Tucked away in a trip center on Kuykendahl, the food is always good WHEN you finally get seated. Not sure what the problem is, but both times we have been there, not crowded and a couple tables empty, it is almost like a comedy routine for the front door greeter to figure out where they will seat you. But once in your seat, food is good, plentiful, and reasonable prices.
(4)
Evan B.
Love this place. Great food, great service! They make sure to take care of their customers. Portions of food are perfect! This is my favorite place to get fettuccine chicken Alfredo
(5)
Shawna B.
Best service we have had at a restaurant in a really long time! Everything is fresh and oh so tasty. We have been here a few times and I have yet to be disappointed. Last time I got the Capellini Primavera with Chicken. The veggies (spinach, zucchini) were so fresh and yummy, the sauce garlicy and light. I wanted to take left overs home for lunch the next day...but I ate it all. The hubs got the Cresfollini which he loved as he is a Cheese-aholic. I can't wait to visit again and try the Pizza, or order take out!
(5)
Nancy W.
So sometimes you don't expect much but then a restaurant changes the way you think about food. They keep it simple but yet provide you with a meal that simply makes you smile and a meal that's nothing short of amazing and this is what happened to us when we took a chance on our anniversary. Will be back for so much more. Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)
Lisa D.
Absolutely the best Italian food I've eaten in a very long time! Prices are reasonable, food is amazing, service was also great! Small location but great food and service! Will be coming back!!!
(5)
Andrew H.
It's ok at best
(2)
Cort L.
We have never actually came in and ate so I don't have a review for service. When I order food to go, they are always quick to get my bill and food. I recommend the margarita pizza! It has huge slices and love the garlic chopped on top. Our top place to go for pizza!
(5)
Allie M.
This place was amazing. Great home cooking and super clean! The food was awesome! Staff is friendly and so are the owners!
(5)
Debra M.
This was first time trying Italian Cafe, but I would like to start by saying I am a pizza review expert. Food - I ordered the spinach/artichoke dip for starters. It was really cheesy and delicious. Let's move on to the pizza.... I decided to create my own 4 topping. It was very saucy, the mozzarella cheese was exquisite, and on top was roasted red peppers, pineapples, italian sausage, and sliced meatball. You're welcome for the part. Staff - not entirely italian. Not entirely charming. Atmosphere - lots of red colors. Checkered floors and red walls. It was a small hole in the wall place! Overall, it was an awesome pizza adventure!
(4)
Wilson O.
Just had a great pizza here. "Italianesca pizza" or something like that. Perfectly cooked, with a slight crisp to the bottom. You can tell they use the real deal mozzarella here. Definitely order some olive oil with your bread knots.. Makes'em great. Meatballs in the spaghetti or dense but had a great flavor. Our four-year-old loved the spaghetti, as was evident by the marinara sauce chin she had during the entire meal.
(4)
Tiara G.
The best Italian food I've ever had! Love love love!
(5)
R M.
We eat here once or twice a month. Very exceptional. Wednesdays are 1/2 price appetizers and 1/2 price bottles of wine. Over time, we've had almost everything on the menu. It's always fresh and prepared correctly. The staff and service are tops also. You could drive by here every day and not notice this place, it's tucked away in the middle of a strip center, but don't let this stop you from checking this place out.
(5)
Susan D.
First time there this evening ... Loved it! The grilled salmon with capers in a lemon butter sauce is the best I've ever had ... will definitely be back!
(5)
Andrea C.
I would have to add my praise for this little, tucked-away restaurant. We went with friends who had been there and said it was great and they were right. We have already been back again and enjoyed it both times. The dishes and pizza we've tried have all been very good. One unique item is the bread basket. The small rolls are kneaded and twisted, like a knot, then buttered, seasoned and generously sprinkled with grated cheese. Rich and very tasty! Don't pass this little place by! It's worth the trip.
(5)
Monica M.
Had the seafood soup. Very good. I thought the portion would be bigger, not that you can't make a meal out of it, but I think if you have a big appetite, order the seafood pasta. My 3 yr old had the kid's pizza and it was very large. Overall very good food and great service!
(4)
Bill B.
This was a really nice place, nothing fancy. I had lasagna, and it was excellent! When it came out it looked really small at first, but look can be decieving. I was very full. The service was also excellent. The waiter was very attentive. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Lindsey M.
Been a couple of times love the food and service. Looks bad from the outside nicer on the inside. Don't miss this place if your in the area.
(4)
Eve B.
The hostess and waitress were so friendly. They made us feel really welcome and the Sinatra playing in the background was perfetto! As far as the food goes, my husband loved his Chicken Marsala and our son ate every bite of his hand tossed pizza. (I lost my sense of taste 6 months ago so I can't really give an accurate account of my food. I just wanted to let people know that the staff was so much better than what I read about back in 2013. We will be back!
(4)
Terance E.
I liked the Ceasars salad, not crazy about the bread. The lasagna was good and tasty better than the spaghetti with meat sauce. The pizza looks good, will need to try it next time. Place is small and intimate but very casual.
(4)
Marshall Z.
We ended up coming here when we first moved to town. We were nervous when we pulled up to a strip center, but decided to give it a shot. This place is as close to authentic as anywhere I've ever eaten. Their beef ravioli, chicken parmesan, alfredo of any kind, and pizzas are incredible. Don't let the "hole in the wall" location fool you, this place is incredible. I've been here many times and I've NEVER been close to being disappointed.
(5)
Kellie N.
This is small neighborhood place however there is nothing small about the flavors of the food. The Chicken Marsala was excellent and the house garlic rolls were very good also. I wiil be going back.
(5)
Amanda P.
First time here - great bruschetta, nice house salad with herby homemade Italian dressing. My husband lived his lasagna and I enjoyed my fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms added. We will be back to try again.
This was our first visit to the Italian Cafe and it won't be the last! Fantastic food & everyone was accommodating - especially considering I have an allergy to oregano and thyme and was attempting to eat at an Italian restaurant. Not always an easy task. Rave reviews from the folks that had the lasagna, the Chicken Parmesan & the garlic bread. I had the Capellini San Marco and it was amazing!!! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Valerie F.
Super yummy!!! Homemade everything!!! It is 100 million times better than Olive Garden! Friendly staff! And they are fast!
(5)
Johnny T.
2nd visit and it was even better then the first! The shit waiters are gone and are replaced with top notch servers! Good was on point! I will be back with a huge party!!!!
(5)
Ka F.
We stumbled into this place over a year ago, it has become our favorite Italian Restaurant. Everything on the menu is superb the owners and staff are professional. If you live in this neighborhood and need a pizza order to go and get from here. The pizza will hook you and then you will be tempted to try other items. You will not be disappointed. Only catch no special orders.
(5)
Only T.
Absolutely an awesome experience. The spinach dip is killer. Every dish is good and wait staff are friendly and attentive. Reasonable prices as well. A Jem in the spring area.
(5)
Loni D.
We found this place as a result of the wonderful reviews found on Yelp! We have been here a total of three times now and let me tell you, CONSISTANT! It has been fantastic each time we have been in. We have tried something new on each visit and so far EVERYTHING has been great! They have the best garlic bread and they will keep it coming. I am a huge iced tea fan and they have the best. I recommend this to anyone looking for great Italian food.
(5)
Erin M.
We thought this place was amazing. We went ten min before they opened and they were not bothered that we were there early. We were greeted right away and sat. We ordered the Hawaiian pizza and the spaghetti. We were both shocked that the meals came with salad. I ordered the smallest pizza thinking it was going to be a personal size but it was way more than that. We didn't mind though because we like leftovers. The same goes with the spaghetti. Overall this place was amazing. The prices, the service, the food was amazing. We will definitely be back for date night to enjoy a bottle of wine. Thank you so much for an awesome meal, see you soon!
(5)
Jacinda W.
Yummy in my tummy! The lasagne is perfect. It comes to the table hot and bubbly. I like plenty of sauce and was not disappointed. Layers of meat sauce and cheese seasoned to perfection. Go get some, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Pat W.
Great for a good family dinner. Friendly, clean, great food and good pricing. We've been there many, many times but this is the first time I've written a review. It is very hard to find a good Italian restaurant in this part of town. In fact this is the only one we've been back to repeatedly. Between us (my family and friends), we have tried most of their appetizers and main courses, we have enjoyed them all. They have a fish special every night and they have all been great as well. I only gave it four stars because I do enjoy a good salad and their dinner salad is only so so, the only disappointment. But not enough to keep us from the rest of their delicious food.
