Reviews & Ratings for Cafe Carolina

10/08/09

The best Italian anywhere

by csolyn

My family owned an Italian cafe so I don't spend money on Italian food. When you know how to make everything from scratch, and grew up eating the stuff 7 days a week for years it tends to be something you don't seek out.

BUT, I had a friend tell me she loved Cafe Carolina's gnocchi. Well...making gnocchi is hard and time consuming. So I was like, let's go! I am sure glad I did because this food is unlike ANY Italian I've ever experienced. It had hints of Southern France and notes of Spain. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is home made including all the pasta, the bread, the desserts...well you get the idea.

Specials change weekly and I have a few that I check the website for so I don't miss out. Entrees tend to run no more than $18, and a corking fee is only $3. The place is small so be sure to call ahead.

• Pros: Fine food, excellent prices, friendly enviornment
• Cons: Make a reservation the place is small!

08/27/09

Amazing food

by MED

I love this place. Every time we take friends and family, they love it! My dad has been to the best restaurants that money can buy any he said his dish was the best he has ever had.

I always order the same thing because it is so good. I order the house salad (very tasty), Thomas pasta (incredible chicken meatballs), Buttera pasta (to take home and enjoy later), my own red wine ($3 corking charge?!?), and Tiramasu for desert (the best in the Valley).

You have to try it!

• Pros: The food. The service. The price.
• Cons: It is not closer to my house.

11/18/08

Simply the Best Italian

by DivineNTD

This is not your normal Italian food that's easy enough to just cook yourself at home. This is exotic Italian with perhaps a touch of French. We order 3 or 4 entries every time we go, and take home leftovers to eat the next couple days.

The only meal that was the slightest bit disappointing was the Lasagna, but if you're going to someplace special order something special.

Oh, and the chef is writing a book!

• Pros: Italian with a touch of Awesome!
• Cons: some dishes are plain

01/27/08

Decent meal at a small, quiet cafe

by valueman

This is a small restaurant, about a dozen tables, so make sure you have a reservation. Not much in the way of ambience -- white tablecloth with a 'drawing paper' cover, black chairs with pads...the basics. The food was pretty good - we had duck, fish, and chicken. Fish was the best of the three, prepared in parchment, with olives, capers, tomatoes. I didn't care for the chicken, though it sounded very interesting. When I tried it, the chicken was dry. The duck was pretty good. Liked the polenta and the broccoli was crisp and flavorful. Desserts we had were the cheesecake and tiramisu - both were excellent. Cheesecake has marscapone, adds a wonderfully light texture. So, not much ambience, o.k. food, service, and there's no liqour - they charge a $2 corkage fee (go figure...they don't have any alcohol to serve, so why the fee???...). I didn't bicker. Overall service was o.k.

08/12/07

It's all in the execution..

by olaviniao

This place was a disappointment. The menu looked great.. organic fare.. I was really hopeful. But this restaurant seriously lacked execution. I hope the owner reads this and either has a good talking-to with his chef or just gets another one. Advice #1.. don't serve a sirloin steak un-sliced. It's not a terribly tender meat but can be a cheaper cut done very well but it must be sliced across the grain when served. And also in addition get better steak knives!! Trying to hack away at sirloin fabricated filet-style was a joke. Someone needs a lesson in execution here.. get that right and this could be a gem.

08/04/07

Best Italian Food I've Ever Had!

by l_turner

Oh wow - this place is delicious. We met the chef who was very nice but more importantly made the most delicious dishes. I had a gorgonzola gnocchi that was pure heaven and my date had a passta with sweet taste and raisins - I don't know the name. No alcohol but you can bring you're own and no corkage fee. Highly recommend!

• Pros: Food, friendy staff, FOOD

02/22/07

Nothing compares to this restaurant!

by rrauch

I can't say enough about how wonderful this place is. The food, the atmosphere, family run... Healthy...

01/31/07

Amazing! My favorite place for the last 3 years!

by penelope100

Walk into a cafe in Italy- or at least, that's what it feels like. Italian owned and operated, these people know good food. The chef changes his specials every week from butternut squash and spinach cooked in his delicious brown butter sage sauce rolled in pasta to filet mignon with a port wine sauce. The food is delicious and made fresh, so he can leave things out (like dairy and wheat), or add spice if you want!

It is a small cafe so you won't be ignored. Take time to say hello to the chef and listen to his stories of traveling. It is an experience that won't be forgotten. Also, the desserts are the best! Tiramisu and ginger creme brulee - add some organic cappucino to that and you're in heaven.

• Pros: Great food made by ONE chef from Northern Italy
• Cons: It is small, so make a reservation.

Editorial Review

by Contributor

Italian organic cuisine spotlights vegetarian and vegan items. Pastas, salads and house specialty tiramisu dessert.