We ate outside and were seated right away. But the server was slow to take our order. Seemed liked she was taking care of all the outdoor tables. Not a good idea at 5 PM on a nice day :( Our kids finished their pizza by the time our SALADS came out! The food was just okay to boot (antipasto salad and arugala salad with chicken. It's a convenient place and al fresco dining but the food and service leave something to be desired.
Good option for an affordable, tasty BYOB dinner. ATMOSPHERE: Cozy with about 30 tables altogether. There are two separate dining areas, try to sit in the back especially in the winter as it can get chilly with the door opening and closing. Patio is nice during the summer. FOOD: Consistent, nice portions. A good combo is the specialty salad and pizza. A favorite is the Sicilian Salad with shrimp, mushroom, roasted red pepper and gorgonzola. Enough for two to share. Moving onto the pizza....where to begin. They're all pretty great, it just depends what you're in the mood for. The Toscana is a great option. White pizza, broccoli rabe and Italian sausage. SERVICE: Can be hit or miss. Think family run/local restaurant. Don't set your standards too high. Can be tough on a the weekends for dinner. Be patient and eat some more of the yummy bread/olive oil delivered to the table.
(4)
Marc E.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. This was my 3rd time at Alessio and I wouldn't go back if I was starving to death. Staff were rude and incompetent, as in: 1. We ordered off of the specials menu and then were told items were unavailable and we shouldn't have been given the menu- ??? 2. Appetizers came after 45 minutes and the excuse was offered that "all the orders came in at the same time"- isn't that what happens in a restaurant? 3. Some entrees came after another long wait, except one, which came even later, no lame excuse was even offered. The list goes on and on, even to the point of the check arriving with no pen to use to sign- do I need to tell the waitress how to do her job at every step of the way? Walk past this place as fast as you can.
(1)
Drew H.
I go here a lot; this is my favorite lunch spot in Doylestown! I go here when I want something under ten bucks. I go here when I don't. I go here when I want a sandwich or salad or burger or pizza or pasta. My friends that have tried the Japanese offerings have also been satisfied. The owners care about quality ingredients and all of their stuff is from scratch - ranch, BBQ, buffalo, and chili are all noteworthy home made things to try here. Oh, and they offer many gluten free options!
(5)
Alex A.
Went here for the outdoor seating and ambience during brunch. Food was...ok. Undercooked potatoes and missing toast with breakfast. Menu claimed OJ was freshly squeezed but I know Tropicana when I taste it. Eggs Benedict were good. But overall, the place was a bit...blah. Great decor from the outside and again, awesome little outdoor seating area, but it seems like this place isn't sure what it wants to be. Advertises sushi as well as pastas and pizza? Bit strange. The staff were all young and working hard. But I'd reevaluate what this place is actually. Great candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmeres. Let's put it that way.
Advertised breakfast from 10am-2pm. Thought to ourselves well it's only 12pm so let's get some breakfast. We sat down and one waitress greeted us and after some time another waiter came over to take our order. Slightly confused we placed our order and specified we wanted the food hot and crispy (potatoes). After about 30 minutes of waiting (for breakfast), the food started to come out. The waitress came back over and asked if there was anything else we needed. This is where it gets interesting... More than half of our order was not there. No toast, no waffle, or the French toast we ordered with our eggs and potatoes came out. It was clear at this moment that we were forgotten about and now the scramble was on to remedy it. The food was cold, the potatoes under cooked, and the accompanying fruit was past ripe. The rest of the food came out with the same results and the waffle was still raw in the center. Disappointed with the results, we asked to speak with the manager. The manager never came over to apologize for our experience and instead sent the waitress to let us know we were getting hot eggs, potatoes and a waffle. The food came out piping hot and under 10 min. At this point we were disgusted because half of the table was finished eating and we were not. Our guess is they were upset that someone would order breakfast at 12pm when they were already preparing lunch for the lunch rush. The waitress was very nice and took items off the bill that we had issues with but we still were hungry. Off to seek out a reputable place to fill our tummies. It was also poor communication between the two servers that led to our less than satisfied experience. My wife and our mothers will not be returning here and will let our friends and would be patrons know about our experience. Kudos to the waitress that was attempting to make it right but same on the manager for not even showing up to say sorry. The place was not that busy..
(1)
Steve D.
Service was terrible. Food took forever. Ordered Caprese salad and got week old tomatoes and mozzarella.
(1)
Zee Z.
Recently went here for take out pizza... It was good.. just a little disappointed that pizza was cold when I got home (5 minute drive)... I have eaten here several times in the past.. Food always good, portions are decent, staff are okay.. Owners very nice folks..
(3)
Mark H.
Cafe Alessio, a fixture in downtown Doylestown for many years (owned by the same family as the location in Warrington and the now-destroyed-by-fire Vecchia Cucina in Buckingham), serves pizza, pasta and salads both indoors, in its massive two-room restaurant and outdoors, at its well-situated al fresco seating adjacent to the restaurant. They also feature, almost mysteriously, a full sushi menu. The food here is serviceable, but not outstanding. There are plenty of better choices for Italian cuisine in the area. On a recent evening, we had their seafood salad, their eggplant parmigiana, and a dish of pasta. The salad was overdressed and soggy, while the seafood in the salad nearly tasteless. The eggplant parmigiana consisted of four 4-inch diameter pieces of eggplant batter-dipped and covered in a sauce that might have been canned. The pasta was overcooked by about two minutes and was limp, as a result. Servers are sincere, well-meaning young people (including one young man, for whom it was clearly day #1 and who asked us what we wanted to drink before we even took our seats). In our occasional visits over the past few years, it is evident that Cafe Alessio wants to impress, right down to employing an elegant hostess to welcome guests. However, as others have emphasized, the kitchen is easily overwhelmed, even at 9 PM on a Saturday when only half the tables were occupied. It took nearly 45 minutes, an one inquiry, for our food to arrive. What are the draws here? Perhaps the outdoor seating and BYO, but little else. In the mood for Italian food in Doylestown? I'd suggest nearby Il Melograno or newly-opened Genevieve's Kitchen, which also has al fresco seating.
(2)
Cindy P.
I went here for dinner one night while being indecisive on what I want to eat. I love the fact that they have Italian, Japanese, and pizza. Very different. I had the gyoza app from the jap menu, which was delicious. I also had the fried calamari from the Italian menu which was a bit disappointing. It started out good and I like it, but then I had these pieces which didn't seem to be fried enough because it was chewy. I couldn't finish the calamari. Which is such a shame because I absolutely love calamari. The services are great and the staff is very friendly. The decor is lovely and the restaurant just have this great vibe to it.
(4)
rich e.