(4)
Pam M.
It was our second time here and we were happy. My son and I shared an order of cheese ravioli. It was so yummy. We really enjoyed it. Each ravioli was so big and very cheesy. We had more than enough to share. It came with a side of salad. I thought the portion was perfect and I liked the dressing. The dinner rolls were just ok. My son also got a kids cheese pizza. The pizza was a good size. He said it was good but he liked the ravioli better so we brought the pizza home. Great little Italian restaurant. Food tasted great and fresh. Good service and they had a full house on a Wednesday night. We can't wait to go back. We will try their lasagna next time since they were all out this time.
(4)
Chuck S.
The wife and I met a college buddy for supper and picked this place because it's halfway between us. The reviews looked good, so it fit the bill. Wow, did we chose well. This place is amazing. Excellent service, wonderful food and reasonable prices. We will be back!
(5)
Quentin M.
Came with my Wife or Daughter. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for appetizer and it was awesome. For the main course my daughter had a pizza, my wife had the cannelloni, and I had the chicken parmigiana. Everything was excellent. This place is a hidden gem. Great Italian food.
(4)
Chip A.
Wonderful experience. Food is nicely priced and delicious! Service was prompt and very friendly. We will definitely come back!
(5)
Jo M.
Let's talk about pizza. Damn good pizza. So damn good it was a struggle to leave the rest after having two slices because I knew I wanted to have some tomorrow. This Medium Margherita pizza is more comparable to a large dominos/papa johns/Pizza Hut size. Now that is where any further comparison of this pizza to the big three ends. The crust is perfect. All the way through the pizza, that first bite is just as awesome as the end crust is. The crust also won't dry out before you make it to the end. Points for that. And really ... olive oil and basil? No tomato sauce on this Italian classic? GOOD. Brilliantly well done. And the mozzarella was beautiful and the tomatoes tasted as if I found them growing on a vine at like 2pm today. So damn fresh. Thanks guys, gonna brag to all my friends about this, keep up the good work.
(5)
max g.
Eccellente! Wonderful little strip mall Italian Cafe. We had a delightful experience. It is nicely adorned, Sinatra playing in the back ground. The food was SUPERB! It was so fresh and homemade tasting. The homemade Italian dressing on the salad was great, the garlic rolls we delish, i had the lasagna and it honestly was the best lasagna i have had in a restaurant. That sauce is definitely not out of a can. I highly recommend the Italian Cafe.
(5)
G L.
I had a Groupon that I needed to use, so a friend and I went to eat here one evening. The food and the service was good. We ordered off the menu however they do have a buffet which appeared several customers enjoyed. I would eat here again.
(4)
Jana T.
Tried this place for the first time today. We got it to go and it was hot and delicious! I had the cannelloni and my hubby had the Alfredo everything was fresh and so good. The chocolate tuxedo cake was also amazing! We will be coming back!
(5)
Jennifer E.
I absolutely LOVE the Italian Cafe! It's local, convenient location and the food is awesome! Seriously, everything on the menu is so good. My boyfriend and I have gone here a few occasions for a date night and we have never been disappointed. My person favorite is the ziti. Yummm. The service is excellent and the food is priced decent. My stomach and I always leave happy!
Found this place with Yelp!, where it has 4 1/2 stars. The good: the blue-haired hostess and the rest of the staff were very nice. Atmosphere is comfortable. A little noisy, but it's a small place. Garlic knots, made with pizza dough and cooked as bread, are very good. The bad: pretty much all the food. Sack-salad, bottled dressing. Definitely not made in the restaurant. Marinara direct from Sysco, as were the heavy and dense meatballs (well, maybe they came from the Mortons salt company. Seriously over salted.). Goopy lasagna, also over salted. So, 48 bucks - no alcohol - for some decent pieces of bread and nice conversations with staff. No thanks. The pizza we saw others eating looked very good, so if you go, stick with pizza and stay away from everything else.
(3)
M G.
Eaten here twice both times food was good. I ordered the lasagna with a salad. The meat was a little saltier than what I'm use to but was still good especially paired with the tomato sauce and herb dinner rolls. Nom nom nom! On a whim i ordered the chocolate cake. Late night studying never tasted so good. Small con: the set up is a little confusing. I've only gotten take out each time but I always feel I'm imposing on the diners since there is no real place to wait for your food.
The veal Marsala was very good! The baked ravioli was excellent as well. The Caesar salads were very filling. And the Chicken Malano was yumm-o!!! Fabulous for our group of six. Love it!!!
(5)
Dave F.
As those that have gone before me have said...this place is a small and quaint Italian restaurant. The place is extreme clean and there is a window where you can see into the kitchen. I like this -- you are able to see your food being prepared, freshly. The food is fresh and is of good quality. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. While I love the place, my only gripe was with my to-go order. I showed up in person and placed a to-go order. I was fully prepared for it to take a long time. In any case, my order was taken quickly. The waitress also came back with my ticket within a minute or so. I filled out the receipt and left a good tip, even though it was a to-go order. As more time passed, I just sat there. At such a small intimate restaurant, I would expect the waitress to offer some kind of drink - I would also expect to pay for it. Instead, no offer. She just kept on with what she was doing. I ended up recalculating gratuity with the spare receipt to account for the lack of attention. My experience doesn't take away from my thoughts of the place -- the food is good and I would still go back. Just wish they were a little more accommodating for those waiting for to-go orders...
(4)
Mariah K.
Awesome little hole in the wall place, I had the cheese ravioli and it was great. Their garlic knots are delicious, definitely can't have just one. You can tell that everything is fresh here; there's an open window that sees over the kitchen, so you can watch them making their breads and pizzas. The restaurant is small compared to others but the food and service is great, the hostess was attentive and friendly to everyone, she had seated us as well as brought out our beverages, took our orders and brought them to our table. She was awesome. I will be coming back indefinitely the next time I'm craving homemade, fresh Italian.
(5)
Danielle G.
This place was charming - small, quaint, clean, lively, friendly, accomodating... and the food is great. It's a small place and can get pretty packed at peak dinner hours, but last night we went at 7:30 and only had to wait 10 minutes. Bonus: Wednesday nights the bottles of wine are half off. Winner! After we were seated our server, who was lovely and helpful, took our orders. The Chilean cabernet we ordered was pretty awesome, and it paired fine with the spinach and artichoke dip. The dip was amazing! best I've had, and the homemade bread was possibly the highlight, which is saying a lot. It made us want to go back and try their pizza! My entree salad was actually mediocre but not horrible; my husbands pasta/seafood dish was over salted and a bit of a miss. Despite the less than average mail meal experience, I would still give this 4 stars because I'm not going to fault them on my salad, nor my husbands pasta. I believe their pizza is fantastic because the rolls and the pita slices were all homemade and fabulous. We ended with dessert, chocolate mousse cake, and it was a piece of heaven.
(4)
John R.
This is the second time in a row that we dined here. This place reminds me of Italian cafe in New Haven Connecticut while I was in college. I ordered the baked ziti with Italian sausage and the portion was fairly large with a flavorful sausage ($14). My wife ordered the filet that was on special along with steamed asparagus ($26). The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the asparagus was crisp and trimmed properly. Service was exceptional and very accommodating to special requests. The atmosphere was that of an upscale pizza/pasta place that you may find in Little Italy, NY. The centerpiece was a wide open kitchen that was obviously very clean. I highly recommend this place for people who want to stray away from the Italian chain restaurants in town.
(5)
Albert G.
Amazing restaurant, hidden deep in the burbs. Love the fact that it is right down the street. We stopped by for Valentine's day 2015 and then for dinner in April. We were impressed with the the service on the busy night, that we said this place must be awesome on a slow night. We weren't disappointed. This isn't anything like a italian chain restaurant. The food tastes fresh and has tons of character to it. I also love the fact that you can see straight into the kitchen. This restaurant was kid friendly even though it has a romantic/ dim light feel to it. Waiters are very knowledgeable, and offer prompt service.
(5)
Joe M.
