Da Baffone Cucina Italiana
111 N Main St, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
Da Baffone Cucina Italiana Menu
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Address :
111 N Main St
Crystal Lake, IL, 60014 - Phone (815) 893-6149
- Website https://www.dabaffonecucinaitaliana.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
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.
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ML G.
Will never go back. The food is mediocre at best. The pasta sauce and soups are greasy....I didn't know it was possible for soup to be greasy. The bread was stale, pasta was overcooked and flavor was bland. The place was empty so we had room but since the restaurant is small I can see if it were busy it would be uncomfortable and noisy. I don't know if the service was excellent since we were the only people in the restaurant but the server and hostess were nice so I have no compliants.
(1)Rachael K.
We called for reservations for valentines day! Best decision ever!!!! They had a ore.fixed menu, for 90$ you shared and appitizer, you each got a small.plate of pasts, salad or soup, a full.size entree and shared tearmisu! Everything was so good! We had to wait a little bit for.our table, but it was easy to see why, they didnt want to.rush you! Elise our server was amazing, she was very attentive! My finance and I split the bruschetta and capered salad were so big and good! We both tried the rissotto that was also amazing, and cooked very well! My finance had pasta fagioli, he is picky about soups and ate it all. I had the caesar salad, it was very good a d you could tell that it was made to.order, because the romaine was nice and crisp. We both had the fillet and they were cooked perfectly! For desert we had the teramisu, did I mention that it was homemade! And did I mention that all of this was only 90$!! We will definetly be back to try their regular menu.
(5)Kimberly R.
Stopped in Saturday for my husband's birthday. The food is great, our waitress was amazing, and our tabke is akways waiting when we get there. On the negative side they serve you courses in a hurry....we were still eating our appetizer when the salad showed up with hardly any room on the table. The owners go around to the people they know but not to those they don't and I feel it should be the other way around. Overall the experience was good and I will definitely go back. I highly recommend you try it.
(4)Lori T.
My husband and I wanted to give this place a try. We were happily surprised. The place was packed and we thought that we would need to wait in the bar but they seated us immediately. The server was attentive and water was left on the table. They probably saw someone's yelp complaint. The martini's are perfect and the entree's are delicious. We were served ample portions and no room left to order dessert but that will be a reminder for next time. BTW, I had my husband had clams and I wanted his plate. I safely ordered a salad, it was good, but his was better. We will definately be back. What a nice find in CL.
(5)LN P.
Look...it wasn't bad. But, it wasn't good. The atmosphere was charming enough. I had high hopes. The wait staff was sloooooow and very disinterested though not overtly rude. The food was boring. We had a cheese/marinara/bread appetizer. It was horrible. My roast pork loin was dry and lacked seasoning. My husband had lasagna and he was unimpressed. The dessert was actually delicious. It was a cheesecake that based on what the waitress said, was not made in house. Probably will not go back.
(2)Jeff S.
The menu continues to evolve with new items yet the quality is always consistently good. The owners are always on site and make you feel like a member of the family. The atmosphere is cozy and warm.
(5)Mike S.
I don't know what the negative reviewers are talking about... This place is incredible, very fresh ingredients, amazing homemade sauces. I've been to a few of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago and Da Baffone is on par stride for stride. Great wine selection! Great food! Great service! Camille and her family pour their heart into their business. The food is all Southern Italian inspired, fresh and homemade. Don't pass up this gem!
(5)Scott A.