Great food. Cheese steaks, salads, burgers. The family nag guests all enjoyed the outside seating and food. Alessios is back in good form.
(4)
Maggie O.
This place is fantastic. If you can't enjoy a menu with a wide variety of options including both Italian and seafood, something is wrong with you. The prices are very fair, it's BYOB, and the staff is always so friendly. My boyfriend thinks their gourmet burgers are the best he's ever had. 5 stars for sure.
(5)
Carlos N.
Always a good meal here. Great variety of salads and specialty pizzas. Great value, too.
(4)
Elyse R.
Was here for the first time this afternoon with my husband and two friends after a visit to the Michener. This is a restaurant with a split personality. It doesn't know what it wants to be. I thought the menu was just bizarre. I mean, why does a restaurant have to have sushi AND Italian food? I don't get it. I tried the vegetable lasagna because of a review I read on yelp. I thought it was okay but my friends were not impressed. Also tasted the eggplant rollotini on angel hair pasta. Meh. The portions were small and the kitchen was really slow. Took forever to get our food. No need to come back.
(2)
Danielle W.
Terrible from start to finish. First, the food is just not good. Caprese salad had no flavor. The scallop and shrimp risotto was disgusting--way too much cheese, too pungent, just terrible. The complimentary garlic bread was like something from a grocery store. The mussels that my friend ordered had to be sent back because they smelled like they had gone bad. Second, the service was poor. The waitress forgot to put in my order of risotto, then when she could see that I hadn't eaten it, and I told her it wasn't good, there was no attempt to make things better. On top of everything else, she then gave us an incorrect bill. I'm shocked that with all these issues there was no attempt to try to entice us to come back. They really appeared to not care that we had a terrible experience. I can usually find something redeeming in a restaurant, but Cafe Alessio had nothing.
(1)
Marissa S.
Delicious food but terribly slow and defensive service. Took 20 minutes for appetizers to come out, and when meal came out after 40 minutes 1 table member had not yet been served her pre-dinner salad and the child order was lava hot with burnt bread. The servers were defensive about edibility of the food stating that it had the ingredients described on the menu (cheese). They could not see that it was the burnt and liquid hot quality of the food that was at issue. On top of that they charged extra for every nuance and did not verify customer acknowledgement prior to the bill. Two separate entrees that were ordered off the specials menu were reported sold out 15 minutes into waiting, at 6:30 at night. How are you sold out of specials at 6:30 on a Saturday? A side vegetable was also reported unavailable 40 minutes into the meal. The whole experience was a hot mess.
(2)
Diane Z.
The food at Cafe Alessio is very tasty but we have been here many times over the years where the service is terrible. This weekend was another one of those times. My DH and I ordered salads with extra lettuce and he ordered his with bacon and dressing on side. None of these requests was honored. I wonder if it was because the server was "too good" to write down our order. Granted, there was an event in Doylestown which attracted a lot of people but they have been in business a long time and certainly could have planned for a larger crowd. They remade DH's salad without the bacon and dressing on side. Then, when we repeated that we would like extra lettuce, they said they are almost out of lettuce and couldn't accomodate this request. Really? On a summer Sunday evening they had no more lettuce? There are plenty of supermarkets in Doylestown who would have been happy to sell boxes of organic lettuce to them. Each time we've been here, there has been more of an issue with the servers than the kitchen, although this time it was a combination. It's too bad because it is one of the few restaurants in the area with pleasant outdoor seating and an extensive menu.
(2)
Scott P.
Ugh. Food average, but over an hour for food! Service is really lacking. AND can't tip on a credit card used ?????
(2)
Angela G.
Love the outdoor seating and the grass-fed meats. Had a cheesesteak here that was absolutely amazing! I don't know why they are trying to do sushi these days - too much choice if you ask me, but I'll definitely be back for lunch again soon.
(4)
Barry P.
had a weekday lunch there today. Ate in the dining room in the back (easy choice the front near the door was freezing as the weather was 23F and windy). Food good but not outstanding especially given the prices ($38+tip for two). I had the tomato basil soup which was thick with tomato base and delicious. My friend had the lobster potato bisque which looked great as well. I had the cobb salad as I heard their salads were good. It was fine. My friend has a lobster croissant which he enjoyed as well. Service adequate but not great (a 17ish girl who kept handing off as she wasn't allowed to pour our wine (BYOB). Food good; would've rated higher except for the value prop.
(3)
Brian B.
Joe and Jackie (and family) run a great establishment with great food. I like everything on the menu (and I should know). Italian/Japanese fusion? Hell, yeah! Joe does a some great apps including a nice fried calamari and an amazing stuffed pepper. Best sushi in Doylestown IMHO. BYOB with a PA liquor/wine store across the street? Yup.
(4)
Karen F.
Interesting and strange combination of menu items. Italian and "dinerish" and then sushi. Whatever. Meanwhile if you stick to the salads (huge and excellent) and sandwiches, byou'll be OK. I did not care for the sushi here. We ordered salads to go one time when we really needed food right before my wedding. 2 chicken caesars and 2 diet cokes were promptly delivered to a nearby hair salon and were we EVER grateful. So thanks to Cafe Allesio for filling a need and serving up decent Italian fare (mediocre sushi) and AWESOME salads.
(3)
John M.
We were in Doylestown for a visit to the Michener Museum, and were looking for a place in Doylestown for a light lunch. We had a terrific lunch on the outdoor patio--salads and panini sandwiches were all fresh and tasty. Our capuccinos were sweet and frothy (topped with whipped cream and a cookie, so you'll need to request a cap without these for a straightforward drink). The atmoshpere was classic Italian--nothing fancy here, but cozy. The patio is surrounded by shrubs, but still on a busy intersection, so you will want to sit indoors if some traffic noise is undesirable. Have no idea what dinner would be like, but a satisfying light lunch choice!
(4)
Jackie T.
I have yet to have a bad meal here. Cafe Alessio's is the first restaurant we ever ate at in Doylestown and it was the icing on the cake for our decision to move here. It's a great location and in the summer they have indoor and outdoor options. Their new sitting area is nice but it's a tight fit and can get hot in there. We've tried many meals here including their pizza - we really like their specialty pies. Their salads are good - very big. They added sushi to their menu which we also gave a shot - we weren't disappointed at all! Such a cute place and great option for the summer if you want to sit outside and enjoy some BYOB!
(4)
John S.
This place is "OK" I defiantly wouldn't label this place as an "Italian" restaurant. I ordered a Italian burger it was called, it came with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. I ate the first half and it was OK, nothing great and on my second bite, I ate a TWISTY TIE IN MY BROCCOLI RABE. terrible, but they did give me free dessert, and took it off my bill.