I had the chance to stop in for a pizza 06/28. I had traveled to my favorite pizza joint only to find them closed for a week of vacation. Not expecting much I stumbled on this fabulous little eatery. The place is set up like deli/cafes of my home town in Long Island (except alot cleaner). You can see all the action in the kitchen thru a large glass window. The chef and cooks are dressed for the part and look dedicated to their craft. I had a 18in pie. could only down three slices. It was terrific. The dough and the sauce are made fresh and you can tell. The toppings were plentiful and flavorful. Nothing short of a back home pizza. For only a dollar or two more than conveyor belt pizza you could be having a oven baked traditional Italian pizza. And without the grease pouring out the sides! Just for the record, the left overs reheated on the oven shelf were awesome. I would have gave it a 5 star but my tea glass got empty twice. Try this place for dinner! Because they do not open for lunch. Mungia!
Loved this place first time in here but it sure wont be the last their sauce is delicious i just want a bowl of it and a spoon .
(5)
Bryant D.
Food nirvana!!!! This place is heaven. It is small and cozy. They have a live person playing peaceful music. They bring out freshly baked garlic knots that are delicious. I had a spicy Italian sausage dish. The pasta was perfect..the sauce was spicy but good. My kids had the pizza. .pizza is so good too.. wife had the chicken nepolitano. .I tried it and it was delicious. I'll definitely be coming back to try more items.
(5)
Maliha S.
Decent food, a bit pricey. It is a small restaurant located in a strip but the decor and ambience are very nice. They start you off with their garlic bread rolls which were nice. We ordered the Lasagna and veal parm. The food tasted like authentic Italian food, not the stuff you get at chain restaurants like Olive Garden etc. We also ordered the white and dark chocolate mousse cake which was very tasty. This place was was a bit pricey but I would recommend it to someone.
(4)
Tobin E.
Noisy, but as expected for a small family restaurant. New York pizza, so don't expect a lot of red sauce. Food tasty, reasonable prices. Portions large enough for leftovers. Love half priced wine bottle Wednesday.
(3)
Kimberly C.
We went to celebrate my birthday. I ordered the capellini San Maren and it was exactly what I expected with the flavor. My mom ordered lasagna and it was delicious (the best I've tasted). My daughter ordered the chicken parmigiana and it was very tasty. We were already talking about what we would try on our next visit. I'm excited to find this Italian cafe so close to home. It's a nice, clean restaurant with awesome food and service.
(5)
Eric R.
Great food and mediocre service. Another find thanks to Yelp as I normally wouldn't think of some little hole in the wall place in a non-descript strip mall as being a great spot for good Italian food, but I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong... and I was wrong. Prior to the meal they bring out these delicious little bread bites to munch on. Meals came with a sald with a delicious house dressing (maybe the best house dressing I've had in an Italian joint). I had the chicken parmesan which was served with a penne pasta... helpings were more than plentiful... and it was delicious! I really loved the tomato sauce they served over them, wish there was a bit more of it but it was seasoned perfectly and did not overpower the taste of the dish. The service was okay... the guy was very dry... a little personality in the service would easily bring this up to 5 stars. He also dropped our check off and then walked through the dining room 4 times without picking it back up. When he finally came to collect it he admitted he had forgotten he dropped it off (credit for admitting when you've messed up). Overall, a solid experience and a place we'll definitely head back to in the future!
(4)
Ti R.
Good local Italian restaurant very impressed with the atmosphere and very impressed with the price
(5)
Ray G.
My wife and I have been eating here since they opened. It was off to a slow start, but once the word got out, the rest is history. Great people and great food, try it, you will be glad you did.
(5)
Chad G.
Went in with high expectations but was slightly disappointed. The bread and the house salad is highly recommended, yet the pasta dishes seem to be lacking in flavor. The pizza is what boost this place. It's rich and delicious.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Recommended by a friend. Don't be fooled by the simple strip mall exterior. Food, atmosphere, staff were all great!
(5)
Holly R.
This was our first trip, and the Service was great, ask for Sarah, She was on her game tonight! 3 kids shared the large pizza, and loved it! Good recommendations from the staff, and the dishes with cream sauces were good. We'll go back for a red sauce dish. Also, we've lived in the area for 3+ years and driven right by because it seems like a hole in the wall, don't judge the book by its cover!!! Place was full, and there was a wait by the time we left, well worth it!
(4)
Marcia K.
2nd visit and won't be our last. The food and the service were excellent. We had a caprese appetizer, husband had veal parm (huge portion) and I had capellini. We both took home over half of our food. Will be back again!
(5)
Trish M.
Absolutely wonderful meal! Probably the best chicken piccata I've ever had. Definitely going back!
(5)
Josh K.
Hands down the best italian we've ever had. There are restaurants in Chicago that charge 3x as much for this quality of authentic italian cuisine, and still don't meet this little gem's caliber. Our waitress was prompt and friendly, and the kitchen staff was gracious with all the compliments we gave them. If you want an quaint, romantic, delightful meal, I highly recommend The Italian Cafe
(5)
Dan F.
I am a sucker for family owned joints, especially Italian restaurants. There are no decent family owned Italian restaurants in The Woodlands that are really good. I found one but it is a bit outside The Woodlands, but worth the trip!! We found the Italian Cafe via Groupon. This is an unassuming place when seen from the outside, but once inside you get a nice cozy Italian feel. It smells AWESOME!! Let me walk you through the meal, I posted pictures too. We were greeted immediately and told to sit where we liked. There was a moderate crowd, but no wait, about 1/3 full when we arrived. We perused the menu and I went with the Pasta Fra Diavolo (if you see my other reviews, you know this is a staple for me and I like it flavorful - more on that later), my wife the lasagna, and the kids spaghetti with red gravy (marinara). I ordered a Sprite (Coke Products) and it came in a can, which I think is cool as they are just starting out and likely cannot afford the soda fountain yet, my guess. Either way, I don't care, it was a Sprite. Clean glass, and refills at no extra charge, which some places charge for additional soda when it comes in a can, not here. The waiter brought some garlic rolls, see picture. Both my wife and I were like Holy Sh-t these are great. Nice amount of butter, mixed with garlic and a good amount of parmesan cheese on the top. They were cook perfectly and the taste easily matched the sublime aroma. The kid's pasta was cook correctly and the sauce was not a wimpy hardly watered down red sauce. This was red gravy, nice texture and flavor. My Pasta Fra Diavlo (picture uploaded), had a nice spicy flavor to the sauce, further accentuated by the spicy Italian sausage. The mushrooms were not canned, but fresh mushrooms intermixed. This was great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anything Fra Diavolo can have too much spice which dampens the flavor, but this had a nice mix of both. My wife got the lasagna and it was huge, picture half a shoebox (picture uploaded). The lasagna had nice flavor as well, the meat was well seasoned and cooked, the cheese was evenly distributed and the taste matched the savory smell and presentation. We were stuffed, so no dessert, but they do have it. Lastly, this is a local joint and one that should be patronized, in my opinion. There is nothing like a family owned joint, where they are working hard and caring for their customers. The lasagna was too much for my wife to eat (we took it home and it made a second meal for both of us to share), and the waiter was so concerned that she did not like it (nice), but laughed when we said it was great but too much for her to eat. They wanted us to be happy and pleased. Remember those days, when the restaurant staff really wanted you to have a good experience in their home/restaurant. Go, you'll love it!!!
(5)
Catherine E.
One of the best places I've eaten in a long time. I've become a regular here and that's because of their AMAZING food. The garlic bread rolls they give you are fantastic. Try the spinach and artichoke dip!! They have half price appetizers every tuesday. Their fettuccine alfredo is also to die for. I never ever leave unsatisfied.
(5)
Kristin T.
Would be 4 stars if server (Micah) didn't hate life and his job.I felt as if we needed to apologize for being customers, food is awesome though. Best chicken parm in town. Get it to go. Very cozy, romantic little place.
(3)
Emily E.
Delicious! Great wait staff! The garlic bread was yummy and the house dressing was also good!
(5)
Ron B.
