Quality, inexpensive home-style Italian food. This place is great. Brought my wife here for a night of culinary indulgence and we were not disappointed. It's good old fashioned comfort food. Hugs and tickles your belly and doesn't break the bank. Between the wife and I we spent about $50 and we got 1 appetizer, 2 glasses of wine, 2 entrees and 1 dessert. Also, they take Restaurant.com coupons so the bill was actually $25. Boom! Pow! Highly recommended for the occasional italian food craving. Make sure you try the garlic rolls - buttery and garlicy goodness.
(4)
Kristen H.
I was pleasantly surprised when I passed by a place with a "homemade pasta" sign around my 'hood. I checked it out today after losing the battle against a vicious pasta craving. Surprisingly, despite the shabby exterior and quite random location, the inside of this place is nice and has a simple elegance. White tablecloths and wine bottles make up the crux of the decor. I only did take-out and the staff was cordial, not super friendly and not rude. I noticed that although the woman spoke English, the male waiter did not speak English at all, but who care's it's 8th st. Really, it's freakin' Miami. Anywho, I ordered tortellini in pink and it was sooo crazy filling. The portion is about what you'd expect. The sauce (alfredo/marinara mix) was good, but not great. It was very cheesy and creamy with a perceptible touch of nutmeg. What I wanted was more garlic flavor, but the sauce tasted authentic and, having explored real Italian recipes, they don't really use mounds of garlic like we imagine, in most cases. The pasta was absolutely perfect. It was fresh, tender, and almost creamy smooth, from the pasta itself to the filling. Overall, the dish certainly filled my tortellini craving and it was good, just not amazing. The dish typically comes with regular bread, but I got garlic rolls for a buck and some change more and it was INSANE! It was doused in butter and FRESH garlic, and I'm talkin MOUNDS of it!! The bag was full of what looked like about 4 crushed/minced cloves. YUM! The bread was the harder type on the outside and the garlic butter soaked the outside crust, while the inside was still soft and yummy and the sauce didn't penetrate, so it didn't turn into mush. As for the tiramisu, I would never order it again. It wasn't at all nasty, but something just wasn't right. The cream was too thick (pretty sure it was straight mascarpone, as opposed to a mascarpone-based cream) and only half of the lady fingers were soaked in coffee (which totally chocked both texture and flavor) and it all added up to just being off-tasting. As far as the big would-i-return finish. The answer is Yes. I would try another dish, likely lasagna and definitely during lunch time again. This place is a bit pricey. Lunch specials are reasonable, but once you add on dessert, forget about it. I paid just under 22 for tortellini pink, garlic rolls, and tiramisu during lunchtime. Wow! When i'm on a date night, then I'll go for dinner, but with those prices, it's certainly not going to be my go-to dinner delivery. See menu here with prices and description southflorida.menupages.c… Note- Parking's probably a nightmare for dinner. There are only about 8 spaces in a super tight corner lot at Galiano and 8th
(4)
G D.
It may have looked nice and cozy, but waiting too long to be served is just unacceptable. Got up and left - no one noticed.
(1)
Steve E.
Home Away from Home! Chicken Parm! Wow. Egg plant Parm! Great Spagetti w Olive oil/ roasted galic & Sausage! Amazing!
(5)
JC L.
I used to like this place a lot more than now... The inside of the place is great, well kept and perfectly decorated. The location is also convenient. When it comes to the food, it has become VERY inconsistent... from the mushy penne pasta, to the under OR over seasoning in most of their dishes. I used to love the fish a la Francoise and it is suddenly below par. Too bad... Service is were these restaurant is slowly but surely falling... They really need to reboot their staff or they will definitely reach the 1 star rating. The busser (the guy who just picks up the plates and brings you the water) is much nicer and knowledgeable than their staff.. why not make him the waiter and pay him more!?! Anyhow, if you go there, make sure you are willing to accept a hit or miss type of experience.
(2)
Eugie E.
This place is amazing. I love the garlic rolls and the penne with pink sauce is so good. They have a great pollo a la milanesa that is crispy. My two favorites desserts are the dulce de leche panqueques and the tiramisu.
(5)
Lorely B.