(3)
M H.
Love the owners. Great food. Go here for pizza if your in town.
(4)
Julie D.
We used to really love this place--back in the day when they had whole wheat crust. It's gone downhill over the past year. The ricotta, which use to be so amazingly sweet and creamy, has been at best the kind I buy at the grocery store, and at worst on a few occasions, sour and gritty. I'm very sad to see what's happened to one of my favorite restaurants.
(2)
Ben D.
Cafe Alessio is a nice little BYOB spot right in the center of Doylestown. (There is a state store directly across the street) We have been going there on a regular basis for the past four years. Their menu is big and has a lot of offerings in multiple food styles (italian, sushi, american). For almost a year they were without a sushi chef. But now they are back up and running and offering a nice assortment of sushi and sashimi. I prefer the salmon sandwich on crustini bread. In the summer there is al fresco dining right on the corner wedge of Main and Court Streets. They have portable heaters so outdoor dining is also an option in the spring and fall. Inside there is the main dining area and in the back a remodeled dining area with both booth and table seating. The waitstaff is decent and owner is frequently there to oversee the daily operations .... so that is nice. Overall this is a great place that offers a nice menu and it's a BYOB to boot so the price is kept in check. If you're in town you should check it out .....
(4)
Randan S.
Excellent service. Reasonable prices. The food was more than decent but not delicious. I had the gnocchi and mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. The mozzarella sticks were mediocre and cold. The gnocchi was hot, fresh, and tasty. I'd go back but only after trying other places in the area.
(3)
Jeff L.
Cafe Alessio is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Doylestown. While I think the addition of sushi to the menu is a bit strange, their Italian cuisine has always impressed me. Their menu is rather extensive, which usually makes me skeptical (how can they specialize in so many dishes), Alessio is the exception to the rule, as all of their dishes are awesome. The ingredients used are quality, which really amp up the taste of every dish. I am a big fan of the pasta special, especially when adding chicken and crab, along with spinach. I recommend to anyone looking for decently priced quality Italian cuisine.
(4)
Ryan S.
After walking by Cafe Alessio several times while in Doylestown perevious, my girlfriend and I decided to check it out this past Saturday night. It was a great summer evening, and a perfect time to eat outside. Their patio is crowded, and there is a decent amount of car and foot traffic on both sides (the area is a triangle), but that's to be expected with outdoor dining. It isn't an occasion to expect a whole lot of privacy or quiet conversation, it's for enjoying the food and the atmosphere. But I digress. First I want to comment on the highlight of our visit: the waitstaff. We had the best waitress we've had in a long time. She was attentive (but not overbearing), and extremely pleasant. Our appetizer never came out, and she quickly got it out and took it off the bill without a word from us. I also felt the service and the food was brought out in a timely fashion. As for the menu, there is a lot to choose from. The pizzas seemed a tad pricy, and we kept the tab down by ordering sandwiches instead of entrees, but we still had plenty of food. The potato and bacon bisque was a particular highlight of mine, as well as the gyoza. The wing sauce on my buffalo chicken sandwich was claimed as homemade. I can't verify that, but it was quite tasty. For dessert we had homemade gelato, which was great. The pear in particular was impressive. as it is not a common flavor of gelato, but this has me wondering why, as it was delicious. I would definitely go there again, as any place with a waitstaff like this makes the eating out a pleasant and relaxing experience.
(4)
Emily C.
From start to finish, the food, atmosphere, and staff have been delightful as well as dandy. A soothing meal on a cold day is always a treat and I found one here at Alessio. I recommend the crab potato bisque and their signature Torino Coffee for a small, warm pick-me-up and their variety of hand-tossed pizzas for a larger appetite.
(4)
Scott C.
Pizza by slice, sit down menu including Sushi and Italian Cuisine... food is very good. Try the salads! Good for family or business dinners! Very good variety for everyone, kid friendly too.
(5)
Sarah L.
Perfect lazy afternoon stop for you and girlfriends. Sit outside, let the oversized potted plants allow you to forget about the fact that you are on a busy street corner, order a glass of sauv blanc and the lobster salad. Refreshing, filling and fresh.
(4)
Julie M.
Japanese Italian fusion? I like it! Cafe Alessio has something for everyone. I got a delicious burger and my boyfriend got sushi. Neither of us were disappointed.
(4)
Nelly D.
This place is definitely having an identity crisis. First, it's called "Japanese Italian Fusion," but there are no fusion items whatsoever. The menu is 90% Italian and the other 10% is random sushi rolls. The other problem with this place is that you have to enter from the side door...not the front door. If you go in the front (wrong) door, you'll be standing in the center of the dining section wondering "what's going on" and "where is the hostess?" Lastly, the food is just ok (overcooked pasta!) and the prices are expensive. I wouldn't go back as there are a lot of better places to eat in Doylestown.
(2)
carrie c.
My experience with Cafe Alessio on 8/11 was horrid. I went out to dinner with my friend around 7pm, and we decided to sit outside. My friend had to ask the waitress 3 times for a cup of ice for her iced tea (which came out warm with no ice). It began raining outside, and no one offerred to let us and my newborn child move inside. When I asked to move inside, they told me I would have to leave my stroller outside in the pouring rain, because there was no room for it inside (even though it would collapse). Oh and once we moved inside, our waitress was never to be seen again. We had to hunt down a waitress from another table to BECOME our waitress. My friend ordered the salmon panini. When it came out, my friend stated that she had thought she ordered the salmon panini. Why did she ask that question? Because there was an EXTREMELY small portion of salmon on a gigantic piece of bread, smothered in tomatoes. The waitress replied, "Oh, you're right, this isnt the salmon panini, it is the (blank) panini." Upon opening the roll, the waitress said, "oh wait, this is the salmon panini I guess." The waitress could not even tell it was the salmon panini, because the salmon wasnt even visible. My friend asked to speak to the manager. After waiting 15 minutes, he decided to come out, and ask what was wrong. He told her that he was "too busy" cooking in the kitchen to come out, and he didn't need to come out anyway to see what was wrong, because he "sees all food before it exits the kitchen." My friend asked what could be done to remedy the situation of barely having any salmon on the sandwich, and he said "Nothing. I don't need you as a customer. You are going to pay for your food, I am not taking it off the bill, you are going to leave, and never come back. I have a loyal customer base, I don't need you." After waiting another 15 minutes for the check, we left. While we were walking outside past the outside sitting area, the managers teenage son (who we spoke with earlier, who informed us he was his son), yelled in front of the entire crowd outside, "I am sorry. The only thing I can suggest to you is getting mental treatment. You need mental help because we never have anyone that complains this much about our food." ...Did they really just speak to 2 customers like that, over a small complaint about the amount of salmon on a sandwich? .....enough said. If you want mediocre food, and want to give your money to an owner who does not care about how he or his family speak to customers, go here. I suggest saving your cash, and going to Basically Burgers across the street. Amazing food run by a small family who actually care about their customers.
