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DINING Wiley's Trattoria loses nothing in translation Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News All it took was a plate of house-made pasta, and instantly I was brought back to my days as a Southern Oregon University student. Wiley's Trattoria, then known as Wiley's World Pasta Shoppe & Eatery, was a short walk away from my dorm, and that cheerful waiter statue welcomed me to a tasty respite from my dorm cafeteria. Wiley's still is in Ashland at 1606 Ashland St., but now it's also down the street from my work and from my neighborhood in downtown Medford at 42 N. Front St. It's true you can't go home again, but sometimes home follows us. The downtown Medford restaurant's environment makes an inviting first impression, but a keen eye will spot relics from earlier eateries at the Front Street location. There's the big, handsome mirror above the bar that's been there since its days as Front Street Bar and Grill in '07 or maybe Woody's in '09, and a large bronze sun from the space's previous incarnation as Si Casa Tequila's in '13. It's clear the space hasn't had a lot of luck in the past, so I hope that Wiley's and a new framed poster of Frank Sinatra will stick around for a while. As we stepped inside, we were warmly greeted by staff wearing crisp black aprons. As a sign of the changing times, our server took our order on a tablet computer — the first time I've seen paperless technology hit the restaurant world. Our server was friendly and accurate, but it was clear she was acclimating to the new technology as she looked through the computer's menus and sub-menus to place our order. I went for Chicken Parmigiani ($12.95) and a diet Coke ($1.95). My coworker, freshly off the clock, ordered a Lagunitas Pin-Up Porter ($5) and Butternut Squash and Walnut Ravioli ($12.95). Both of our entrees came with a fresh dinner salad of leaf lettuce, shredded carrots, chopped radicchio and sliced tomato, served with a tangy poppy seed vinaigrette, along with a fresh piece of focaccia to soak up the remaining dressing on the plate. We split a plate of Panko-crusted Deep Fried Ravioli ($5.95). They came out crispy and golden on the outside and filled with creamy ricotta cheese inside. Marinara sauce was a fine way to dip them, but I'll be trying them with alfredo sauce on my next visit. I was very satisfied with my entree, which piled a freshly breaded piece of chicken atop house-made spaghetti noodles, marinara and topped with mozzarella baked to perfection. The chicken was tender, the breading was flavorful, and most importantly, the pasta had that unique texture that only comes from being made from scratch in-house. I tried a bite of my coworker's ravioli and was similarly impressed. I typically eschew vegetarian dishes, but his entree had a creamy texture and nutty flavor that just seemed complete. I did leave the restaurant with one minor gripe. My coworker's beer arrived in a nice frosted pint glass, but my diet Coke was served in a 12-ounce plastic tumbler. Served on a warm day with ice, my soda simply didn't last that long between refills. Staff sought to be attentive, but a larger cup would've made a very good experience better. That said, the combination of fair prices, friendly staff and a location I can love makes Wiley's Trattoria a welcome addition to downtown Medford. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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