Okay, I am so pleasantly surprised with this place!! I was have a lazy saturday night and decided to order delivery from caffe italia (don't tell my personal trainer, Tony Horton - lol)... Anyhow, delivery was fast about 30 minutes and they bring a credit card machine for you if needed - handy dandy! We decided to order the gnocchi w pink sauce, baked tortellini in pink sauce, spaghetti and meatballs and garlic rolls. I'll start with the best - most amazing garlic rolls I've ever had. They are perfect knots of melt in your mouth goodness completely doused in fresh garlic with a touch of cheese. I could not get enough!!!! As for the food, the gnocchi was to die - pink sauce was so tasty and the gnocchi tender and delicious. The baked tortellini was mixed w pink sauce topped w loads of mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection!!!!!! Those two were my favs, the spaghetti and meatballs weren't bad - kinda plain but then again it IS kist spaghetti and meatballs. I think I found my new fav place for delivery - hooray for homemade pasta!!!!
(4)
Alberto Z.
I was here once in the mid 90's and was just recently back. The food is STILL as good as I remember it. You MUST order the Garlic ROLLS (not the garlic bread), they are out of this world. I had the chicken parm, the portion was very generous, and the flavors were good if not out of the ordinary. My friend ordered Chicken with garlic and lemon, also very good, though personally I would just have gone for the Piccatta, but he hates capers. Another friend got the three cheese ravioli with pink sauce. Very good ravioli, also a generous portion, and it was SMOTHERED in bubbly cheese. They offer whole wheat pasta, which is always a plus in my book. HOWEVER, they claim to make their pasta fresh themselves, I don't think it's true. The pasta had that "from dried" consistency. I will definitely come here again if I'm in the area and craving Italian. Parking is a little uncomfortable, tiny lot. Try and park on the street if possible.
(4)
Joe F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere. Start with the most delicious garlic rolls and perfectly fried (fresh) calamari. They have a great antipasto as well that includes a taste of there incredible pizza. This is my favorite place for veal parmigiana. Perfectly prepared with pasta al dente. I actually get fries with it. Order any of their specials and you'll be happy. It's even a great place for steak especially the skirt steak. If you like wine, the wine list here will impress you. The owners and staff will make you feel at home. I love this place.
(5)
Barbie M.
Amazing food, reasonable prices :)
(5)
Nadia P.
Crispy thin crust pizza oozing with cheese and fresh tomato sauce (made with real tomatoes, no canned stuff here). In the Gables. They deliver. Fast. Do yourself a favor and stop ordering Dominos when this is just around the corner.
(4)
Claud Q.
I am not sure why there are so many glowing reviews of this restaurant. The food is mediocre at best. Any so-called "Italian" restaurant that offers bottled parm cheese and has tasteless marinara sauce is not worthy of my revisit. Other misses: the ravioli was straight out of some pre-cooked bag I could have bought at Publix, the famous garlic rolls are drenched in oil and minced garlic, so much the taste is overpowering throughout your meal. My cesar salad had store-bought dressing, it wasn't even creamy. The service is fine, my issue was the taste of the food. For real italian, I would splurge and go to Randazzos any day.
(1)
Patricio G.
Been there many times. I like the carbonara and the house salad. The pizza, not so much.
(4)
Denise M.
Ok! So to be honest, it's almost been a year since I last came here. I liked that it was a quaint and comfy place. The menu had different options. One thing I noticed, but didn't get to enjoy that day, was the variety of wines they had!!! I have to go again soon, to have a more current/accurate yelp review!
(4)
Yari B.
I've only been for lunch and always ordered from the lunch specials menu.... Just ok. Garlic rolls are so perfectly oily and garlicky mmmmm
(2)
Gustavo A. L.
We always enjoy coming here, the portions are right and we have tried many items in the menu and have never been disappointed. The relationship between quality and value is acceptable. We are never disappointed - no need to go fancy here, lasagna, spaghetti, ravioli - it's all good !
(4)
Jennifer R.
Though we've moved a bit further away from the restaurant, when we want quick and cheap Italian food delivery, we still call Caffe Italia. I usually stick with the garlic broccoli linguini, but decided to try something new - I ordered the vegetable lasagna - it was AMAZING!!!! The BF ordered pasta with crabmeat and mussels in a pink sauce - I don't think I've ever watched him eat his food as fast as he did - the flavor was just... WOW... Or course, we stick with out staple dessert, shared a tiramisu - perfect as always... Thanks for make delivering delicious Italian food...
(4)
Kween K.
The food was amazing! It was all very fresh and muy caliente! Although the setting is quite small, it's cozy. Good service, little parking but overall wonderful experience!
(4)
Cristy M.
Didn't feel like cooking tonight, so I called up Caffe Italia. If you're in the mood to eat pizza that's better than your average Domino's I highly recommend this restaurant. The pizza sies are somewhat awkward but the extra large brings 6 large pizza slices in case you are wondering. A 1 topping pizza is about $15. I hear they also have excellent pasta btu have yet to try it.