(1)
sherri s.
We had a very relaxing and enjoyable dinner Saturday night here! Our reservations were honored. We have dined here before (enjoyed it) and brought another couple this time. This is the kind of restaurant that fits most budgets. Hamburgers and pizza to sushi or veal. The BYOB is perfect too! They even had nice size wine glasses! Our friends both ordered the grouper fish, my husband ordered the veal and I always opt for the sushi. This time I did a speciality roll. I must say...it was over the top delicious, very fresh and practically melted in my mouth. Everyone enjoyed their dinner, nice size portions, service was spot on, and dining on their patio was the best on a nice end of the summer night! We thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant! I have one tiny little complaint... Three of the gelatos were very runny/melted...like eating soup. Waiter prolly should have warned us since the 4th gelato flavor was served cold and in a ball. Oh well...still enjoyed our overall dinner!
(5)
Tracy D.
I came here over the weekend with my boyfriend who had been here before and wanted to try it again. I was excited to try this italian-asian fusion restaurant, as they call themselves First thing that threw me off... we were greeted by one waitress and then 2 minutes later, another. And this continued for 10 minutes and we had no idea who was our actual waitress until I finally asked the first one and she said "oh yeah, we both are.. we do things differently here, it makes it more efficient" Ok, no problem but sort of confusing and it should have been specified at the beginning before I had to awkwardly ask. Upon looking at the menu, it was obvious this place is not a fusion restaurant.. but rather an Italian restaurant with sushi on the menu. But to keep with the theme, we ordered the crustini appetizer and a sushi roll. The crustini was delicious! The sushi roll order was messed up with first time, but after that the roll was fine. For dinner I ordered a caprese salad which was just OK. Nothing special about it really. The mozzarella didn't taste very fresh, but rather like a package you can get at the grocery and the tomatoes weren't super ripe. But again... it was fine/average/mediocre. My boyfriend ordered the Siciliana pizza which had eggplant, capers, fresh garlic, calamata olives, plum tomatoes, mozzarella and sharp provolone. The pizza was a HUGE BUST. First, the eggplant was mushy, the crust was similarly mushy and definitely not crispy. The center crust of the pizza was just soggy and looked undercooked. The biggest issue of the pizza was the fresh garlic. When I think of fresh garlic, I think of some minced garlic to add great flavor... not huge slices of raw garlic ALL OVER THE PIZZA. But the garlic was under all the cheese and toppings so my boyfriend literally spent a few minutes picking off every piece of garlic from the pizza slice before he could even eat it. He pushed all the garlic to one side of the pan and told our waitress that this was the most garlic he had ever seen on a pizza and was unhappy with it. She responded with "Oh, well the Italians love their garlic!" My boyfriend said "I'm 100% Italian, and I have NEVER seen that much garlic on a pizza" I wish i could upload a picture to this, because I took a picture of the garlic mountain on the pizza pan. Huge, garlic chips. Overall a mediocre meal and nothing special. For all the great restaurants in Doylestown, our visit here was a waste of money.
(2)
Kerry D.
Never had a bad meal here. Not only do they have great pizza, calzones and other Italian dishes, this particular location also offers sushi, which isn't the best I've ever had, but pretty cool concept. Cute, but small outside dining area. Inside can get a little cramped, but they have a bigger back room. It's almost always been busy when I've gone there.
(4)
Nancy W.
I've never written a review for any restaurant before, but the roasted veggie/brie sandwich is so amazing that I had to comment. The sandwich was 5 stars...the service was more like 2-3, but I can sort of ignore it since that sandwich was so good.
(4)
Christina K.
I want to like Cafe Alessio more than I do. But I've visited the restaurant several times, and the food hasn't been all that spectacular, the service has been slow and I've felt very crowded (small tables, close together). THE GOOD: Crostini with garlic and melted Brie (Is there really anything better than bread with cheese? And can you ever screw this up?), Zio's homemade Italian Sausage on muffaletta with spinach instead of broccoli rabe (truly homemade, truly delicious), eel nigiri (hands-down the BEST eel nigiri I've ever had... and I've had eel nigiri at Tsukiji, the fish market in Tokyo.) THE NOT-SO-GOOD-NOT-SO-BAD: The Romano pizza (great crust and toppings, but a little less sauce, please), gyoza (more dumplings cooked a little less, please) THE BAD: The chicken Caesar salad (Holy garlic, Batman! There must have been at least half a dozen garlic cloves in there. And where the heck was the chicken?), the miso soup (awful - just awful - entirely too much miso), Pasta alla Pamela (should be delicious, but isn't because it tastes like they dumped a whole shaker of salt in it)
(2)
John E.
In a nutshell: Great location, decent food, slow service. It takes an extraordinary amount of time to get your food once ordered. This location offers a strange menu mix between Italian and Sushi. Outdoor seating is a nice alternative on a nice day, but it is noisy due to high traffic volume. The food wasn't good enough to offset the time it takes to get your food. The wait staff is friendly enough, but kitchen needs to pick up the pace.
(2)
Melissa N.
Cafe Alessio continues to frustrate me. In the summer, eating outside in their quaint little dining space is enjoyable and I had the BEST sushi of my entire life there (Kamikaze Roll) but their ONE and only sushi chef keeps taking long vacations to Hong Kong and they do not replace him. He is seemingly gone everytime I am in town, so CALL AHEAD if you are looking for Sushi, you may not get it. Also, if you eat in their front room, you will not be able to carry on a conversation, you will get bumped by everyone who walks by, and every time the door opens, you will freeze. However, I have yet to find a place that serves up such a delicious kamikaze roll...
(2)
Jake F.
Last two times there very disappointing. Late fall - eggplant parm was under cooked, tasted like they just skinned it and batter-dipped it, still crisp like a fresh veg. Last night - veal parm, the gravy was god-awful. Totally bland and tasteless. They even bored my wife with her cobb salad, and she loves them most of the time. One bad night, just a coincidence, two bad nights - time to re-evaluate.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
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.
Bryan F.
We ate outside and were seated right away. But the server was slow to take our order. Seemed liked she was taking care of all the outdoor tables. Not a good idea at 5 PM on a nice day :( Our kids finished their pizza by the time our SALADS came out! The food was just okay to boot (antipasto salad and arugala salad with chicken. It's a convenient place and al fresco dining but the food and service leave something to be desired.
(2)Scott N.
