It was the executive chef position at Bácaro Venetian Taverna that brought Fabio Flagiello to Boulder, but it's PastaVino Ristorante that he's dreamed of opening for more than 30 years. This Friday, April 6, is the day Flagiello hopes to fling open the doors to his affordable Italian restaurant. The location is prime—in between the Kitchen and Salt the Bistro—on the Pearl Street, and the menu is accessible with house-made pastas, pizza, and Italian classics. Bonus: Most everything will be organic.

What I'm most excited about is PastaVino's emphasis on shared meals. Flagiello, a native of Trieste, Italy, is bringing his country's tradition of the leisurely Sunday, lunch-as-a-family-gathering to Boulder. Each week, there will be a three-course menu with food and a vibe that will encourage lingering and catching up. Sign me—and my family—up.

1043 Pearl St., Boulder

Photograph by Rick Cummings