(4)
Teresa E.
Once again, this establishment kindly left a menu waiting for me at my front door, and as a neighbor and dear friend had given them high marks, I decided to give them a try. In my ongoing pursuit of spectacular pizza, I ordered their Chicken, Pesto and Broccoli Pizza. Unfortunately, they were out of broccoli, but were extremely accommodating. They even offered to go out and purchase more broccoli if I was willing to wait a little extra. In the end, they suggested Spinach and the results were phenomenal! The crust is absolutely perfect! It is thin, crispy on the outside, soft and stretchy on the inside. They use a generous amount of cheese, and the chicken is seasoned with herbs and then grilled to sear in the flavor, and that's before it ever even becomes a topping on your pizza! After that first order, I've continued ordering different variations of pizza. I've also ordered a calzone, and the dough is really the key to their magic! They also offer incredible soups, like pumpkin or pasta e fagiolli. There isn't anything on the menu that I've ordered that I haven't truly enjoyed. Everything is fresh, with very balanced flavors. It isn't what usually passes for Italian in America, aka pasta drowning in heaps of spaghetti sauce with a slab of cheese on top.
(5)
Giancarlo B.
Caffe Italia is a restaurant that you've probably have driven by countless of times. Its front doors are facing an odd angle which doesn't allow for much exposure and given the fact that they're located near the 8th st/37 ave intersection, I'm sure motorist are more concerned about catching the light than looking around to see if there's anything to eat nearby. At anyrate I'm fortunate enough to live nearby and have seen this place several times so it was quite easy to decide where to eat on a night that my date and I were craving some homemade pasta. The atmosphere is casual and the lighting is dim enough to be considered romantic. The service is a bit nonchalant which is only good once you actually have your food. The portions weren't generous nor were they small; just right. My date ordered the gnocchi with pesto and I the whole wheat pasta with seafood. Both dishes were delicious, however their gnocchi was tops or as my date put it, "I think I just found my new best gnocchi in Miami restaurant." I agreed but felt that their pesto needed help. Less parsley more basil guys...no scratch that, NO parsley, all basil. Will I come back here again? Definitely. The table near us ordered pizza that looked fantastic! So I must give it a try.
(4)
Reo S.
never been here to dine in, only had takeout pizza n garlic bread which has always been good, but last night we wanted pasta, so we went for it..wow.. to start..never thought id have cuban bread bruchettas.. yes i said cuban bread.. lol. i had chicken parm. no flattening the chicken breast.. no crispy fry.. no flavor. this is how you wreck a chickn parm. moving on.. ravioli, came out of the costco bag.. only thing that was not horrible was the fett alfredo.. not impressed at all by the dining experience. will stick to pizza take out. next
(2)
Cecy C.
Home-made pasta heaven & the wine selection is excellent.
(5)
Shawn F.
This will be my first review in my quest for the best delivered pizza. This means the pie must be delivered so my quest is limited to places I can order from and my location when I order such as a friends place or work. Unfortunately I am not starting at the top of the food chain with Cafe Italia but I have to say good price, quick late night delivery and the pizza was not bad at all. The pizza was on par with a good bowling alley pie, great after a few beers and nothing to complain about but also nothing to write home about either.
(3)
Joseluis A.
things i love about cafe italia: bar seating, good beers, friendly service, tv's usually tuned into GOL TV, good lunch specials, tasty sauces, good meats, fresh pasta, good pizza, panqueques con dulce de leche! ive eaten here about 40 times as its pretty close to my job and ive never had a complaint. it doesnt matter if i sit at the bar or at a table. the only reason why i dont rate this 5 stars is because the very special daily specials (does that make sense?) are a little pricey. usually rissotto, corvina, lamb for about 18$...
(4)
Sergio C.
I've been to Caffe Italia on a number of different occasions -- both lunch and dinner -- and ordered food for delivery from here too. The food is excellent and ranges in price from moderate to pricey. The wait staff are pleasantly helpful, but not annoying. Parking is the only pain, but a lot of their customers come from the local office buildings surrounding the restaurant. If you like Italian food, definitely give this place a try.
(4)
Ron S.
