Cicione's -- Eau Claire Italian Restaurant

There are a couple of things to know before you go to Cicione's (sick-cone-nee's). Luckily, you have me. I'll give you the info on the parking, the menu, the décor -- all that.

Firstly, you need to know where the driveway is. After you get past the lighted intersection at Menomonie St. and Clairemont Ave, the driveway is on your right. AND, to park in front, you need to stay to the right. It's a little tricky, but you'll get it.

Secondly, you need to know that they give you a ton of pasta here. My goodness, it's a lot. So, if you are not going to take any home, you might want to split a plate for an additional charge. I took mine home for later.

The Rebel and I met at Cicione's yesterday. I negotiated the driveway and parked right up front. There were tables to sit at outside, but it was so muggy, I sat inside. A smiling wait person seated us right away.

The interior is interesting. They've created an indoor pergola -- complete with what looks like tree trunks for columns and vines overhead. Everywhere else, there's many pictures of Italy amongst the décor. Is it fancy? No, but it's kinda cool. Perfect for a lunch or casual date.

Cicione's has a huge menu. They now also serve mixed drinks. Honestly, you can order a Gin & Sin, a Ladie's Sidecar, a Loose Caboose, or a Godfather. I ordered a glass of Pinot, and it was just right.

I love their homemade soup. I tried the tomato sausage. Thank you, Mr. Cicione, for crafting a beautiful soup. It's great! Add to that the excellent Italian bread and herbed butter -- I could eat that all day.

When they tell you it will be 5 minutes -- believe them. The pasta was to our table so fast, I hadn't finished my soup yet. Perfect if your lunch hour is only 45 minutes.

I ordered the tortellini and sausage. Tons of tortellini in alfredo sauce. The sausage is really spicy -- a definite 'yes' if you like a kick, although it was a little too hot for me. The tortellini was really good, but I wish their alfredo sauce had more ... something. It might be that I'm just used to more salt. (My sister is a fan of their marinara sauce, so I'm going to try that next time)

Will there be a next time? Yes -- absolutely. If you like Italian food, you should try this Italian restaurant.