For our 37th Monthiversary dinner, we went to one of our Most Favorite Spots... the Italian Cafe on Kuykendahl. It's Saturday night and we know they are going to be packed and that we might have to wait...and it was. We arrived at 6:58pm, just 2 minutes ahead of the crowd. We only waited about 2 minutes and were seated at the last table that was open. Right when we were seated, 9 people walked in the door. Our waitress, Zoly, which we had before, was right there and stayed on top of everything the entire night. She is terrific. They brought out their very garlicky bread rolls that were deliciously wonderful. I ate two basket fulls (wife had 2 breads). We started off with some Cabernet Sauvignon which we really love. Great tasting, very smoooooth wine that soooooths ones tummy and satisfies the brain. We did not order any appetizers because we know they serve a lot of food on the plate and I wanted room for desert. My wife ordered the Special..the Seafood Shells; Large Shells stuffed with Shrimp, Crab, Whitefish & Salmon with Creamy White Sauce, oven baked. (this is not listed on their menu but they hope it will be). I ordered the Chicken Napolitano; lightly breaded & fried Chicken Breast, topped with Roasted Red Peppers, Ham, Mozzarella Cheese & Tomato Sauce, oven baked. Our waitress brought our salads which had cold, crisp, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots and a dressing that was really tasty. This was the best salad ever. The main entree's arrived as we finished the salads and they looked beyond delicious. My wife said that this is by far the Best Stuffed Shells she has ever had. Each bite was filled with the taste of all the S.C.W.S. inside and with that Creamy White Sauce...it exploded in your mouth an unbelievable deliciousness. I know, I ate the last one. My Chicken Napaolitano was the most tastious I have ever had. The Chicken was seasoned throughout and the toppings were just the right touch...this Chef knows what he is doing. When we finished, I was full, but still wanted desert. They write on the Blackboard what deserts they have that day and listed was 'Pumpkin Cheesecake'. Hey, it's October and that is 'Pumpkin Month'...so naturally I ordered the Pumpkin Cheesecake. I was not disappointed. This Cheesecake had a light Pumpkin taste that was really, really good.. not strong at all but not weak. The texture was very creamy and rich but not overly sweet. It came with carmel drizzled all over the plate and Pumpkin Cheesecake. I ate it all and never regreated being stuffed to the hilt...whatever a hilt is. We love the Italian Cafe and tonights dinner is the reason why we love it here. Yes, our waitress, Zoly, received yet another 'Dollar Bow Tie'....and she does remember the other ones she received from us. When we left at 8:45pm, there were 12 people waiting for a table. This place is really busy on the weekends, but it is worth the wait if you have too. We try to come here during the week nights to avoid the crowd. If you have not ever been here, do yourself a 'flavor' and do so.....and save room for desert.
(5)
Brittney G.
The pizza is good, the house salad is good, but the rest was a huge let down. We were excited by all of the great reviews, but the food just didn't measure up. There is a lot better Italian out there.
(3)
Chris K.
I just moved right up the road and YELPED a good Italian place close by. Italian Cafe popped up with pretty good reviews so I went with a friend of mine tonight. IT WAS GREAT!!! The hot fresh garlic rolls were brought out first. We asked for some marinara sauce to dip them in and the waiter kindly brought it with a smile. I ordered the smallest size margarita pizza. It came out all melting and fresh!! It was HUGE for a small !! I could only eat half. I can't imagine what the large size looks like. My friend got the spaghetti with meatballs and they were awesome too!! Thank you YELP for helping me find the little Gem of a restaurant. I can't wait to take my family to this place, my dad is going to love it!!
(5)
Scott M.
This is a real nice neighborhood Italian place. It's small and often very busy. The staff really seems to appreciate you stopping in and they work very hard to make your experience a good one. They have chalk board specials to go along with a small and focused menu. We had their Salmon special and Chicken Marsala. The Salmon was a little over cooked and a touch light on the seasoning. Fish did seem fresh, just wish it wasn't over done. Chicken Marsala was tender with nice fresh mushrooms and a mild Marsala sauce. There are times when I'd prefer a Marsala sauce to just slap me in the face. All the pasta we had was cooked just right. Really enjoyed their table bread and house made salad dressing. The aroma in here is wonderful. I wish they opened for lunch. It's a relaxing place to have dinner and we look forward to many returns.
(4)
V H.
First time here. Food was good- not great. The chicken marsala had good flavor but the chicken was way over cooked. I needed a steak knife to cut it. So many people were ordering spaghetti and meatballs, so I asked for a meatball to go with my side of spaghetti . It was good, very flavorful. I was a little surprised she charged me $1.50 for it though. Seems as though since she knew it was our first time here, she might have just let me try it. After all we had appetizers, entree's and desserts- they made plenty of money off us. $1.50 would just have been a nice gesture. We ordered the medium size margarita pizza as an appetizer, which was fresh and good. Obviously taking most of it home for the late night snack, My wife had the baked ziti which I thought was good, but it was a little spicy for her. The desserts were okay but not made in house. Overall it's acceptable. Not fabulous, but good. We'll try it again.
(3)
Curt C.
Uncomfortable seating, no waiting area and it was so busy that the people waiting for tables were jammed into the backs of the people at the tables eating. We were asked to move to a different table so they could move ours to another table for a large group. What made it so Akward is we weren't really asked, it was like " we need to move you to another table". I will say the food was good, but it just couldn't make up for the whole uncomfortable experience we had here.
(1)
Peter R.
Have eaten here 3 times, have been impressed each time. Excellent food, very attentive service, great experience overall. Recommend this place for a good meal!!!
(5)
Bill H.
Exceptional dining at a reasonable price. The restaurant is a casual sit down place with waiter service . Perfect for us. We had a pizza and chicken parmesan on this trip. It came with complimentary garlic rolls and a small salad. The pizza had very high quality meats and distinctly good flavors, unlike many pizzas you get today that are rather bland. My wife loves the thin crust cheese with black olives. The chicken parmesan was also seasoned well and the portion size did not leave you feeling hungry. It was our first time there and we will definitely be coming back. I forgot to publish the first review so I will just add my second. We are becoming regulars there. About once per week so far. This time we had the lasagna and pizza. The pizza was great as usual. I thought the lasagna could be a little more seasoned but it was still very good. Just picky I guess. It was certainly far better than most. We have lived within 3 miles of this place for several years and never knew it existed until I saw it on Yelp! Now we can get good Italian food without having to drive to Star Pizza or Antonio's
(5)
Lacuna S.
I LOVE this place. The pizza is generous and delicious. The bruschetta is just lovely (fresh tomatoes, Balsamic vinegar, pizza crust bread wedges - I could eat it everyday). The chicken Milanese is to die for - my personal favorite. The servers are attentive, but not overly, and always polite. The prices are great, too.
(5)
Scott H.
This place is awesome. Great food, good price, very responsive service. as crazy as it sounds even the ice tea was great.
(5)
Patrick H.
My wife and I just moved into the neighborhood and we needed some Italian food to help us get our second wind for all the unpacking. Saw this place and thought we'd check it out. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was amazing. Everything was fresh tasting. The portions are enough for two meals and it tasted like homemade. The wait staff were very prompt and respectful. Since it is family owned they genuinely care that you have a good experience. I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Cynthia H.
Don't be fooled by the exterior, the food was wonderful! Really fresh salad (Italian dressing was good, ranch was not). One of the best chicken parms I had! My husbands pasta pescatore was loaded with fresh fish.. The service was lacking, granted she was in training. Other than that we really enjoyed it!
(4)
Donna L.
Eh, waitress was pleasant, the guy playing guitar & sing in was ok. Pizza crust under cooked. We probably won't go back.
(2)
Wouter W.
Great service! Today we tried the pizza's. Very very good! Margarita pizza was a bit heavy on the garlic - even though we love garlic - so they suggested to ask for easy garlic next time. Dinner salad great, and they were easy with additions or substitutions. Great evening!!
(4)
Speak E.
I love this place everything I tried has been great the owners are very nice as well great little place down. The street from the house
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : 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.
John S.
Tucked away in a trip center on Kuykendahl, the food is always good WHEN you finally get seated. Not sure what the problem is, but both times we have been there, not crowded and a couple tables empty, it is almost like a comedy routine for the front door greeter to figure out where they will seat you. But once in your seat, food is good, plentiful, and reasonable prices.
(4)Evan B.
Love this place. Great food, great service! They make sure to take care of their customers. Portions of food are perfect! This is my favorite place to get fettuccine chicken Alfredo
(5)Shawna B.
