My favorite California transplant, Lindsay, was the first to tell me about BoccaLupo. This Italian joint is close to her house and her first experience there was so good, she texted me DURING dinner to tell me I had to go. Lindsay is NOT the kind of person to text during a meal.

Why was it so great? I forget the myriad of ways she gushed, but she swore up and down that there was an octopus appetizer that was "absolutely list worthy."

Well, alrighty then!!

Unfortunately, I tend to pick restaurant spots at the very last second and BoccaLupo is a small and popular place which doesn't support spur-of-the-moment, whimsical let's-try-there kind of decision making. As a result, it's taken me MONTHS to get in.

However, this holiday season, Billy and I finally found a table. I couldn't wait to try the octopus. The menu describes the octopus as being served with mortadella spiedino, shell beans, bacon, and marsala. I suppose the scallions were just there for garnish.

If I didn't eat another thing at BoccaLupo, this dish alone would be worth the visit. The blend of fish with BACON (yes!) and beans makes this dish just PERFECT.

All I have to do is look at this poor quality picture and my mouth waters anew. SO fantastic!Billy opted for the Calamari in Sicilian tomato sauce with pine nuts and caperberries. (I don't think I'd ever had a caperberry before!) The server was careful to say this wasn't a FRIED dish in case that's what we were expecting.

Both of us loved the dish, but if you were having an appetizer contest, the octopus trumped the squid. For our entrees we had to go for the pasta. Pasta is too general a word for what we put in our mouths. Good GRIEF was this delicious!!

In this order, Billy happened to have the winning dish. He opted for the 20 yolk tagliatelle with mushrooms, kale, and kimchi. I was surprised this was his choice since Billy doesn't typically dig kale OR kimchi. Still, his instinct said 20 yolk tagliatelle had to be good.

BoccaLupo has a candlelight room so the images are decidedly "not great," but trust me this dish was AMAZING!

I opted for the black spaghetti with hot sausage, shrimp, and scallions. This dish has some serious kick.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dish, but you shouldn't order if calm comfort food is what you have in mind.

Of course, we saved room for dessert! And I went for "Wes's gelato with cookies."

While I loved the gelato (what's not to love?), the cookies were the show stopper. The snicker doodles tasted just like the ones my sister bakes. I took them home with me.

Billy ordered the pulled pound cake with lemon curd and bits of pineapple. I'm sure it was good. I was too busy licking the gelato from my plate to steal very much of his.

Oh BoccaLupo, we are going to have a very happy 2015 together!!

Dining Out: BoccaLupo