Unexpectedly stopped in this cozy place last night to be pleasantly surprised. In truth the food was just OK but the atmosphere has some real charm and the reason I'm giving it four versus three stars. ...da Baffone is a small place with a modern traditional feel. The excellent service and the owners who make quite an effort to get to know each and every person coming in really make one instantly feel like you're among friends and family. Without question they absolutely value their customers which is such a refreshing experience. Better yet, Wednesday night features live entertainment which while little more than a "professional" singing Karaoke really made for a fun experience and perhaps the final hook to the line and sinker making me a fan. Bottom line, if you're tired of the chain restaurant scene definitely give ...da Baffone a try. The food might not blow you away but the charm just might and without breaking your wallet as well. What I tried: As I mentioned, the food was just OK. With one exception, nothing I tried said WOW, here's something special. I wouldn't be surprised if the pasta dishes though are amazing but alas I didn't try them. I probably was amiss on this one, so I will be sure to next time. Calamari alla Griglia - This grilled calamari dish was the one exception I was referring to. Perfectly prepared with large succulent pieces that had nice favor and excellent texture. I haven't had a lot of grilled calamari in my lifetime but this was one of the better ones. Highly recommended and I definitely would order again. Fried Mozzarella - This special while certainly not like your typical frozen mozzarella sticks was a bit oily and I found it to be take it or leave it. I love fired mozzarella but being just OK, perhaps its better to save the room and explore other areas of the menu. Lobster Bisque Soap - definitely not the worse I've had and definitely not the best either. There was a bit too much tomato flavor for my taste and no "chucks" of lobster. Strangely the minced lobster that was there had a very meaty (beef) flavor. All-in-all, I enjoyed this bisque but would try the other options before ordering again. Vitello Milanese - nice hearty portion and nice quality veal but like the rest somewhat average and I found it just a touch too watery. While I definitely enjoyed, I found myself growing tired of it by the end.
(4)Donn M.
Excellent food accompanied by a pleasant dinning room setting. The bathrooms are also very well maintained and have a luxurious layout. Very welcoming staff. The food though is very unique but really makes the taste buds want more. Oh and the bar has a couple nice big tv's.
(5)Julie L.
I've eaten at Da Baffone Cucina once and did enjoy it. We had the calamari and stuffed mushrooms to start, both great. I chose a white fish that was on special the night I was there, it was really good as well. I definitely will go back again and try the pasta. Service was great as well.
(3)Fernando M.
Great Italian food. Love Their filled calamari.
(5)Brian B.
I thought it was pretty good. A little expensive maybe. But a pretty decent place to have in Crystal Lake. We had the bruchetta and grilled calamari to start and both were excellent. I had veal picatta which was decent. Desserts and espresso afterwards were also good. The place was very full on a Saturday night and service was slow. The food delivery was plenty fast enough but it took a long time to get orders placed. They could use some more wait staff I think. I'd surely go again and try something else.
(3)Kelly H.
A great little Italian restaurant! Flavor was authentic and wonderful! Very extensive menu that has all of the traditional Italian dishes. Wine list is great but a bit expensive. I felt the food menu was appropriately priced. A full meal including soup or salad for $16-20. The owner is very friendly and hands on. She even shared a litttle Tiramisu that was absolutely amazing! I wish this small business great success and plan to visit again soon. Be sure to check it out!
(5)katie b.
All I can say it WOW about this new fresh Italian restauraunt right in downtown Crystal Lake! Right when I walked in I was greeted by a very nice lady who appeared to be the owner. She asked me how I was and if she could help me with anything. I told her I was just stoppin in to get some food to go. She asked if I had been there before as she brought me to the bar and pulled out a seat for me to sit in (Very nice of her). I sat down and told her no in which she immediately brought me a menu and told me all about it. I was very pleased that she did this because at some of these authentic restauraunts it is sometimes diffifult to understand the menu. I was immediately drawn in at their pasta section. It is broken down into steps in which you can create your own pasta! You pick your type of noodle and the pick out your sauce (many homemade sauces to choose from), then you simply picked from a variety of vegetables and meats to add in it! I absolutly love this idea because I hate going to restauraunts where a platter sounds good but thres things you wish you could change or swap out. With the make your own pasta, theres no way to be dissatisfied! While waiting for my food to arrive, the gentleman bartender gave me a complimentary drink as I waited. He was pulled into listening to the lady next to me who was eating all alone practically cryiing about her cheating husband. I felt this bartender did a great job making her feel better about herself in a professional manner and not ignorning her. Upon arriving home and eating my "make your own pasta", i truly fell in love with the place. I would love to actually dine in next time to get the full effect of the great atmosphere I walked in on. The ownder actually created all of those recipes including the drinks! Not many places you can find like that anymore :o)
(5)Catie G.