Best service we have had at a restaurant in a really long time! Everything is fresh and oh so tasty. We have been here a few times and I have yet to be disappointed. Last time I got the Capellini Primavera with Chicken. The veggies (spinach, zucchini) were so fresh and yummy, the sauce garlicy and light. I wanted to take left overs home for lunch the next day...but I ate it all. The hubs got the Cresfollini which he loved as he is a Cheese-aholic. I can't wait to visit again and try the Pizza, or order take out!
(5)Nancy W.
So sometimes you don't expect much but then a restaurant changes the way you think about food. They keep it simple but yet provide you with a meal that simply makes you smile and a meal that's nothing short of amazing and this is what happened to us when we took a chance on our anniversary. Will be back for so much more. Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)Lisa D.
Absolutely the best Italian food I've eaten in a very long time! Prices are reasonable, food is amazing, service was also great! Small location but great food and service! Will be coming back!!!
(5)Andrew H.
It's ok at best
(2)Cort L.
We have never actually came in and ate so I don't have a review for service. When I order food to go, they are always quick to get my bill and food. I recommend the margarita pizza! It has huge slices and love the garlic chopped on top. Our top place to go for pizza!
(5)Allie M.
This place was amazing. Great home cooking and super clean! The food was awesome! Staff is friendly and so are the owners!
(5)Debra M.
This was first time trying Italian Cafe, but I would like to start by saying I am a pizza review expert. Food - I ordered the spinach/artichoke dip for starters. It was really cheesy and delicious. Let's move on to the pizza.... I decided to create my own 4 topping. It was very saucy, the mozzarella cheese was exquisite, and on top was roasted red peppers, pineapples, italian sausage, and sliced meatball. You're welcome for the part. Staff - not entirely italian. Not entirely charming. Atmosphere - lots of red colors. Checkered floors and red walls. It was a small hole in the wall place! Overall, it was an awesome pizza adventure!
(4)Wilson O.
Just had a great pizza here. "Italianesca pizza" or something like that. Perfectly cooked, with a slight crisp to the bottom. You can tell they use the real deal mozzarella here. Definitely order some olive oil with your bread knots.. Makes'em great. Meatballs in the spaghetti or dense but had a great flavor. Our four-year-old loved the spaghetti, as was evident by the marinara sauce chin she had during the entire meal.
(4)Tiara G.
The best Italian food I've ever had! Love love love!
(5)R M.
We eat here once or twice a month. Very exceptional. Wednesdays are 1/2 price appetizers and 1/2 price bottles of wine. Over time, we've had almost everything on the menu. It's always fresh and prepared correctly. The staff and service are tops also. You could drive by here every day and not notice this place, it's tucked away in the middle of a strip center, but don't let this stop you from checking this place out.
(5)Susan D.
First time there this evening ... Loved it! The grilled salmon with capers in a lemon butter sauce is the best I've ever had ... will definitely be back!
(5)Andrea C.
I would have to add my praise for this little, tucked-away restaurant. We went with friends who had been there and said it was great and they were right. We have already been back again and enjoyed it both times. The dishes and pizza we've tried have all been very good. One unique item is the bread basket. The small rolls are kneaded and twisted, like a knot, then buttered, seasoned and generously sprinkled with grated cheese. Rich and very tasty! Don't pass this little place by! It's worth the trip.
(5)Monica M.
Had the seafood soup. Very good. I thought the portion would be bigger, not that you can't make a meal out of it, but I think if you have a big appetite, order the seafood pasta. My 3 yr old had the kid's pizza and it was very large. Overall very good food and great service!
(4)Bill B.
This was a really nice place, nothing fancy. I had lasagna, and it was excellent! When it came out it looked really small at first, but look can be decieving. I was very full. The service was also excellent. The waiter was very attentive. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Lindsey M.
Been a couple of times love the food and service. Looks bad from the outside nicer on the inside. Don't miss this place if your in the area.
(4)Eve B.
The hostess and waitress were so friendly. They made us feel really welcome and the Sinatra playing in the background was perfetto! As far as the food goes, my husband loved his Chicken Marsala and our son ate every bite of his hand tossed pizza. (I lost my sense of taste 6 months ago so I can't really give an accurate account of my food. I just wanted to let people know that the staff was so much better than what I read about back in 2013. We will be back!
(4)Terance E.
I liked the Ceasars salad, not crazy about the bread. The lasagna was good and tasty better than the spaghetti with meat sauce. The pizza looks good, will need to try it next time. Place is small and intimate but very casual.
(4)Marshall Z.
We ended up coming here when we first moved to town. We were nervous when we pulled up to a strip center, but decided to give it a shot. This place is as close to authentic as anywhere I've ever eaten. Their beef ravioli, chicken parmesan, alfredo of any kind, and pizzas are incredible. Don't let the "hole in the wall" location fool you, this place is incredible. I've been here many times and I've NEVER been close to being disappointed.
(5)Kellie N.
This is small neighborhood place however there is nothing small about the flavors of the food. The Chicken Marsala was excellent and the house garlic rolls were very good also. I wiil be going back.
(5)Amanda P.
First time here - great bruschetta, nice house salad with herby homemade Italian dressing. My husband lived his lasagna and I enjoyed my fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms added. We will be back to try again.
(4)Ann T.
Just adding an update to my review.... we visited Italian Café for dinner early Saturday night and tried the Spinach artichoke dip. ORDER THIS. It was amazing. The béchamel was light, yet seasoned perfectly, and the spinach was FRESH, not frozen. Fresh spinach makes all the difference. We also ordered the homemade sangria. ORDER THIS, TOO. It was nice and strong, yet tasty.
(5)Niccole B.
This was our first visit to the Italian Cafe and it won't be the last! Fantastic food & everyone was accommodating - especially considering I have an allergy to oregano and thyme and was attempting to eat at an Italian restaurant. Not always an easy task. Rave reviews from the folks that had the lasagna, the Chicken Parmesan & the garlic bread. I had the Capellini San Marco and it was amazing!!! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Valerie F.
Super yummy!!! Homemade everything!!! It is 100 million times better than Olive Garden! Friendly staff! And they are fast!
(5)Johnny T.
2nd visit and it was even better then the first! The shit waiters are gone and are replaced with top notch servers! Good was on point! I will be back with a huge party!!!!
(5)Ka F.
We stumbled into this place over a year ago, it has become our favorite Italian Restaurant. Everything on the menu is superb the owners and staff are professional. If you live in this neighborhood and need a pizza order to go and get from here. The pizza will hook you and then you will be tempted to try other items. You will not be disappointed. Only catch no special orders.
(5)Only T.
Absolutely an awesome experience. The spinach dip is killer. Every dish is good and wait staff are friendly and attentive. Reasonable prices as well. A Jem in the spring area.
(5)Loni D.
We found this place as a result of the wonderful reviews found on Yelp! We have been here a total of three times now and let me tell you, CONSISTANT! It has been fantastic each time we have been in. We have tried something new on each visit and so far EVERYTHING has been great! They have the best garlic bread and they will keep it coming. I am a huge iced tea fan and they have the best. I recommend this to anyone looking for great Italian food.
(5)Erin M.
We thought this place was amazing. We went ten min before they opened and they were not bothered that we were there early. We were greeted right away and sat. We ordered the Hawaiian pizza and the spaghetti. We were both shocked that the meals came with salad. I ordered the smallest pizza thinking it was going to be a personal size but it was way more than that. We didn't mind though because we like leftovers. The same goes with the spaghetti. Overall this place was amazing. The prices, the service, the food was amazing. We will definitely be back for date night to enjoy a bottle of wine. Thank you so much for an awesome meal, see you soon!
(5)Jacinda W.
Yummy in my tummy! The lasagne is perfect. It comes to the table hot and bubbly. I like plenty of sauce and was not disappointed. Layers of meat sauce and cheese seasoned to perfection. Go get some, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Pat W.
Great for a good family dinner. Friendly, clean, great food and good pricing. We've been there many, many times but this is the first time I've written a review. It is very hard to find a good Italian restaurant in this part of town. In fact this is the only one we've been back to repeatedly. Between us (my family and friends), we have tried most of their appetizers and main courses, we have enjoyed them all. They have a fish special every night and they have all been great as well. I only gave it four stars because I do enjoy a good salad and their dinner salad is only so so, the only disappointment. But not enough to keep us from the rest of their delicious food.
(4)Pam M.