The food was not up to par with price.. Not one bit. It took forever for the entrée to come out, close to an hour. For the price you would think they'd serve fresh pasta but besides the point. The food was horrible for it to take that long to serve. I would not go back and spend one more cent there. Once and done for me.
(1)Jane E.
Good option for an affordable, tasty BYOB dinner. ATMOSPHERE: Cozy with about 30 tables altogether. There are two separate dining areas, try to sit in the back especially in the winter as it can get chilly with the door opening and closing. Patio is nice during the summer. FOOD: Consistent, nice portions. A good combo is the specialty salad and pizza. A favorite is the Sicilian Salad with shrimp, mushroom, roasted red pepper and gorgonzola. Enough for two to share. Moving onto the pizza....where to begin. They're all pretty great, it just depends what you're in the mood for. The Toscana is a great option. White pizza, broccoli rabe and Italian sausage. SERVICE: Can be hit or miss. Think family run/local restaurant. Don't set your standards too high. Can be tough on a the weekends for dinner. Be patient and eat some more of the yummy bread/olive oil delivered to the table.
(4)Marc E.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. This was my 3rd time at Alessio and I wouldn't go back if I was starving to death. Staff were rude and incompetent, as in: 1. We ordered off of the specials menu and then were told items were unavailable and we shouldn't have been given the menu- ??? 2. Appetizers came after 45 minutes and the excuse was offered that "all the orders came in at the same time"- isn't that what happens in a restaurant? 3. Some entrees came after another long wait, except one, which came even later, no lame excuse was even offered. The list goes on and on, even to the point of the check arriving with no pen to use to sign- do I need to tell the waitress how to do her job at every step of the way? Walk past this place as fast as you can.
(1)Drew H.
I go here a lot; this is my favorite lunch spot in Doylestown! I go here when I want something under ten bucks. I go here when I don't. I go here when I want a sandwich or salad or burger or pizza or pasta. My friends that have tried the Japanese offerings have also been satisfied. The owners care about quality ingredients and all of their stuff is from scratch - ranch, BBQ, buffalo, and chili are all noteworthy home made things to try here. Oh, and they offer many gluten free options!
(5)Alex A.
Went here for the outdoor seating and ambience during brunch. Food was...ok. Undercooked potatoes and missing toast with breakfast. Menu claimed OJ was freshly squeezed but I know Tropicana when I taste it. Eggs Benedict were good. But overall, the place was a bit...blah. Great decor from the outside and again, awesome little outdoor seating area, but it seems like this place isn't sure what it wants to be. Advertises sushi as well as pastas and pizza? Bit strange. The staff were all young and working hard. But I'd reevaluate what this place is actually. Great candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmeres. Let's put it that way.
(3)Nancy G.
Alessio has been my favorite local restaurant for several years. I don't at all agree with or understand any review that's not at least four stars. I am a "foodie" who has dined in Italy many times and some of the meals I've had a café Alessio are better than the ones I've had in Italy. And from an Italian- American, that is quite a compliment. There is something here for everyone and the prices are quite fair, considering the level of quality. Each server I have had over the years has been excellent and if anyone minds waiting at all for their food, there are fast food restaurants in the area. So if you're visiting Doylestown and would like genuinely tasty and creative Italian cuisine I highly recommend Alessio.
(5)Nick V.
Advertised breakfast from 10am-2pm. Thought to ourselves well it's only 12pm so let's get some breakfast. We sat down and one waitress greeted us and after some time another waiter came over to take our order. Slightly confused we placed our order and specified we wanted the food hot and crispy (potatoes). After about 30 minutes of waiting (for breakfast), the food started to come out. The waitress came back over and asked if there was anything else we needed. This is where it gets interesting... More than half of our order was not there. No toast, no waffle, or the French toast we ordered with our eggs and potatoes came out. It was clear at this moment that we were forgotten about and now the scramble was on to remedy it. The food was cold, the potatoes under cooked, and the accompanying fruit was past ripe. The rest of the food came out with the same results and the waffle was still raw in the center. Disappointed with the results, we asked to speak with the manager. The manager never came over to apologize for our experience and instead sent the waitress to let us know we were getting hot eggs, potatoes and a waffle. The food came out piping hot and under 10 min. At this point we were disgusted because half of the table was finished eating and we were not. Our guess is they were upset that someone would order breakfast at 12pm when they were already preparing lunch for the lunch rush. The waitress was very nice and took items off the bill that we had issues with but we still were hungry. Off to seek out a reputable place to fill our tummies. It was also poor communication between the two servers that led to our less than satisfied experience. My wife and our mothers will not be returning here and will let our friends and would be patrons know about our experience. Kudos to the waitress that was attempting to make it right but same on the manager for not even showing up to say sorry. The place was not that busy..
(1)Steve D.
Service was terrible. Food took forever. Ordered Caprese salad and got week old tomatoes and mozzarella.
(1)Zee Z.
Recently went here for take out pizza... It was good.. just a little disappointed that pizza was cold when I got home (5 minute drive)... I have eaten here several times in the past.. Food always good, portions are decent, staff are okay.. Owners very nice folks..
(3)Mark H.
Cafe Alessio, a fixture in downtown Doylestown for many years (owned by the same family as the location in Warrington and the now-destroyed-by-fire Vecchia Cucina in Buckingham), serves pizza, pasta and salads both indoors, in its massive two-room restaurant and outdoors, at its well-situated al fresco seating adjacent to the restaurant. They also feature, almost mysteriously, a full sushi menu. The food here is serviceable, but not outstanding. There are plenty of better choices for Italian cuisine in the area. On a recent evening, we had their seafood salad, their eggplant parmigiana, and a dish of pasta. The salad was overdressed and soggy, while the seafood in the salad nearly tasteless. The eggplant parmigiana consisted of four 4-inch diameter pieces of eggplant batter-dipped and covered in a sauce that might have been canned. The pasta was overcooked by about two minutes and was limp, as a result. Servers are sincere, well-meaning young people (including one young man, for whom it was clearly day #1 and who asked us what we wanted to drink before we even took our seats). In our occasional visits over the past few years, it is evident that Cafe Alessio wants to impress, right down to employing an elegant hostess to welcome guests. However, as others have emphasized, the kitchen is easily overwhelmed, even at 9 PM on a Saturday when only half the tables were occupied. It took nearly 45 minutes, an one inquiry, for our food to arrive. What are the draws here? Perhaps the outdoor seating and BYO, but little else. In the mood for Italian food in Doylestown? I'd suggest nearby Il Melograno or newly-opened Genevieve's Kitchen, which also has al fresco seating.
(2)Cindy P.