I moved away from Crystal Lake over a year ago, and every time I come home I go to Da Baffone with my mom. We are treated like old friends each time we come in, and have the most amazing experience. The food is fabulous, and although my favorite salad is no longer on the menu (the Campagnola), there is plenty more to choose from. It's worth the price, but they also have awesome deals. Love the bar small plate appetizers and half price wine nights. Absolutely fabulous.
(5)Ralph F.
Went for the first time a couple weeks back. Owners were present and working the host station. Classic 'red sauce' italian joint, nice tablecloths and expansive menu. Classy but casual - perfect for a date night or to bring your parents for dinner. Our server was awesome and her recommendations were spot on! Classic 'red sauce' joint, nice tablecloths and expansive menu. I had the veal picatta and my wife had a seafood pasta. Large portions, well seasoned and good atmosphere. We really enjoyed our time here and look forward to returning. Small bar area in front was watching the hawks game as we left, an added bonus. Cheers!
(4)Jason G.
We came here last night for our anniversary dinner. We live only a few short blocks away & hadn't made the call to eat here. It didn't take long for my wife and I to agree that we'd made the right decision! We came in on a Sunday night & were pleasantly greeted with a smile by the owner (that is by assumption). There is a nice wood bar to the left with a fully stocked bar...appeared to have a decent selection of wines but I did not sample. The dining room we were guided to was just off from where the bar area is. We found it perfectly intimate for the type of dining experience we were looking for. Once to our seats, we were greeted, drink orders taken and then received continued attention by our very nice server (cant remember his name). It appeared he was the only server on, but handled the four seated tables generously. I had a few Birra Moretti's and she had an iced tea. There were a lot of delicious appetizers on the menu, but knew they were going to fill up our plates so decided to hold off. My wife had a house salad and I ordered the French Onion soup before our entrees came. It was simply AMAZING! You could tell that everything was done fresh that day. I wanted to take a bath in that stuff. We both ordered one of the specials for the night. I ordered the linguine dish that had shrimp, calamari & mussels in a fresh tomato/wine sauce. Again it was just amazing. Seafood was fresh and the sauce was to die for. My wife had the Spinach Manicotti. She was just as pleased. Both entrees were huge and made for a great reheated lunch today! We topped off the meal with desert and had the peanut/chocolate Gelato. We split and had the bowl gone in no time! The electricity went out in downtown CL during the end of our dinner, but everything was handled perfectly and we were all made comfortable. Can't wait to go back and try some other dishes!!
(5)Andrew W.
Absolutely the best family run Italian in the Northwest Suburbs. I go every few weeks and bring home left overs. Atmosphere is great because you feel like family. Cannot say enough wonderful things about this place! Enjoy
(5)ariel d.
family dinner this last Wednesday.. good service. there was definitely an emphasis on not being rushed. Our ice water was never renewed, but drink and table service was good otherwise. Tried the grilled calamari .. Good, a lot of salt, but decent. Okay wine selection. Veal Marsala was decent. but- this place could be GREAT If they finally decide what they are. Are they a specialty Italian trattoria in the heart of the Midwest, with unique, hard to find Italian specialties (think: meat , local cheese, bread and sausage, all available in Chicago with authentic Italian manufacturing sources) or another dull karaoke bar with derivative Italian food cliches? the music was so loud my 80 year old parents had to shout more than usual at each other and at me during their meal. It was jarring. PLEASE DROP THE KARAOKE and spend budget on ingredients. Go "good" to "great". I know you can do it.
(3)Patty H.
This place is so good that you better make a reservation on the weekends. Real traditional Italian food from a family that not only is proud but know how to run a restaurant right. Soup and salad were great. Pasta was huge portions and phenomenal. Meatballs exceeded expectations. Scallops were cooked perfectly. You really can't go wrong here if you want authentic Italian food.