It was our second time here and we were happy. My son and I shared an order of cheese ravioli. It was so yummy. We really enjoyed it. Each ravioli was so big and very cheesy. We had more than enough to share. It came with a side of salad. I thought the portion was perfect and I liked the dressing. The dinner rolls were just ok. My son also got a kids cheese pizza. The pizza was a good size. He said it was good but he liked the ravioli better so we brought the pizza home. Great little Italian restaurant. Food tasted great and fresh. Good service and they had a full house on a Wednesday night. We can't wait to go back. We will try their lasagna next time since they were all out this time.
(4)Chuck S.
The wife and I met a college buddy for supper and picked this place because it's halfway between us. The reviews looked good, so it fit the bill. Wow, did we chose well. This place is amazing. Excellent service, wonderful food and reasonable prices. We will be back!
(5)Quentin M.
Came with my Wife or Daughter. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for appetizer and it was awesome. For the main course my daughter had a pizza, my wife had the cannelloni, and I had the chicken parmigiana. Everything was excellent. This place is a hidden gem. Great Italian food.
(4)Chip A.
Wonderful experience. Food is nicely priced and delicious! Service was prompt and very friendly. We will definitely come back!
(5)Jo M.
Let's talk about pizza. Damn good pizza. So damn good it was a struggle to leave the rest after having two slices because I knew I wanted to have some tomorrow. This Medium Margherita pizza is more comparable to a large dominos/papa johns/Pizza Hut size. Now that is where any further comparison of this pizza to the big three ends. The crust is perfect. All the way through the pizza, that first bite is just as awesome as the end crust is. The crust also won't dry out before you make it to the end. Points for that. And really ... olive oil and basil? No tomato sauce on this Italian classic? GOOD. Brilliantly well done. And the mozzarella was beautiful and the tomatoes tasted as if I found them growing on a vine at like 2pm today. So damn fresh. Thanks guys, gonna brag to all my friends about this, keep up the good work.
(5)max g.
Eccellente! Wonderful little strip mall Italian Cafe. We had a delightful experience. It is nicely adorned, Sinatra playing in the back ground. The food was SUPERB! It was so fresh and homemade tasting. The homemade Italian dressing on the salad was great, the garlic rolls we delish, i had the lasagna and it honestly was the best lasagna i have had in a restaurant. That sauce is definitely not out of a can. I highly recommend the Italian Cafe.
(5)G L.
I had a Groupon that I needed to use, so a friend and I went to eat here one evening. The food and the service was good. We ordered off the menu however they do have a buffet which appeared several customers enjoyed. I would eat here again.
(4)Jana T.
Tried this place for the first time today. We got it to go and it was hot and delicious! I had the cannelloni and my hubby had the Alfredo everything was fresh and so good. The chocolate tuxedo cake was also amazing! We will be coming back!
(5)Jennifer E.
I absolutely LOVE the Italian Cafe! It's local, convenient location and the food is awesome! Seriously, everything on the menu is so good. My boyfriend and I have gone here a few occasions for a date night and we have never been disappointed. My person favorite is the ziti. Yummm. The service is excellent and the food is priced decent. My stomach and I always leave happy!
(5)Jeremy T.
I was really hoping to find a diamond in the rough here, when looking for a late night bite in the 2920 area after 9pm, but I just wasn't wowed like some other yelpers were. The service was one of the better aspects of the dinner for me. For the prices here, this should be a given anyway. My waitress was fairly attentive, without being overbearing. Although I was never offered parmesan cheese or crushed red pepper for my entree. I ordered the lasagna and mussels (since apps were half-price). The mussels came out first, then shortly after the dinner rolls, and then right before the entrée came, the salad arrived. The mussels are served in a bowl and are resting atop a diced tomato sauce, which was not spicy or anything and had an okay flavor. They were a little salty and I think the ones at Carrabba's are larger and better tasting. The garlic knotted rolls were just okay. I didn't really care for them or think they were anything special. The salad (or salad dressing) which many rave about comes on a cold salad plate, which typically means it was prepared hours before I ever arrived at the restaurant. The Italian dressing on the salad was average tasting. This no frills salad seemed to be a bagged salad mix, with a couple cucumber slices and 2-3 cherry tomatoes added. Again, nothing special here. The lasagna arrives to the table in a baked dish, resting on another plate and is very hot at first. Overall, it had a pretty good taste and I noticed the pasta was pretty tender, tasted fresh and possibly homemade, although I'm no pasta expert. I was able to finish about 3/4 of the lasagna. Not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst. One negative I noticed is that the floors probably make the place get pretty loud. there were only about 4 other customers when I arrived, but it was already kind of loud. I can only imagine how loud it can be with a full house. It was getting late, and I really didn't even look at the rest of the menu, I just ordered quickly. I may be back sometime to try out some other dishes or the desserts.
(3)David L.
Found this place with Yelp!, where it has 4 1/2 stars. The good: the blue-haired hostess and the rest of the staff were very nice. Atmosphere is comfortable. A little noisy, but it's a small place. Garlic knots, made with pizza dough and cooked as bread, are very good. The bad: pretty much all the food. Sack-salad, bottled dressing. Definitely not made in the restaurant. Marinara direct from Sysco, as were the heavy and dense meatballs (well, maybe they came from the Mortons salt company. Seriously over salted.). Goopy lasagna, also over salted. So, 48 bucks - no alcohol - for some decent pieces of bread and nice conversations with staff. No thanks. The pizza we saw others eating looked very good, so if you go, stick with pizza and stay away from everything else.
(3)M G.
Eaten here twice both times food was good. I ordered the lasagna with a salad. The meat was a little saltier than what I'm use to but was still good especially paired with the tomato sauce and herb dinner rolls. Nom nom nom! On a whim i ordered the chocolate cake. Late night studying never tasted so good. Small con: the set up is a little confusing. I've only gotten take out each time but I always feel I'm imposing on the diners since there is no real place to wait for your food.
(4)Geoff R.
This is almost a really good restaurant. There's clearly some talent in the kitchen, and a strong effort is being made at every level - menu, décor, cleanliness, cooking. But...it's not great. The Caesar salad is weak, with a bland dressing that seems intended to not offend rather than to impress. The meatballs are okay - chewy, almost sausage-like, but again, a little weak on flavor. Pasta was excellent - cooked properly, light and delicious. The caprese salad suffered from tasteless tomatoes, bland mozzarella and insufficient basil. Chicken parm was very good, nice tomato sauce, nice breading. Service was "youthful" - good effort, great care, but still slow and forgetful. It took 10 minutes before we had water, 15 for bread, the wrong salads came out, but all with heart-felt apologies and immediate correction. We'd rather not have the slowness or mistakes to start with. This place is popular - on a Sunday night it was 3/4 full and there was a constant stream of people coming and going. Almost all were families from the surrounding neighborhoods, dressed in shorts and t-shirts. Nice, friendly, casual atmosphere. With a little more experience the young servers will smooth things out. I'm not so sure the kitchen will be making the same improvements. We may come back again, in a few weeks, but maybe not. Our search for great Italian food on the north side continues. For now, the reigning champ stays Carrabba's at Champions. And that's not great either, but it's very good. A step up in quality and décor, but in cost as well.
(3)Sheryl A.
The veal Marsala was very good! The baked ravioli was excellent as well. The Caesar salads were very filling. And the Chicken Malano was yumm-o!!! Fabulous for our group of six. Love it!!!
(5)Dave F.
As those that have gone before me have said...this place is a small and quaint Italian restaurant. The place is extreme clean and there is a window where you can see into the kitchen. I like this -- you are able to see your food being prepared, freshly. The food is fresh and is of good quality. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. While I love the place, my only gripe was with my to-go order. I showed up in person and placed a to-go order. I was fully prepared for it to take a long time. In any case, my order was taken quickly. The waitress also came back with my ticket within a minute or so. I filled out the receipt and left a good tip, even though it was a to-go order. As more time passed, I just sat there. At such a small intimate restaurant, I would expect the waitress to offer some kind of drink - I would also expect to pay for it. Instead, no offer. She just kept on with what she was doing. I ended up recalculating gratuity with the spare receipt to account for the lack of attention. My experience doesn't take away from my thoughts of the place -- the food is good and I would still go back. Just wish they were a little more accommodating for those waiting for to-go orders...
(4)Mariah K.