I went here for dinner one night while being indecisive on what I want to eat. I love the fact that they have Italian, Japanese, and pizza. Very different. I had the gyoza app from the jap menu, which was delicious. I also had the fried calamari from the Italian menu which was a bit disappointing. It started out good and I like it, but then I had these pieces which didn't seem to be fried enough because it was chewy. I couldn't finish the calamari. Which is such a shame because I absolutely love calamari. The services are great and the staff is very friendly. The decor is lovely and the restaurant just have this great vibe to it.
(4)rich e.
Great food. Cheese steaks, salads, burgers. The family nag guests all enjoyed the outside seating and food. Alessios is back in good form.
(4)Maggie O.
This place is fantastic. If you can't enjoy a menu with a wide variety of options including both Italian and seafood, something is wrong with you. The prices are very fair, it's BYOB, and the staff is always so friendly. My boyfriend thinks their gourmet burgers are the best he's ever had. 5 stars for sure.
(5)Carlos N.
Always a good meal here. Great variety of salads and specialty pizzas. Great value, too.
(4)Elyse R.
Was here for the first time this afternoon with my husband and two friends after a visit to the Michener. This is a restaurant with a split personality. It doesn't know what it wants to be. I thought the menu was just bizarre. I mean, why does a restaurant have to have sushi AND Italian food? I don't get it. I tried the vegetable lasagna because of a review I read on yelp. I thought it was okay but my friends were not impressed. Also tasted the eggplant rollotini on angel hair pasta. Meh. The portions were small and the kitchen was really slow. Took forever to get our food. No need to come back.
(2)Danielle W.
Terrible from start to finish. First, the food is just not good. Caprese salad had no flavor. The scallop and shrimp risotto was disgusting--way too much cheese, too pungent, just terrible. The complimentary garlic bread was like something from a grocery store. The mussels that my friend ordered had to be sent back because they smelled like they had gone bad. Second, the service was poor. The waitress forgot to put in my order of risotto, then when she could see that I hadn't eaten it, and I told her it wasn't good, there was no attempt to make things better. On top of everything else, she then gave us an incorrect bill. I'm shocked that with all these issues there was no attempt to try to entice us to come back. They really appeared to not care that we had a terrible experience. I can usually find something redeeming in a restaurant, but Cafe Alessio had nothing.
(1)Marissa S.
Delicious food but terribly slow and defensive service. Took 20 minutes for appetizers to come out, and when meal came out after 40 minutes 1 table member had not yet been served her pre-dinner salad and the child order was lava hot with burnt bread. The servers were defensive about edibility of the food stating that it had the ingredients described on the menu (cheese). They could not see that it was the burnt and liquid hot quality of the food that was at issue. On top of that they charged extra for every nuance and did not verify customer acknowledgement prior to the bill. Two separate entrees that were ordered off the specials menu were reported sold out 15 minutes into waiting, at 6:30 at night. How are you sold out of specials at 6:30 on a Saturday? A side vegetable was also reported unavailable 40 minutes into the meal. The whole experience was a hot mess.
(2)Diane Z.
The food at Cafe Alessio is very tasty but we have been here many times over the years where the service is terrible. This weekend was another one of those times. My DH and I ordered salads with extra lettuce and he ordered his with bacon and dressing on side. None of these requests was honored. I wonder if it was because the server was "too good" to write down our order. Granted, there was an event in Doylestown which attracted a lot of people but they have been in business a long time and certainly could have planned for a larger crowd. They remade DH's salad without the bacon and dressing on side. Then, when we repeated that we would like extra lettuce, they said they are almost out of lettuce and couldn't accomodate this request. Really? On a summer Sunday evening they had no more lettuce? There are plenty of supermarkets in Doylestown who would have been happy to sell boxes of organic lettuce to them. Each time we've been here, there has been more of an issue with the servers than the kitchen, although this time it was a combination. It's too bad because it is one of the few restaurants in the area with pleasant outdoor seating and an extensive menu.
(2)Scott P.
Ugh. Food average, but over an hour for food! Service is really lacking. AND can't tip on a credit card used ?????
(2)Angela G.
Love the outdoor seating and the grass-fed meats. Had a cheesesteak here that was absolutely amazing! I don't know why they are trying to do sushi these days - too much choice if you ask me, but I'll definitely be back for lunch again soon.
(4)Barry P.
had a weekday lunch there today. Ate in the dining room in the back (easy choice the front near the door was freezing as the weather was 23F and windy). Food good but not outstanding especially given the prices ($38+tip for two). I had the tomato basil soup which was thick with tomato base and delicious. My friend had the lobster potato bisque which looked great as well. I had the cobb salad as I heard their salads were good. It was fine. My friend has a lobster croissant which he enjoyed as well. Service adequate but not great (a 17ish girl who kept handing off as she wasn't allowed to pour our wine (BYOB). Food good; would've rated higher except for the value prop.
(3)Brian B.
Joe and Jackie (and family) run a great establishment with great food. I like everything on the menu (and I should know). Italian/Japanese fusion? Hell, yeah! Joe does a some great apps including a nice fried calamari and an amazing stuffed pepper. Best sushi in Doylestown IMHO. BYOB with a PA liquor/wine store across the street? Yup.
(4)Karen F.
Interesting and strange combination of menu items. Italian and "dinerish" and then sushi. Whatever. Meanwhile if you stick to the salads (huge and excellent) and sandwiches, byou'll be OK. I did not care for the sushi here. We ordered salads to go one time when we really needed food right before my wedding. 2 chicken caesars and 2 diet cokes were promptly delivered to a nearby hair salon and were we EVER grateful. So thanks to Cafe Allesio for filling a need and serving up decent Italian fare (mediocre sushi) and AWESOME salads.
(3)John M.
We were in Doylestown for a visit to the Michener Museum, and were looking for a place in Doylestown for a light lunch. We had a terrific lunch on the outdoor patio--salads and panini sandwiches were all fresh and tasty. Our capuccinos were sweet and frothy (topped with whipped cream and a cookie, so you'll need to request a cap without these for a straightforward drink). The atmoshpere was classic Italian--nothing fancy here, but cozy. The patio is surrounded by shrubs, but still on a busy intersection, so you will want to sit indoors if some traffic noise is undesirable. Have no idea what dinner would be like, but a satisfying light lunch choice!
(4)Jackie T.
I have yet to have a bad meal here. Cafe Alessio's is the first restaurant we ever ate at in Doylestown and it was the icing on the cake for our decision to move here. It's a great location and in the summer they have indoor and outdoor options. Their new sitting area is nice but it's a tight fit and can get hot in there. We've tried many meals here including their pizza - we really like their specialty pies. Their salads are good - very big. They added sushi to their menu which we also gave a shot - we weren't disappointed at all! Such a cute place and great option for the summer if you want to sit outside and enjoy some BYOB!