(5)Namm L.
Went with wife. We got some calamari and spaghetti with seafood, plus a bottle of Friuli white wine. Good enough. Would go again.
(4)M M.
This is the 3rd time I've been to family-owned and run, da Baffone. Extensive wine list, flavorful authentic and creative menu. Excellent, attentive, knowledgable and friendly service - made a huge impact on our dinner. They take reservations, which on a Friday, were needed because both the bar (separate room w/ "the game" on TV) and the dining room were packed yet cozy. Save room for dessert. Tiramasu and Creme Brulee were both, fresh, light and flavorful. Great place if you want to have a conversation and enjoy not just the food and wine, but also the people you are with. If you want to support a family-owned and run local Italian restaurant that does it right, try da Baffone.
(5)Bill S.
Okay I've been here 4 times in the past Month and its been upgraded to my favorite Place t go out and eat , This has to be one of the most friendly places to go around here , everything that I have had has been exceptional , Finally a great italian restaurant close to home
(5)Andrea H.
Went here with a couple friends this weekend. Martini's are AMAZING! the staff is super friendly! I hear the cheesecake is to die for but they were all our for the night :( We just got some appetizers and a salad but it was good! We are planning on becoming regulars ;) A great place to go for a few drinks!
(5)Jax V.
Very nice (different) wine list and great atmosphere. Have not been here for dinner in a while, but their appetizers are generous and good pairings to the wines (the bruschetta is excellent!) Friendly, attentive staff. Will return!
(4)Meredith R.
We live in town and visited for a late dinner on 6/20. The location is nice; it's right there in the old downtown and the romantic element of this small and nicely painted restaurant is very appealing. Our experience with our particular server was disappointing. She was overly casual-friendly for the prices on the menu---the aisles are narrow so the staff has no choice but to stand nearly on top of you for ordering, so that combined with the casualness felt weird. We also has to chase down elements of our meal. We had been running around all day, and so made quick work of our bread and water during the meal. We requested additional of both during the meal, but neither arrived, forcing us to flag down the busboy for each. Particularly as our hot appetizer cooled, uneaten, while we waited for bread. Our server blamed the busboy upon hearing of the gaps, however his service was quick and polite both times, leaving us to believe he had not been remiss. Not a huge deal, but it's not what we expected for the prices. The food ranged from standard to fabulous. The pork shank and risotto were incredible. The cheese lasagna with meat sauce was ok. Nothing wrong with it, but I expected more at the noticeable $ (for cheese and noodes). It's a higher priced establishment for the geographic area (2 entrees, 1 appetizer, 3 drinks = just south of $100), which is nice to have as an option, but I expected more at that price. I'd say the next visit would be the make or break. We'll be going again, but a repeat experience would probably make us cross it off our list.
(3)Melissa B.
This quaint restaurant has a true down home Italian feel. We love to come here for the wonderful handmade gnocchi as well as the great wine selection. Service is friendly and warm. They really make you feel at home. Canolli's are home made a great as well. I recommend the sampler so you can try them all! If you have a large group I would call ahead.
(5)Nancy G.
We were half way through our salads when the entrees arrived. There was no room on the table so we asked them to bring them back. 5 minutes later our server came back saying the chef wanted her to serve our entrees now. I've never been so rushed and maltreated. I will never return!
(2)Hugo B.
You know it's really hard for me to give any place a 5 star rating for starters, this is a hidden gem I must say. We actually waited across the street for an hour for another restaurant and my party got restless!! We hopped across the street to find this place and was very fortunate to get Elise, along with her great personality and service the food was just unbelievable. I had the Salmon Risotto, a red cab and others had a creamy tomatoe pasta that the whole table tried to share lol. . The wait staff was on their game hand and foot. We've visited Italy three times and it's one of our favorite vacation spots in the world... the decor was great, music and again I say the food, the service was well matched. We'll be back soon to visit, hopefully Elise will be able to attend us again.