Awesome little hole in the wall place, I had the cheese ravioli and it was great. Their garlic knots are delicious, definitely can't have just one. You can tell that everything is fresh here; there's an open window that sees over the kitchen, so you can watch them making their breads and pizzas. The restaurant is small compared to others but the food and service is great, the hostess was attentive and friendly to everyone, she had seated us as well as brought out our beverages, took our orders and brought them to our table. She was awesome. I will be coming back indefinitely the next time I'm craving homemade, fresh Italian.
(5)Danielle G.
This place was charming - small, quaint, clean, lively, friendly, accomodating... and the food is great. It's a small place and can get pretty packed at peak dinner hours, but last night we went at 7:30 and only had to wait 10 minutes. Bonus: Wednesday nights the bottles of wine are half off. Winner! After we were seated our server, who was lovely and helpful, took our orders. The Chilean cabernet we ordered was pretty awesome, and it paired fine with the spinach and artichoke dip. The dip was amazing! best I've had, and the homemade bread was possibly the highlight, which is saying a lot. It made us want to go back and try their pizza! My entree salad was actually mediocre but not horrible; my husbands pasta/seafood dish was over salted and a bit of a miss. Despite the less than average mail meal experience, I would still give this 4 stars because I'm not going to fault them on my salad, nor my husbands pasta. I believe their pizza is fantastic because the rolls and the pita slices were all homemade and fabulous. We ended with dessert, chocolate mousse cake, and it was a piece of heaven.
(4)John R.
This is the second time in a row that we dined here. This place reminds me of Italian cafe in New Haven Connecticut while I was in college. I ordered the baked ziti with Italian sausage and the portion was fairly large with a flavorful sausage ($14). My wife ordered the filet that was on special along with steamed asparagus ($26). The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the asparagus was crisp and trimmed properly. Service was exceptional and very accommodating to special requests. The atmosphere was that of an upscale pizza/pasta place that you may find in Little Italy, NY. The centerpiece was a wide open kitchen that was obviously very clean. I highly recommend this place for people who want to stray away from the Italian chain restaurants in town.
(5)Albert G.
Amazing restaurant, hidden deep in the burbs. Love the fact that it is right down the street. We stopped by for Valentine's day 2015 and then for dinner in April. We were impressed with the the service on the busy night, that we said this place must be awesome on a slow night. We weren't disappointed. This isn't anything like a italian chain restaurant. The food tastes fresh and has tons of character to it. I also love the fact that you can see straight into the kitchen. This restaurant was kid friendly even though it has a romantic/ dim light feel to it. Waiters are very knowledgeable, and offer prompt service.
(5)Joe M.
I had the chance to stop in for a pizza 06/28. I had traveled to my favorite pizza joint only to find them closed for a week of vacation. Not expecting much I stumbled on this fabulous little eatery. The place is set up like deli/cafes of my home town in Long Island (except alot cleaner). You can see all the action in the kitchen thru a large glass window. The chef and cooks are dressed for the part and look dedicated to their craft. I had a 18in pie. could only down three slices. It was terrific. The dough and the sauce are made fresh and you can tell. The toppings were plentiful and flavorful. Nothing short of a back home pizza. For only a dollar or two more than conveyor belt pizza you could be having a oven baked traditional Italian pizza. And without the grease pouring out the sides! Just for the record, the left overs reheated on the oven shelf were awesome. I would have gave it a 5 star but my tea glass got empty twice. Try this place for dinner! Because they do not open for lunch. Mungia!
(4)Alicia S.
There are few times in life when you capture the greatness of the restaurant. This was one of those nights. The atmosphere and local folk is something exceptional that you would not expect in a small shopping center location. The decor and the lighting set a romantic mood. However, if you brought the family it would be quite pleasant as well. As i waited to be seated I gazed at all the other entrées around me to narrow down my choices.The chicken Parmesan caught my eye and to my surprise was soon caught in my belly. I ate (in my mouth) great big juicy meaty bites of mouthwatering meat so tender and yummy you will want to eat that every night for the rest of your life. The lasagna and chicken Parmesan were exceptional-the chef is a mastermind! Even the garlic balls melt in your mouth with such elegance and ease you will want to order another round...and another. Our waitress, Amanda, was just delightful- like a mayor of pasta town in which we paid a visit. She guided us through our journey and recommended a most excellent red Chardonnay to accompany my meal. We ate and ate and ate until we were satisfied ...and yet still we had leftovers. With my heart and belly fully content, I thank you Italian café for the wonderful experience of a lifetime. Loved it.
(5)Sheila H.
Loved this place first time in here but it sure wont be the last their sauce is delicious i just want a bowl of it and a spoon .
(5)Bryant D.
Food nirvana!!!! This place is heaven. It is small and cozy. They have a live person playing peaceful music. They bring out freshly baked garlic knots that are delicious. I had a spicy Italian sausage dish. The pasta was perfect..the sauce was spicy but good. My kids had the pizza. .pizza is so good too.. wife had the chicken nepolitano. .I tried it and it was delicious. I'll definitely be coming back to try more items.
(5)Maliha S.
Decent food, a bit pricey. It is a small restaurant located in a strip but the decor and ambience are very nice. They start you off with their garlic bread rolls which were nice. We ordered the Lasagna and veal parm. The food tasted like authentic Italian food, not the stuff you get at chain restaurants like Olive Garden etc. We also ordered the white and dark chocolate mousse cake which was very tasty. This place was was a bit pricey but I would recommend it to someone.
(4)Tobin E.
Noisy, but as expected for a small family restaurant. New York pizza, so don't expect a lot of red sauce. Food tasty, reasonable prices. Portions large enough for leftovers. Love half priced wine bottle Wednesday.
(3)Kimberly C.
We went to celebrate my birthday. I ordered the capellini San Maren and it was exactly what I expected with the flavor. My mom ordered lasagna and it was delicious (the best I've tasted). My daughter ordered the chicken parmigiana and it was very tasty. We were already talking about what we would try on our next visit. I'm excited to find this Italian cafe so close to home. It's a nice, clean restaurant with awesome food and service.
(5)Eric R.
Great food and mediocre service. Another find thanks to Yelp as I normally wouldn't think of some little hole in the wall place in a non-descript strip mall as being a great spot for good Italian food, but I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong... and I was wrong. Prior to the meal they bring out these delicious little bread bites to munch on. Meals came with a sald with a delicious house dressing (maybe the best house dressing I've had in an Italian joint). I had the chicken parmesan which was served with a penne pasta... helpings were more than plentiful... and it was delicious! I really loved the tomato sauce they served over them, wish there was a bit more of it but it was seasoned perfectly and did not overpower the taste of the dish. The service was okay... the guy was very dry... a little personality in the service would easily bring this up to 5 stars. He also dropped our check off and then walked through the dining room 4 times without picking it back up. When he finally came to collect it he admitted he had forgotten he dropped it off (credit for admitting when you've messed up). Overall, a solid experience and a place we'll definitely head back to in the future!
(4)Ti R.
Good local Italian restaurant very impressed with the atmosphere and very impressed with the price
(5)Ray G.
My wife and I have been eating here since they opened. It was off to a slow start, but once the word got out, the rest is history. Great people and great food, try it, you will be glad you did.
(5)Chad G.
Went in with high expectations but was slightly disappointed. The bread and the house salad is highly recommended, yet the pasta dishes seem to be lacking in flavor. The pizza is what boost this place. It's rich and delicious.
(4)Jennifer M.
Recommended by a friend. Don't be fooled by the simple strip mall exterior. Food, atmosphere, staff were all great!
(5)Holly R.
This was our first trip, and the Service was great, ask for Sarah, She was on her game tonight! 3 kids shared the large pizza, and loved it! Good recommendations from the staff, and the dishes with cream sauces were good. We'll go back for a red sauce dish. Also, we've lived in the area for 3+ years and driven right by because it seems like a hole in the wall, don't judge the book by its cover!!! Place was full, and there was a wait by the time we left, well worth it!
(4)Marcia K.
2nd visit and won't be our last. The food and the service were excellent. We had a caprese appetizer, husband had veal parm (huge portion) and I had capellini. We both took home over half of our food. Will be back again!
(5)Trish M.
Absolutely wonderful meal! Probably the best chicken piccata I've ever had. Definitely going back!
(5)Josh K.