It looks like I might be the lone dissenter here, BUT - Can we all agree that marinara sauce, spaghetti & meatballs, garlic rolls and something as simple as the Parmesan cheese served are fair indicators of how ALL the rest of any Italian menu will turn-out? Can we agree that an Italian red sauce or gravy that contains sugar and is totally devoid of ANY fresh herbs demonstrates something less than a commitment to excellence and love for one's cooking? Can we agree that meatballs without even one fresh parsley or basil leaf is simply... well WRONG?! And what proud Italian chef in a fine-dining environment serves his prize Parmesan cheese from a shake bottle - no offer to freshly grate or shave it at the table? Do you prefer your garlic rolls with a delicate hint of garlic in a rich extra-virgin olive oil drizzle, or rather smothered in some mix of oil whose flavor is now overpowered by a mound of crushed garlic - Enough to have you gargling with Scope for the rest of the evening. Ok well by now you know I am really not a fan. The errors here are so egregious that I cannot imagine the kitchen staff possessing the talent or skill necessary to provide any noteworthy improvement to the food experience. Ambiance aside (really a nice comfortable interior environment), this is your basic mediocre Italian-American, neighborhood pizza joint with cheap, outdated recipes and sub-par kitchen skills. Ok back to the food - Meatballs were WAY too salty and no fresh herbs in them. The spaghetti was overcooked. The sauce reminded me of Ragu in the bottle. The famous garlic rolls... well... WAY too much garlic. Even the salad greens were stale! And - The place was NOT cheap! I guess if there were not so many positive reviews here, I would have been less harsh, but c'mon folks, with all the GREAT restaurant choices in Miami, do we really have to accept this level of mediocre? Before my food arrived, I was very excited by the menu. Hoping it would live-up to expectations so that I could come back to enjoy one of those delicious-looking steaks, veal or lamb chops. VERY disappointing!
(1)
Paulina B.
We just came back from Caffe Italia and we liked it. My husband ordered the lasagna and he thought it was good. I got the spinach Manicotti and I liked it quite a bit, but next time I'd order it with tomato sauce instead of pink sauce. It is a bit expensive (we spent $50 for garlic rolls, two entrees, drinks and gratuity) but it is so close to where we live that being able to just walk there makes it worth it. Good atmosphere and decent service.
(4)
Marian S.
this place is excellent ! the best food in Miami
(5)
A M.
Very good pizza! Not too thin, not too thick, the sauce is very savory.
(4)
Kelly O.
This is my local neighborhood Italian restaurant and I like almost everything on the menu. The pizza is good, the garlic rolls are great, the chicken cacciatore which I love and almost no one makes is yummy, and the pasta is fresh. Though, I don't like their meatballs and their risotto is just ok. I'm happy that they deliver to me when I'm too lazy to go and eat there.
(3)
Gianna O.
As a first-generation Italian who grew up in a food and restaurant-owning family, I love this place. Some of the dishes remind me of growing up. Get the chaja dessert. OMG. SOOOOOO delicious.
(4)
Will W.
Great little hole in the wall Italian restaurant. I've been there 3 times with my girlfriend now, and she thinks its the most romantic place in the world. It's usually not too crowded, very relaxed atmosphere, white table clothes with candles and wine on each table and Italian music playing. The food is ok depending on what you get. The pizza is to die for. Everything tastes fresh/homemade and its really filling. A 12" pizza is enough for 2 people. The pastas are decent, nothing special, but still good in a simple way. My girlfriend got sausage and peppers pasta tonight; the sausage tastes homemade and the peppers were nice and crisp. The pasta portions are huge. The stuffed dishes are very delectable, but small portions, so be aware. Some of the dishes are kind of expensive and so we haven't tried them; the specials are usually around 20-25$. Overall, great atmosphere and pretty good food. Best Italian restaurant in Miami that I've seen.
(5)
Mike B.
i have been coming here since 1989 (formerly villa italia)...What a great place...This is one of the best cozy Italian restaurants in South Florida. The service is great the wine great and take your pick at menu item they are all great, very fresh and very reasonably priced. One of the things i love about this place is the fact that you can make it a great romantic date night place (which i frequent with my wife)or it lends itself to a great family outing. This place has been here through the years and I hope it stays as it is for years to come. Kudos to the owners and great management and staff of this excellent place.
(5)
Manuel G.
I've been here for lunch twice, will definitely go back , their tomato spaghetti sauce has just the right amount of that sweet taste that I prefer.Lunch specials are very good, The eggplant Parmigiana reminds me of the one I used to enjoy at Villa Italia on Coral Way before it closed. Service is good ,friendly,and quick.Also been here for dinner on numerous occasions,and always great food ,service,& ambiance.Prices just right.Every time I've been here it has been almost full to capacity,always a good sign.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
James E.