(5)Taylor M.
This place was incredible. I went here on Valentine's Day, so they had a price fixe menu. Even with the smaller menu, I found it difficult to decide between all the delicious sounding meals. It was a great deal for all the food we got. We had a ton of leftovers! The food was great, the ambience was very "big Italian family" and made me feel right at home. Our waiter that night was fantastic. He was super friendly and attentive. This is a place I will definitely return to!
(5)Allison C.
This place is about as authentic as you will find in CL for an italian restaurant, the food is delicious, the menu is varied and the drink list has a fair amount to choose from. Both times I've been here i have been satisfied. The place is small but has a nice cozy atmosphere. The only gripe i have is that because it is small there is typically a wait even on a weekday night so just make sure you book a reservation.
(4)Troy K.
Olive Garden would have been a better choice. I ate here with my wife, daughter and mother in law. Each of us agree that for the price, we had gotten a better meal at Olive Garden. For starters we ordered the calamari, which was cool when served. The overall flavor was plain, which made us ask for extra marinara sauce. Our meals arrived after to parties that arrived after ours. I ordered a Chicken Cesar Salad. My wife ordered penni pasta with meat sauce. My mother in law had the salmon with salad. My salad was mediocre. The chicken was dry and looked like it was cooked on George Forman grill. My wife's pasta was over cooked and soggy. The meat sauce tasted like canned pasta sauce. My mother in laws salmon was actually the best dish. Nice size cut of salmon. Only issue was asparagus was limp and like the pasta soggy. I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately it did not live up to the prices.
(1)Keith O.
Continue to return to this great family owned restaurant because it is so damn good! We enjoy eating at the bar and always have a great time. The food is consistently outstanding and I highly recommend it! We love it!
(5)Samantha K.
What a pleasant surprise! I went in with low expectations and I am looking forward to going back. I went with a friend on Friday night. Reservations were honored for our 6:30 time and it was packed. The restaurant is small and very tight. The waitress was calm and accurate, despite having multiple tables to handle. Food came out quickly, yet did not feel rushed. Friend had the chocolate martini and loved it. We ordered the bruchetta-delicious. It tasted like what it should. I ordered the chicken vesuvio, but asked for white meat only, boneless. It was very good. Order also came with a salad and vesuvio potatoes. Friend did a pick your pasta. The options are limitless. She enjoyed the dish and the portion size was enormous. It was angel hair with olive oil/garlic, fresh mozzarella and shrimp. We ordered the cannoli flight, which is 4 different types of cannolis sample sized. They are made in house, but did not seem freshly appeared as the cannoli shell was soft. Huge drink menu options. Also, what was nice is that we parked in the back lot. There is a back door entrance so you don't have to walk around the entire area to get in. Thanks Da Baffone for a great meal in McHenry County, which seldom happens.
(4)Maria D.
This is my favorite restaurant. My (Sicilian) family and I can be very critical of food, especially Italian food, and this place is our absolute favorite. The food is fresh and delicious. I've had several different pastas, fish, chicken dishes here...you name it. It's always been excellent. They have great wine, too - especially Chianti. The owners are so friendly. Our dining experience here has always allowed us to enjoy our family and create memories over excellent food. Amazing!
(5)Jean M.
Absolutely the most pleasant dining experience I've had in a very, very long time. Great looking, authentic, family-owned business. Sorry it took so long to make it in. Make a reservation..it's so worth it. Split a meal..The portions are huge!
(5)Bill S.
Wow. Might venture to say best lasagna I've had... pasta cooked just right, great sauce, lots of cheese without being stringy or overkill. Very impressed with my first visit, will definitely go back! Nice environment inside too, did not seem like a suburban restaurant.
(5)John S.
Love this place. We got hooked when they were running the kids eat free on Sundays and we've been back since that promotion ended. Classic Italian food. I eat Gluten Free and when they said they could make me a GF cream sauce to go with my GF pasta, pancetta, and peas, I was hooked! If you were going to spend the money at Olive Garden, please go here instead. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Melissa W.
