Occasionally a restaurant,  thanks to the dedication of the owners in providing quality in the food with a pleasant, friendly atmosphere, truly becomes a intergal part of the community.  Such a restaurant in San Luis Obispo is Cafe Roma.  Opened in 1980 by the late Joseph Rizzo it soon because a truly family operation as his sons grew into manhood.
When Joseph Rizzo moved to San Luis Obispo he had already culinary fame for a successful restaurant in Hollywood named The Corsican.
Now thirty eight years later Cafe Roma, under management by his son Marco Rizzo, continues to be the place where banquets by local people and organizations are held on a regular basis as well as just about the perfect place for leisurely dining of superior Italian cuisine.
Always of vital importance to success of a restaurant is location.  And here again Cafe Roma scores high being located adjacent to the historic San Luiis Obispo Train Station. 
As one enters Cafe Roma you are leaving California for a hacienda located somewhere in Italy.  To the left is the bar and lounge, casual with Italian travel posters and flyers boosting bicycle touring and indeed a bicycle of an earlier era highs above the bar.
Nicely separated from the bistro atmosphere of the bar and lounge are two exquisitely furnished dining rooms.  One wall of each of these rooms is devoted to a mural that shows a landscape that can only be of Italy.  White tablecloths are atop all the tables gleaming with bright silver and glass ware.
Often you will be greeted by Marco who appears to know the name of many who enter.
I first met Joseph Rizzo when I did a review on his Hollywood restaurant and was impressed with his background which included that of a talented musician who had played with both the New York and Los Angeles  Philharmonic Orchestras before becoming a restaurateur.
Years later I  met Marco Rizzo when I visited the Cafe Roma with a small press group writing about the Central Coast and San Luis Obispo.  That evening Marco was amazed on how much I did know about his father who had already passed away.
On a recent trip to Morro Bay we stopped at Cafe Roma and so once again met with Marco as well as his wife, Vanessa  and charming teen-age daughters.  After a long conversation to bring our lives to the present we looked over the large menus offered for lunch and dinner.  New is a tasting menu offering specialties from Sicily.  Marco's father, Joseph was originally from Sicily.  And I revealed to Marco that I too have a Sicilian heritage since my Mother was born there and came to the U.S. with her parents when she was three years old.
We were there for lunch and opened with something that was completely new to me and my dining partner.  Marco uses fresh produce from local farmers whenever possible and he explained that zucchini when growing produces large blossoms.  These are eatable and at Cafe Roma deep fried with a pancetta cheese and served as fritters.  We thought them tasty and original.  Next came the fried calamari followed by one of the house specialty pasta dishes, Bucatini Carbonara which has a house made pancetta and pecorino cheese sauce.
Cafe Roma is a large restaurant with two comfortable dining rooms as well as a full banquet hall on another level.  Also the Garden Patio which is large and overlooks the Train Station Square.  Snacks and appetizers are also available in the bar and lounge.   
Cafe Roma is located at 1020 Railroad Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 541-6800 www.caferomaslo.com.