numerous options on the menu, along with the enticing specials for the day. A large loaf of bread with butter was brought to our table, and our waiter took our drink orders. The bread was baked well with a golden brown crust, and the butter was perfectly spreadable. I had to stop myself from finishing the bread in fear of spoiling my main course. 

Calamari appetizer.

My parents and I love calamari, so at every restaurant that serves it, we make sure to try it. We ordered calamari and starter salads for each of us. My parents got the insalata mista, a basic starter salad with mushrooms, tomato, and a balsamic vinaigrette. I ordered the special of the day, the wedge salad. The fried calamari was delectable, with the perfect amount of breading, and the squid was very tender. There were two dipping sauces: marinara and a garlic aioli, both mouthwatering. Of of the many restaurants where I have tried calamari, Azzurro is definitely a new favorite. 

My wedge salad was made with crisp iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, crumbled bacon, and avocado. The dressing was light, and the bacon added a fresh texture with the crunchy lettuce. It simply was delicious, and I would highly recommend Azzurro make it a regular menu item. 

Farfalle al vodka.

For my entree, I ordered farfalle al vodka with added chicken; my dad, Chris Rogers, ordered the veal parmigiana, and my mom ordered the seafood special from the specials menu. My dish was made with large bowtie pasta and a rich, creamy vodka sauce. The sauce had a vibrant flavor and mixed with the pasta deliciously. The chicken, which does not normally come with the dish, was a perfect addition. It was well-cooked and required no seasoning due to the immense flavor from the sauce. The waiter gave the dish fresh parmesan as garnish, which was the perfect final touch of flavor. 

Veal parmigiana.

My dad loves veal parmigiana, so he was eager to try Azzurro’s spin. Rogers said, “Azzurro’s veal parmesan was hearty, full of flavor, and exceptionally well prepared.” The meal had basic spaghetti noodles with a red sauce and plenty of melted mozzarella. The veal was breaded, well cooked, and full of moisture from the sauce. 

Seafood special.

My mom’s meal was quite the opposite to my dad’s staple Italian dinner, comprising grilled scallops, shrimp, and salmon. There was a generous side of mashed potatoes, rich with flavor and a perfect consistency. The meal also had sauteed spinach to add a final touch of greens. My mom said, “The meal was an interesting combination, but it was still incredibly rich in flavor and well cooked.” I tried the scallops and thought they were amazing. They were tender and grilled to perfection, with a sufficient amount of seasoning that did not overpower the taste of the scallop itself. 

Cannolis.

Our entrees were delicious, so we felt it would be wrong to leave the restaurant without glancing at the dessert menu. When the menu arrived, the word cannoli caught my eye almost instantly. When the waiter arrived with our dessert, he brought out three small cannolis, so my parents and I each had our own. They were presented beautifully, with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and a strawberry sauce. Sadly, I am not a fan of strawberries, so I had to eat around the freshly cut fruit, but the cannolis themselves were delicious. A crunchy outer layer garnished in powdered sugar contrasted nicely with the smooth creamy middle. One cannoli was the perfect size to satisfy my sweet tooth without overdoing it. 

Azzurro was an amazing experience with excellent service, scenery, and most importantly food. The Italian style is perfect for a casual or formal dinner, and the portions are large enough to give you leftovers for a few days. I highly recommend Azzurro to any visitors or locals in the Richmond area. 

All photos by Callie Rogers.