I was here April 4th got there at 4:30 at 7:30 was kicked out by the owner for staying to long, will never be back worst experience ever, telling everyone I know
(1)Jim R.
Their olive oil and house dressing is amazing. Service is good. I had the eggplant Parmesan which was really good. I will come back when I'm in the area.
(4)Lauren F.
Two words: SO. GOOD. This is hands down the best Italian food I have ever had in the McHenry County area (with Cucina Bella in Algonquin coming in at a close second). I have to admit, I have only dined here twice, but each time was extra special. For my first dinner I had spaghetti and meatballs. I know, I know, totally mainstream but it was fantastic! Best meatballs I have ever had. The menu indicates this dish is made "for 2" but I requested a single serving and they had no problem accommodating. Not to mention I still had plenty of leftovers! I loved the food, service and atmosphere so much that I decided to book my wedding rehearsal dinner here. Now, this is not something they typically do. Since the restaurant opens at 4pm, they opened EARLY and allowed our wedding party to come in for a late AND PRIVATE lunch between 2-4pm. It was awesome! Everyone loved it. We gave everyone a choice between lasagna, tortellini al forno and Chicken Parmigiana. The Tortellini al Forno is THE BOMB. This quickly became my husband's and mine's favorite restaurant. We plan on returning very very soon.
(5)Sarah M.
Love this place!!! Went here on a recommendation from a friend and it was great. I had the Gorgonzola salad and stuffed mushrooms for my meal--the mushrooms were out of this world! The salad was super fresh and really tasty. We had Maggie as our server and she was very sweet and attentive!
(5)Lindsey P.
I have been trying to dine at this restaurant for months, but i live so far away that I couldn't make the trip until mid January 2011. I went with my best friend for years, and we both loved this place. This is a beautiful restaurant that has the most authentic Italian food since your Italian Grandmother. Food: I ordered a key lime pie martini, which was delicious, and probably the best martini I've had in a long time. My friend and I ordered the grilled calamari as an appetizer. So Good! My friend took a trip to Greece in 2009, and said this was the freshest calamari she has had since her trip where she watched the boats come in with the fish they cooked that day!!! My friend was so pleased with the calamari that she ordered a linguini-calamari with red sauce entrée that she loved just as much. I was really craving angel hair with their homemade vodka sauce. I have a boyfriend that comes from a very Italian family that originates from Sicily, and Da Baffone's sauce was better than my boyfriend's mother's. That is huge! And to top off the evening, my friend and I sampled a shot of the owners homemade Limoncello which was just what we wanted. Service: Our server's name was Raymond who had a great knowledge of the food and made great recommendations. He was super friendly and had many other tables, but still brought everything out quickly which was perfect because I was starving. We met the owners of the restaurant: Camille and Dom. They were awesome!!! Camille went to every table and talked to every guest. I feel very confident to recommend this restaurant to my family and friends. And I will be back the very next time I come into town.
(5)Larry B.
Bad service, overpriced and bad food. no wonder they are always empty while Dukes across the street is packed. avoid this place if you like Italian food.
(1)Ron J.
Well I might have given this another star if it weren't for my experience. I ordered Chicken Giambotta, which I love, and much to my dismay the chef forgot the sausage!!! Pretty bad since it helps make the dish. Since it was very busy and our waiter did have a number of tables I decided to just keep eating it. Now I'm not a big eater so I always have something to take home. Leaving half my order I told our waiter to box it but I wanted him to know there was no sausage. He seemed concerned and went to tell the chef. When he came back he sort of apologized and gave our table (me, my wife & daughter) one free piece of carrot cake. First of all none of us were even ordering desert and if we were, why carrot cake? Secondly, the problem was mine, not the other people at our table. I just believe this was not handled properly. I would have preferred the chef coming out to apologize instead of carrot cake I didn't even want. Now when it came to the meal itself the food was good though no sausage. I tried my daughter's Chicken Parmaggiane since she also brought some home and it was delicious. Their pasta sauce is very good (which is another reason I added the star). The complimentary homemade bread was also very good. I will go back again hoping that my next experience is better.