Good food. Reasonably priced.
(4)Tony E.
Quality, inexpensive home-style Italian food. This place is great. Brought my wife here for a night of culinary indulgence and we were not disappointed. It's good old fashioned comfort food. Hugs and tickles your belly and doesn't break the bank. Between the wife and I we spent about $50 and we got 1 appetizer, 2 glasses of wine, 2 entrees and 1 dessert. Also, they take Restaurant.com coupons so the bill was actually $25. Boom! Pow! Highly recommended for the occasional italian food craving. Make sure you try the garlic rolls - buttery and garlicy goodness.
(4)Kristen H.
I was pleasantly surprised when I passed by a place with a "homemade pasta" sign around my 'hood. I checked it out today after losing the battle against a vicious pasta craving. Surprisingly, despite the shabby exterior and quite random location, the inside of this place is nice and has a simple elegance. White tablecloths and wine bottles make up the crux of the decor. I only did take-out and the staff was cordial, not super friendly and not rude. I noticed that although the woman spoke English, the male waiter did not speak English at all, but who care's it's 8th st. Really, it's freakin' Miami. Anywho, I ordered tortellini in pink and it was sooo crazy filling. The portion is about what you'd expect. The sauce (alfredo/marinara mix) was good, but not great. It was very cheesy and creamy with a perceptible touch of nutmeg. What I wanted was more garlic flavor, but the sauce tasted authentic and, having explored real Italian recipes, they don't really use mounds of garlic like we imagine, in most cases. The pasta was absolutely perfect. It was fresh, tender, and almost creamy smooth, from the pasta itself to the filling. Overall, the dish certainly filled my tortellini craving and it was good, just not amazing. The dish typically comes with regular bread, but I got garlic rolls for a buck and some change more and it was INSANE! It was doused in butter and FRESH garlic, and I'm talkin MOUNDS of it!! The bag was full of what looked like about 4 crushed/minced cloves. YUM! The bread was the harder type on the outside and the garlic butter soaked the outside crust, while the inside was still soft and yummy and the sauce didn't penetrate, so it didn't turn into mush. As for the tiramisu, I would never order it again. It wasn't at all nasty, but something just wasn't right. The cream was too thick (pretty sure it was straight mascarpone, as opposed to a mascarpone-based cream) and only half of the lady fingers were soaked in coffee (which totally chocked both texture and flavor) and it all added up to just being off-tasting. As far as the big would-i-return finish. The answer is Yes. I would try another dish, likely lasagna and definitely during lunch time again. This place is a bit pricey. Lunch specials are reasonable, but once you add on dessert, forget about it. I paid just under 22 for tortellini pink, garlic rolls, and tiramisu during lunchtime. Wow! When i'm on a date night, then I'll go for dinner, but with those prices, it's certainly not going to be my go-to dinner delivery. See menu here with prices and description southflorida.menupages.c… Note- Parking's probably a nightmare for dinner. There are only about 8 spaces in a super tight corner lot at Galiano and 8th
(4)G D.
It may have looked nice and cozy, but waiting too long to be served is just unacceptable. Got up and left - no one noticed.
(1)Steve E.
Home Away from Home! Chicken Parm! Wow. Egg plant Parm! Great Spagetti w Olive oil/ roasted galic & Sausage! Amazing!
(5)JC L.
I used to like this place a lot more than now... The inside of the place is great, well kept and perfectly decorated. The location is also convenient. When it comes to the food, it has become VERY inconsistent... from the mushy penne pasta, to the under OR over seasoning in most of their dishes. I used to love the fish a la Francoise and it is suddenly below par. Too bad... Service is were these restaurant is slowly but surely falling... They really need to reboot their staff or they will definitely reach the 1 star rating. The busser (the guy who just picks up the plates and brings you the water) is much nicer and knowledgeable than their staff.. why not make him the waiter and pay him more!?! Anyhow, if you go there, make sure you are willing to accept a hit or miss type of experience.
(2)Eugie E.
This place is amazing. I love the garlic rolls and the penne with pink sauce is so good. They have a great pollo a la milanesa that is crispy. My two favorites desserts are the dulce de leche panqueques and the tiramisu.
(5)Lorely B.