(4)John S.
This place is "OK" I defiantly wouldn't label this place as an "Italian" restaurant. I ordered a Italian burger it was called, it came with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. I ate the first half and it was OK, nothing great and on my second bite, I ate a TWISTY TIE IN MY BROCCOLI RABE. terrible, but they did give me free dessert, and took it off my bill.
(3)M H.
Love the owners. Great food. Go here for pizza if your in town.
(4)Julie D.
We used to really love this place--back in the day when they had whole wheat crust. It's gone downhill over the past year. The ricotta, which use to be so amazingly sweet and creamy, has been at best the kind I buy at the grocery store, and at worst on a few occasions, sour and gritty. I'm very sad to see what's happened to one of my favorite restaurants.
(2)Ben D.
Cafe Alessio is a nice little BYOB spot right in the center of Doylestown. (There is a state store directly across the street) We have been going there on a regular basis for the past four years. Their menu is big and has a lot of offerings in multiple food styles (italian, sushi, american). For almost a year they were without a sushi chef. But now they are back up and running and offering a nice assortment of sushi and sashimi. I prefer the salmon sandwich on crustini bread. In the summer there is al fresco dining right on the corner wedge of Main and Court Streets. They have portable heaters so outdoor dining is also an option in the spring and fall. Inside there is the main dining area and in the back a remodeled dining area with both booth and table seating. The waitstaff is decent and owner is frequently there to oversee the daily operations .... so that is nice. Overall this is a great place that offers a nice menu and it's a BYOB to boot so the price is kept in check. If you're in town you should check it out .....
(4)Randan S.
Excellent service. Reasonable prices. The food was more than decent but not delicious. I had the gnocchi and mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. The mozzarella sticks were mediocre and cold. The gnocchi was hot, fresh, and tasty. I'd go back but only after trying other places in the area.
(3)Jeff L.
Cafe Alessio is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Doylestown. While I think the addition of sushi to the menu is a bit strange, their Italian cuisine has always impressed me. Their menu is rather extensive, which usually makes me skeptical (how can they specialize in so many dishes), Alessio is the exception to the rule, as all of their dishes are awesome. The ingredients used are quality, which really amp up the taste of every dish. I am a big fan of the pasta special, especially when adding chicken and crab, along with spinach. I recommend to anyone looking for decently priced quality Italian cuisine.
(4)Ryan S.
After walking by Cafe Alessio several times while in Doylestown perevious, my girlfriend and I decided to check it out this past Saturday night. It was a great summer evening, and a perfect time to eat outside. Their patio is crowded, and there is a decent amount of car and foot traffic on both sides (the area is a triangle), but that's to be expected with outdoor dining. It isn't an occasion to expect a whole lot of privacy or quiet conversation, it's for enjoying the food and the atmosphere. But I digress. First I want to comment on the highlight of our visit: the waitstaff. We had the best waitress we've had in a long time. She was attentive (but not overbearing), and extremely pleasant. Our appetizer never came out, and she quickly got it out and took it off the bill without a word from us. I also felt the service and the food was brought out in a timely fashion. As for the menu, there is a lot to choose from. The pizzas seemed a tad pricy, and we kept the tab down by ordering sandwiches instead of entrees, but we still had plenty of food. The potato and bacon bisque was a particular highlight of mine, as well as the gyoza. The wing sauce on my buffalo chicken sandwich was claimed as homemade. I can't verify that, but it was quite tasty. For dessert we had homemade gelato, which was great. The pear in particular was impressive. as it is not a common flavor of gelato, but this has me wondering why, as it was delicious. I would definitely go there again, as any place with a waitstaff like this makes the eating out a pleasant and relaxing experience.
(4)Emily C.
From start to finish, the food, atmosphere, and staff have been delightful as well as dandy. A soothing meal on a cold day is always a treat and I found one here at Alessio. I recommend the crab potato bisque and their signature Torino Coffee for a small, warm pick-me-up and their variety of hand-tossed pizzas for a larger appetite.
(4)Scott C.
Pizza by slice, sit down menu including Sushi and Italian Cuisine... food is very good. Try the salads! Good for family or business dinners! Very good variety for everyone, kid friendly too.
(5)Sarah L.
Perfect lazy afternoon stop for you and girlfriends. Sit outside, let the oversized potted plants allow you to forget about the fact that you are on a busy street corner, order a glass of sauv blanc and the lobster salad. Refreshing, filling and fresh.
(4)Julie M.
Japanese Italian fusion? I like it! Cafe Alessio has something for everyone. I got a delicious burger and my boyfriend got sushi. Neither of us were disappointed.
(4)Nelly D.
This place is definitely having an identity crisis. First, it's called "Japanese Italian Fusion," but there are no fusion items whatsoever. The menu is 90% Italian and the other 10% is random sushi rolls. The other problem with this place is that you have to enter from the side door...not the front door. If you go in the front (wrong) door, you'll be standing in the center of the dining section wondering "what's going on" and "where is the hostess?" Lastly, the food is just ok (overcooked pasta!) and the prices are expensive. I wouldn't go back as there are a lot of better places to eat in Doylestown.
(2)carrie c.
My experience with Cafe Alessio on 8/11 was horrid. I went out to dinner with my friend around 7pm, and we decided to sit outside. My friend had to ask the waitress 3 times for a cup of ice for her iced tea (which came out warm with no ice). It began raining outside, and no one offerred to let us and my newborn child move inside. When I asked to move inside, they told me I would have to leave my stroller outside in the pouring rain, because there was no room for it inside (even though it would collapse). Oh and once we moved inside, our waitress was never to be seen again. We had to hunt down a waitress from another table to BECOME our waitress. My friend ordered the salmon panini. When it came out, my friend stated that she had thought she ordered the salmon panini. Why did she ask that question? Because there was an EXTREMELY small portion of salmon on a gigantic piece of bread, smothered in tomatoes. The waitress replied, "Oh, you're right, this isnt the salmon panini, it is the (blank) panini." Upon opening the roll, the waitress said, "oh wait, this is the salmon panini I guess." The waitress could not even tell it was the salmon panini, because the salmon wasnt even visible. My friend asked to speak to the manager. After waiting 15 minutes, he decided to come out, and ask what was wrong. He told her that he was "too busy" cooking in the kitchen to come out, and he didn't need to come out anyway to see what was wrong, because he "sees all food before it exits the kitchen." My friend asked what could be done to remedy the situation of barely having any salmon on the sandwich, and he said "Nothing. I don't need you as a customer. You are going to pay for your food, I am not taking it off the bill, you are going to leave, and never come back. I have a loyal customer base, I don't need you." After waiting another 15 minutes for the check, we left. While we were walking outside past the outside sitting area, the managers teenage son (who we spoke with earlier, who informed us he was his son), yelled in front of the entire crowd outside, "I am sorry. The only thing I can suggest to you is getting mental treatment. You need mental help because we never have anyone that complains this much about our food." ...Did they really just speak to 2 customers like that, over a small complaint about the amount of salmon on a sandwich? .....enough said. If you want mediocre food, and want to give your money to an owner who does not care about how he or his family speak to customers, go here. I suggest saving your cash, and going to Basically Burgers across the street. Amazing food run by a small family who actually care about their customers.