(3)Michelle B.
We have gone twice now and both times the dinner was fair. Tonight however the food was poor and service worse. I was still eating my salad when the entree was served, Nothing will bring us bak.
(1)Peter G.
A first class operation from start to finish. I took my wife here to celebrate her dinner. After we were seated and got our first round of drinks our waitress said she recognized us from previous visits, kudos to her. Our entire meal, before dinner drinks, appetizer, entre, dessert and after dinner drinks was just over $100, before tip so I consider it very affordable as well. Everything they put in front of us was outstanding; we had anti pasta for an appetizer that was made to order and not only was it delicious the serving size could have been a meal in itself. I selected a tuna dish for my entre and asked our server what doneness it's cooked and she said "any way you want it." Again, very impressive so I ordered mine rare and it was lovely as my wife's ravioli was as well. After dinner we spotted a guy (an employee) who looked so much like a friend of mine I showed our server a pic I had of him on my cell and she said, "Hey tony, come look at this!" Tony, my friend's doppelganger, is one of the owners. He got a kick out of the picture, stayed for a chat and when our server mentioned we were "regulars" who were celebrating my wife's birthday he immediately said, "bring them something nice on me." So we got our dessert comped and our server gave us to lemon drops (drinks) to boot. Da Baffone has become our new go-to for Italian food in CL.
(5)Jennifer G.
This restaurant used to be Cucina Bella. The interior is exactly the same which is fine, really, and lends itself to the "authentic" Italian feel that I assume they're going for. What is it they say about first impressions? Right. So, shortly after we were seated, the owner, clad in a completely see through shirt and black bra (very classy) proceeded to mock customers who had requested to be sat at a different table than the one the hostess chose for them...very rude and unprofessional! Thankfully, our waiter, was courteous and did his job well. Serving is not easy and he earned one of my two stars. On to the food... Where to start...well, appetizers of course. They bring out a basket of bread for you to dip in oil...that was very good. We ordered the caprese and the calamari fritta. The caprese was very good (but really, it would be hard to mess up tomato, cheese and basil,) but the calamari was definitely chewy - no one likes chewy calamari! On to the main courses. I ordered one of the specials, a stuffed pork chop saltimbocca and my husband ordered mussels. The mussels were nothing that you couldn't get at any Olive Garden - the sauce was mediocre at best which is sad for an "Italian" restaurant..bland and metallic tasting, wait...did that come from a can?? My dish, the pork chop saltimbocca was pretty sad. They basically punished the vegetables on the plate (zucchini, yellow squash and asparagus) by cooking them for as long as possible resulting in total mushy grossness. The chop itself was overcooked and literally drowning in buttery goop. The taste of each component was so completely overwhelmed by the goop that there was no discerning between the chop, the squash and the pile of noodles on the side. It was so bad that I took maybe three bites before putting my fork and butter knife (the butter knife which was supposed to be adequate for cutting a stuffed chop) down and calling it quits. So why two stars? Trust me, it would have been one at best, however, the cleverly clad customer mocking owner noticed that my meal was basically untouched and actually took it off the bill without my asking (that's not how I roll, I will generally pay and just not go back.) She even took the time, with her fantastic black bra in our faces, to ask me what, in particular, I disliked about the dish. So, two stars for that. Ultimately, no, we won't go back there again...perhaps if Gordon Ramsey came in to save their sad culinary offering we would reconsider, but for now, not a chance.
(2)Mike S.
Great experience!!! started with an order of fried calamari and it was fantastic!! first time in a long time I've had properly cooked calamari. pasta fagioli soup was great and veal saltimboca was also fantastic. Wait staff was promt and courteous. This resturant is pretty small,but I would say intimate and cozy as opposed to cramped. It was very homey as opposed to a large, loud resturant. Would definitely recommend and go back!!!
(5)