Okay, I am so pleasantly surprised with this place!! I was have a lazy saturday night and decided to order delivery from caffe italia (don't tell my personal trainer, Tony Horton - lol)... Anyhow, delivery was fast about 30 minutes and they bring a credit card machine for you if needed - handy dandy! We decided to order the gnocchi w pink sauce, baked tortellini in pink sauce, spaghetti and meatballs and garlic rolls. I'll start with the best - most amazing garlic rolls I've ever had. They are perfect knots of melt in your mouth goodness completely doused in fresh garlic with a touch of cheese. I could not get enough!!!! As for the food, the gnocchi was to die - pink sauce was so tasty and the gnocchi tender and delicious. The baked tortellini was mixed w pink sauce topped w loads of mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection!!!!!! Those two were my favs, the spaghetti and meatballs weren't bad - kinda plain but then again it IS kist spaghetti and meatballs. I think I found my new fav place for delivery - hooray for homemade pasta!!!!
(4)Alberto Z.
I was here once in the mid 90's and was just recently back. The food is STILL as good as I remember it. You MUST order the Garlic ROLLS (not the garlic bread), they are out of this world. I had the chicken parm, the portion was very generous, and the flavors were good if not out of the ordinary. My friend ordered Chicken with garlic and lemon, also very good, though personally I would just have gone for the Piccatta, but he hates capers. Another friend got the three cheese ravioli with pink sauce. Very good ravioli, also a generous portion, and it was SMOTHERED in bubbly cheese. They offer whole wheat pasta, which is always a plus in my book. HOWEVER, they claim to make their pasta fresh themselves, I don't think it's true. The pasta had that "from dried" consistency. I will definitely come here again if I'm in the area and craving Italian. Parking is a little uncomfortable, tiny lot. Try and park on the street if possible.
(4)Joe F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere. Start with the most delicious garlic rolls and perfectly fried (fresh) calamari. They have a great antipasto as well that includes a taste of there incredible pizza. This is my favorite place for veal parmigiana. Perfectly prepared with pasta al dente. I actually get fries with it. Order any of their specials and you'll be happy. It's even a great place for steak especially the skirt steak. If you like wine, the wine list here will impress you. The owners and staff will make you feel at home. I love this place.
(5)Barbie M.
Amazing food, reasonable prices :)
(5)Nadia P.
Crispy thin crust pizza oozing with cheese and fresh tomato sauce (made with real tomatoes, no canned stuff here). In the Gables. They deliver. Fast. Do yourself a favor and stop ordering Dominos when this is just around the corner.
(4)Claud Q.
I am not sure why there are so many glowing reviews of this restaurant. The food is mediocre at best. Any so-called "Italian" restaurant that offers bottled parm cheese and has tasteless marinara sauce is not worthy of my revisit. Other misses: the ravioli was straight out of some pre-cooked bag I could have bought at Publix, the famous garlic rolls are drenched in oil and minced garlic, so much the taste is overpowering throughout your meal. My cesar salad had store-bought dressing, it wasn't even creamy. The service is fine, my issue was the taste of the food. For real italian, I would splurge and go to Randazzos any day.
(1)Patricio G.
Been there many times. I like the carbonara and the house salad. The pizza, not so much.
(4)Denise M.
Ok! So to be honest, it's almost been a year since I last came here. I liked that it was a quaint and comfy place. The menu had different options. One thing I noticed, but didn't get to enjoy that day, was the variety of wines they had!!! I have to go again soon, to have a more current/accurate yelp review!
(4)Yari B.
I've only been for lunch and always ordered from the lunch specials menu.... Just ok. Garlic rolls are so perfectly oily and garlicky mmmmm
(2)Gustavo A. L.
We always enjoy coming here, the portions are right and we have tried many items in the menu and have never been disappointed. The relationship between quality and value is acceptable. We are never disappointed - no need to go fancy here, lasagna, spaghetti, ravioli - it's all good !
(4)Jennifer R.
Though we've moved a bit further away from the restaurant, when we want quick and cheap Italian food delivery, we still call Caffe Italia. I usually stick with the garlic broccoli linguini, but decided to try something new - I ordered the vegetable lasagna - it was AMAZING!!!! The BF ordered pasta with crabmeat and mussels in a pink sauce - I don't think I've ever watched him eat his food as fast as he did - the flavor was just... WOW... Or course, we stick with out staple dessert, shared a tiramisu - perfect as always... Thanks for make delivering delicious Italian food...
(4)Kween K.
The food was amazing! It was all very fresh and muy caliente! Although the setting is quite small, it's cozy. Good service, little parking but overall wonderful experience!
(4)Cristy M.
Didn't feel like cooking tonight, so I called up Caffe Italia. If you're in the mood to eat pizza that's better than your average Domino's I highly recommend this restaurant. The pizza sies are somewhat awkward but the extra large brings 6 large pizza slices in case you are wondering. A 1 topping pizza is about $15. I hear they also have excellent pasta btu have yet to try it.