(1)sherri s.
We had a very relaxing and enjoyable dinner Saturday night here! Our reservations were honored. We have dined here before (enjoyed it) and brought another couple this time. This is the kind of restaurant that fits most budgets. Hamburgers and pizza to sushi or veal. The BYOB is perfect too! They even had nice size wine glasses! Our friends both ordered the grouper fish, my husband ordered the veal and I always opt for the sushi. This time I did a speciality roll. I must say...it was over the top delicious, very fresh and practically melted in my mouth. Everyone enjoyed their dinner, nice size portions, service was spot on, and dining on their patio was the best on a nice end of the summer night! We thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant! I have one tiny little complaint... Three of the gelatos were very runny/melted...like eating soup. Waiter prolly should have warned us since the 4th gelato flavor was served cold and in a ball. Oh well...still enjoyed our overall dinner!
(5)Tracy D.
I came here over the weekend with my boyfriend who had been here before and wanted to try it again. I was excited to try this italian-asian fusion restaurant, as they call themselves First thing that threw me off... we were greeted by one waitress and then 2 minutes later, another. And this continued for 10 minutes and we had no idea who was our actual waitress until I finally asked the first one and she said "oh yeah, we both are.. we do things differently here, it makes it more efficient" Ok, no problem but sort of confusing and it should have been specified at the beginning before I had to awkwardly ask. Upon looking at the menu, it was obvious this place is not a fusion restaurant.. but rather an Italian restaurant with sushi on the menu. But to keep with the theme, we ordered the crustini appetizer and a sushi roll. The crustini was delicious! The sushi roll order was messed up with first time, but after that the roll was fine. For dinner I ordered a caprese salad which was just OK. Nothing special about it really. The mozzarella didn't taste very fresh, but rather like a package you can get at the grocery and the tomatoes weren't super ripe. But again... it was fine/average/mediocre. My boyfriend ordered the Siciliana pizza which had eggplant, capers, fresh garlic, calamata olives, plum tomatoes, mozzarella and sharp provolone. The pizza was a HUGE BUST. First, the eggplant was mushy, the crust was similarly mushy and definitely not crispy. The center crust of the pizza was just soggy and looked undercooked. The biggest issue of the pizza was the fresh garlic. When I think of fresh garlic, I think of some minced garlic to add great flavor... not huge slices of raw garlic ALL OVER THE PIZZA. But the garlic was under all the cheese and toppings so my boyfriend literally spent a few minutes picking off every piece of garlic from the pizza slice before he could even eat it. He pushed all the garlic to one side of the pan and told our waitress that this was the most garlic he had ever seen on a pizza and was unhappy with it. She responded with "Oh, well the Italians love their garlic!" My boyfriend said "I'm 100% Italian, and I have NEVER seen that much garlic on a pizza" I wish i could upload a picture to this, because I took a picture of the garlic mountain on the pizza pan. Huge, garlic chips. Overall a mediocre meal and nothing special. For all the great restaurants in Doylestown, our visit here was a waste of money.
(2)Kerry D.
Never had a bad meal here. Not only do they have great pizza, calzones and other Italian dishes, this particular location also offers sushi, which isn't the best I've ever had, but pretty cool concept. Cute, but small outside dining area. Inside can get a little cramped, but they have a bigger back room. It's almost always been busy when I've gone there.
(4)Nancy W.
I've never written a review for any restaurant before, but the roasted veggie/brie sandwich is so amazing that I had to comment. The sandwich was 5 stars...the service was more like 2-3, but I can sort of ignore it since that sandwich was so good.
(4)Christina K.
I want to like Cafe Alessio more than I do. But I've visited the restaurant several times, and the food hasn't been all that spectacular, the service has been slow and I've felt very crowded (small tables, close together). THE GOOD: Crostini with garlic and melted Brie (Is there really anything better than bread with cheese? And can you ever screw this up?), Zio's homemade Italian Sausage on muffaletta with spinach instead of broccoli rabe (truly homemade, truly delicious), eel nigiri (hands-down the BEST eel nigiri I've ever had... and I've had eel nigiri at Tsukiji, the fish market in Tokyo.) THE NOT-SO-GOOD-NOT-SO-BAD: The Romano pizza (great crust and toppings, but a little less sauce, please), gyoza (more dumplings cooked a little less, please) THE BAD: The chicken Caesar salad (Holy garlic, Batman! There must have been at least half a dozen garlic cloves in there. And where the heck was the chicken?), the miso soup (awful - just awful - entirely too much miso), Pasta alla Pamela (should be delicious, but isn't because it tastes like they dumped a whole shaker of salt in it)
(2)John E.
In a nutshell: Great location, decent food, slow service. It takes an extraordinary amount of time to get your food once ordered. This location offers a strange menu mix between Italian and Sushi. Outdoor seating is a nice alternative on a nice day, but it is noisy due to high traffic volume. The food wasn't good enough to offset the time it takes to get your food. The wait staff is friendly enough, but kitchen needs to pick up the pace.
(2)Melissa N.
Cafe Alessio continues to frustrate me. In the summer, eating outside in their quaint little dining space is enjoyable and I had the BEST sushi of my entire life there (Kamikaze Roll) but their ONE and only sushi chef keeps taking long vacations to Hong Kong and they do not replace him. He is seemingly gone everytime I am in town, so CALL AHEAD if you are looking for Sushi, you may not get it. Also, if you eat in their front room, you will not be able to carry on a conversation, you will get bumped by everyone who walks by, and every time the door opens, you will freeze. However, I have yet to find a place that serves up such a delicious kamikaze roll...
(2)Jake F.
Last two times there very disappointing. Late fall - eggplant parm was under cooked, tasted like they just skinned it and batter-dipped it, still crisp like a fresh veg. Last night - veal parm, the gravy was god-awful. Totally bland and tasteless. They even bored my wife with her cobb salad, and she loves them most of the time. One bad night, just a coincidence, two bad nights - time to re-evaluate.
(2)