(4)Teresa E.
Once again, this establishment kindly left a menu waiting for me at my front door, and as a neighbor and dear friend had given them high marks, I decided to give them a try. In my ongoing pursuit of spectacular pizza, I ordered their Chicken, Pesto and Broccoli Pizza. Unfortunately, they were out of broccoli, but were extremely accommodating. They even offered to go out and purchase more broccoli if I was willing to wait a little extra. In the end, they suggested Spinach and the results were phenomenal! The crust is absolutely perfect! It is thin, crispy on the outside, soft and stretchy on the inside. They use a generous amount of cheese, and the chicken is seasoned with herbs and then grilled to sear in the flavor, and that's before it ever even becomes a topping on your pizza! After that first order, I've continued ordering different variations of pizza. I've also ordered a calzone, and the dough is really the key to their magic! They also offer incredible soups, like pumpkin or pasta e fagiolli. There isn't anything on the menu that I've ordered that I haven't truly enjoyed. Everything is fresh, with very balanced flavors. It isn't what usually passes for Italian in America, aka pasta drowning in heaps of spaghetti sauce with a slab of cheese on top.
(5)Giancarlo B.
Caffe Italia is a restaurant that you've probably have driven by countless of times. Its front doors are facing an odd angle which doesn't allow for much exposure and given the fact that they're located near the 8th st/37 ave intersection, I'm sure motorist are more concerned about catching the light than looking around to see if there's anything to eat nearby. At anyrate I'm fortunate enough to live nearby and have seen this place several times so it was quite easy to decide where to eat on a night that my date and I were craving some homemade pasta. The atmosphere is casual and the lighting is dim enough to be considered romantic. The service is a bit nonchalant which is only good once you actually have your food. The portions weren't generous nor were they small; just right. My date ordered the gnocchi with pesto and I the whole wheat pasta with seafood. Both dishes were delicious, however their gnocchi was tops or as my date put it, "I think I just found my new best gnocchi in Miami restaurant." I agreed but felt that their pesto needed help. Less parsley more basil guys...no scratch that, NO parsley, all basil. Will I come back here again? Definitely. The table near us ordered pizza that looked fantastic! So I must give it a try.
(4)Reo S.
never been here to dine in, only had takeout pizza n garlic bread which has always been good, but last night we wanted pasta, so we went for it..wow.. to start..never thought id have cuban bread bruchettas.. yes i said cuban bread.. lol. i had chicken parm. no flattening the chicken breast.. no crispy fry.. no flavor. this is how you wreck a chickn parm. moving on.. ravioli, came out of the costco bag.. only thing that was not horrible was the fett alfredo.. not impressed at all by the dining experience. will stick to pizza take out. next
(2)Cecy C.
Home-made pasta heaven & the wine selection is excellent.
(5)Shawn F.
This will be my first review in my quest for the best delivered pizza. This means the pie must be delivered so my quest is limited to places I can order from and my location when I order such as a friends place or work. Unfortunately I am not starting at the top of the food chain with Cafe Italia but I have to say good price, quick late night delivery and the pizza was not bad at all. The pizza was on par with a good bowling alley pie, great after a few beers and nothing to complain about but also nothing to write home about either.
(3)Joseluis A.
things i love about cafe italia: bar seating, good beers, friendly service, tv's usually tuned into GOL TV, good lunch specials, tasty sauces, good meats, fresh pasta, good pizza, panqueques con dulce de leche! ive eaten here about 40 times as its pretty close to my job and ive never had a complaint. it doesnt matter if i sit at the bar or at a table. the only reason why i dont rate this 5 stars is because the very special daily specials (does that make sense?) are a little pricey. usually rissotto, corvina, lamb for about 18$...
(4)Sergio C.
I've been to Caffe Italia on a number of different occasions -- both lunch and dinner -- and ordered food for delivery from here too. The food is excellent and ranges in price from moderate to pricey. The wait staff are pleasantly helpful, but not annoying. Parking is the only pain, but a lot of their customers come from the local office buildings surrounding the restaurant. If you like Italian food, definitely give this place a try.
(4)Ron S.
It looks like I might be the lone dissenter here, BUT - Can we all agree that marinara sauce, spaghetti & meatballs, garlic rolls and something as simple as the Parmesan cheese served are fair indicators of how ALL the rest of any Italian menu will turn-out? Can we agree that an Italian red sauce or gravy that contains sugar and is totally devoid of ANY fresh herbs demonstrates something less than a commitment to excellence and love for one's cooking? Can we agree that meatballs without even one fresh parsley or basil leaf is simply... well WRONG?! And what proud Italian chef in a fine-dining environment serves his prize Parmesan cheese from a shake bottle - no offer to freshly grate or shave it at the table? Do you prefer your garlic rolls with a delicate hint of garlic in a rich extra-virgin olive oil drizzle, or rather smothered in some mix of oil whose flavor is now overpowered by a mound of crushed garlic - Enough to have you gargling with Scope for the rest of the evening. Ok well by now you know I am really not a fan. The errors here are so egregious that I cannot imagine the kitchen staff possessing the talent or skill necessary to provide any noteworthy improvement to the food experience. Ambiance aside (really a nice comfortable interior environment), this is your basic mediocre Italian-American, neighborhood pizza joint with cheap, outdated recipes and sub-par kitchen skills. Ok back to the food - Meatballs were WAY too salty and no fresh herbs in them. The spaghetti was overcooked. The sauce reminded me of Ragu in the bottle. The famous garlic rolls... well... WAY too much garlic. Even the salad greens were stale! And - The place was NOT cheap! I guess if there were not so many positive reviews here, I would have been less harsh, but c'mon folks, with all the GREAT restaurant choices in Miami, do we really have to accept this level of mediocre? Before my food arrived, I was very excited by the menu. Hoping it would live-up to expectations so that I could come back to enjoy one of those delicious-looking steaks, veal or lamb chops. VERY disappointing!
(1)Paulina B.
We just came back from Caffe Italia and we liked it. My husband ordered the lasagna and he thought it was good. I got the spinach Manicotti and I liked it quite a bit, but next time I'd order it with tomato sauce instead of pink sauce. It is a bit expensive (we spent $50 for garlic rolls, two entrees, drinks and gratuity) but it is so close to where we live that being able to just walk there makes it worth it. Good atmosphere and decent service.
(4)Marian S.
this place is excellent ! the best food in Miami
(5)A M.
Very good pizza! Not too thin, not too thick, the sauce is very savory.
(4)Kelly O.
This is my local neighborhood Italian restaurant and I like almost everything on the menu. The pizza is good, the garlic rolls are great, the chicken cacciatore which I love and almost no one makes is yummy, and the pasta is fresh. Though, I don't like their meatballs and their risotto is just ok. I'm happy that they deliver to me when I'm too lazy to go and eat there.
(3)Gianna O.
As a first-generation Italian who grew up in a food and restaurant-owning family, I love this place. Some of the dishes remind me of growing up. Get the chaja dessert. OMG. SOOOOOO delicious.
(4)Will W.
Great little hole in the wall Italian restaurant. I've been there 3 times with my girlfriend now, and she thinks its the most romantic place in the world. It's usually not too crowded, very relaxed atmosphere, white table clothes with candles and wine on each table and Italian music playing. The food is ok depending on what you get. The pizza is to die for. Everything tastes fresh/homemade and its really filling. A 12" pizza is enough for 2 people. The pastas are decent, nothing special, but still good in a simple way. My girlfriend got sausage and peppers pasta tonight; the sausage tastes homemade and the peppers were nice and crisp. The pasta portions are huge. The stuffed dishes are very delectable, but small portions, so be aware. Some of the dishes are kind of expensive and so we haven't tried them; the specials are usually around 20-25$. Overall, great atmosphere and pretty good food. Best Italian restaurant in Miami that I've seen.
(5)Mike B.
i have been coming here since 1989 (formerly villa italia)...What a great place...This is one of the best cozy Italian restaurants in South Florida. The service is great the wine great and take your pick at menu item they are all great, very fresh and very reasonably priced. One of the things i love about this place is the fact that you can make it a great romantic date night place (which i frequent with my wife)or it lends itself to a great family outing. This place has been here through the years and I hope it stays as it is for years to come. Kudos to the owners and great management and staff of this excellent place.
(5)Manuel G.
I've been here for lunch twice, will definitely go back , their tomato spaghetti sauce has just the right amount of that sweet taste that I prefer.Lunch specials are very good, The eggplant Parmigiana reminds me of the one I used to enjoy at Villa Italia on Coral Way before it closed. Service is good ,friendly,and quick.Also been here for dinner on numerous occasions,and always great food ,service,& ambiance.Prices just right.Every time I've been here it has been almost full to capacity,always a good sign.
(4)