Hands down the best italian we've ever had. There are restaurants in Chicago that charge 3x as much for this quality of authentic italian cuisine, and still don't meet this little gem's caliber. Our waitress was prompt and friendly, and the kitchen staff was gracious with all the compliments we gave them. If you want an quaint, romantic, delightful meal, I highly recommend The Italian Cafe
(5)Dan F.
I am a sucker for family owned joints, especially Italian restaurants. There are no decent family owned Italian restaurants in The Woodlands that are really good. I found one but it is a bit outside The Woodlands, but worth the trip!! We found the Italian Cafe via Groupon. This is an unassuming place when seen from the outside, but once inside you get a nice cozy Italian feel. It smells AWESOME!! Let me walk you through the meal, I posted pictures too. We were greeted immediately and told to sit where we liked. There was a moderate crowd, but no wait, about 1/3 full when we arrived. We perused the menu and I went with the Pasta Fra Diavolo (if you see my other reviews, you know this is a staple for me and I like it flavorful - more on that later), my wife the lasagna, and the kids spaghetti with red gravy (marinara). I ordered a Sprite (Coke Products) and it came in a can, which I think is cool as they are just starting out and likely cannot afford the soda fountain yet, my guess. Either way, I don't care, it was a Sprite. Clean glass, and refills at no extra charge, which some places charge for additional soda when it comes in a can, not here. The waiter brought some garlic rolls, see picture. Both my wife and I were like Holy Sh-t these are great. Nice amount of butter, mixed with garlic and a good amount of parmesan cheese on the top. They were cook perfectly and the taste easily matched the sublime aroma. The kid's pasta was cook correctly and the sauce was not a wimpy hardly watered down red sauce. This was red gravy, nice texture and flavor. My Pasta Fra Diavlo (picture uploaded), had a nice spicy flavor to the sauce, further accentuated by the spicy Italian sausage. The mushrooms were not canned, but fresh mushrooms intermixed. This was great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anything Fra Diavolo can have too much spice which dampens the flavor, but this had a nice mix of both. My wife got the lasagna and it was huge, picture half a shoebox (picture uploaded). The lasagna had nice flavor as well, the meat was well seasoned and cooked, the cheese was evenly distributed and the taste matched the savory smell and presentation. We were stuffed, so no dessert, but they do have it. Lastly, this is a local joint and one that should be patronized, in my opinion. There is nothing like a family owned joint, where they are working hard and caring for their customers. The lasagna was too much for my wife to eat (we took it home and it made a second meal for both of us to share), and the waiter was so concerned that she did not like it (nice), but laughed when we said it was great but too much for her to eat. They wanted us to be happy and pleased. Remember those days, when the restaurant staff really wanted you to have a good experience in their home/restaurant. Go, you'll love it!!!
(5)Catherine E.
One of the best places I've eaten in a long time. I've become a regular here and that's because of their AMAZING food. The garlic bread rolls they give you are fantastic. Try the spinach and artichoke dip!! They have half price appetizers every tuesday. Their fettuccine alfredo is also to die for. I never ever leave unsatisfied.
(5)Kristin T.
Would be 4 stars if server (Micah) didn't hate life and his job.I felt as if we needed to apologize for being customers, food is awesome though. Best chicken parm in town. Get it to go. Very cozy, romantic little place.
(3)Emily E.
Delicious! Great wait staff! The garlic bread was yummy and the house dressing was also good!
(5)Ron B.
For our 37th Monthiversary dinner, we went to one of our Most Favorite Spots... the Italian Cafe on Kuykendahl. It's Saturday night and we know they are going to be packed and that we might have to wait...and it was. We arrived at 6:58pm, just 2 minutes ahead of the crowd. We only waited about 2 minutes and were seated at the last table that was open. Right when we were seated, 9 people walked in the door. Our waitress, Zoly, which we had before, was right there and stayed on top of everything the entire night. She is terrific. They brought out their very garlicky bread rolls that were deliciously wonderful. I ate two basket fulls (wife had 2 breads). We started off with some Cabernet Sauvignon which we really love. Great tasting, very smoooooth wine that soooooths ones tummy and satisfies the brain. We did not order any appetizers because we know they serve a lot of food on the plate and I wanted room for desert. My wife ordered the Special..the Seafood Shells; Large Shells stuffed with Shrimp, Crab, Whitefish & Salmon with Creamy White Sauce, oven baked. (this is not listed on their menu but they hope it will be). I ordered the Chicken Napolitano; lightly breaded & fried Chicken Breast, topped with Roasted Red Peppers, Ham, Mozzarella Cheese & Tomato Sauce, oven baked. Our waitress brought our salads which had cold, crisp, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots and a dressing that was really tasty. This was the best salad ever. The main entree's arrived as we finished the salads and they looked beyond delicious. My wife said that this is by far the Best Stuffed Shells she has ever had. Each bite was filled with the taste of all the S.C.W.S. inside and with that Creamy White Sauce...it exploded in your mouth an unbelievable deliciousness. I know, I ate the last one. My Chicken Napaolitano was the most tastious I have ever had. The Chicken was seasoned throughout and the toppings were just the right touch...this Chef knows what he is doing. When we finished, I was full, but still wanted desert. They write on the Blackboard what deserts they have that day and listed was 'Pumpkin Cheesecake'. Hey, it's October and that is 'Pumpkin Month'...so naturally I ordered the Pumpkin Cheesecake. I was not disappointed. This Cheesecake had a light Pumpkin taste that was really, really good.. not strong at all but not weak. The texture was very creamy and rich but not overly sweet. It came with carmel drizzled all over the plate and Pumpkin Cheesecake. I ate it all and never regreated being stuffed to the hilt...whatever a hilt is. We love the Italian Cafe and tonights dinner is the reason why we love it here. Yes, our waitress, Zoly, received yet another 'Dollar Bow Tie'....and she does remember the other ones she received from us. When we left at 8:45pm, there were 12 people waiting for a table. This place is really busy on the weekends, but it is worth the wait if you have too. We try to come here during the week nights to avoid the crowd. If you have not ever been here, do yourself a 'flavor' and do so.....and save room for desert.
(5)Brittney G.
The pizza is good, the house salad is good, but the rest was a huge let down. We were excited by all of the great reviews, but the food just didn't measure up. There is a lot better Italian out there.
(3)Chris K.
I just moved right up the road and YELPED a good Italian place close by. Italian Cafe popped up with pretty good reviews so I went with a friend of mine tonight. IT WAS GREAT!!! The hot fresh garlic rolls were brought out first. We asked for some marinara sauce to dip them in and the waiter kindly brought it with a smile. I ordered the smallest size margarita pizza. It came out all melting and fresh!! It was HUGE for a small !! I could only eat half. I can't imagine what the large size looks like. My friend got the spaghetti with meatballs and they were awesome too!! Thank you YELP for helping me find the little Gem of a restaurant. I can't wait to take my family to this place, my dad is going to love it!!
(5)Scott M.
This is a real nice neighborhood Italian place. It's small and often very busy. The staff really seems to appreciate you stopping in and they work very hard to make your experience a good one. They have chalk board specials to go along with a small and focused menu. We had their Salmon special and Chicken Marsala. The Salmon was a little over cooked and a touch light on the seasoning. Fish did seem fresh, just wish it wasn't over done. Chicken Marsala was tender with nice fresh mushrooms and a mild Marsala sauce. There are times when I'd prefer a Marsala sauce to just slap me in the face. All the pasta we had was cooked just right. Really enjoyed their table bread and house made salad dressing. The aroma in here is wonderful. I wish they opened for lunch. It's a relaxing place to have dinner and we look forward to many returns.
(4)V H.
First time here. Food was good- not great. The chicken marsala had good flavor but the chicken was way over cooked. I needed a steak knife to cut it. So many people were ordering spaghetti and meatballs, so I asked for a meatball to go with my side of spaghetti . It was good, very flavorful. I was a little surprised she charged me $1.50 for it though. Seems as though since she knew it was our first time here, she might have just let me try it. After all we had appetizers, entree's and desserts- they made plenty of money off us. $1.50 would just have been a nice gesture. We ordered the medium size margarita pizza as an appetizer, which was fresh and good. Obviously taking most of it home for the late night snack, My wife had the baked ziti which I thought was good, but it was a little spicy for her. The desserts were okay but not made in house. Overall it's acceptable. Not fabulous, but good. We'll try it again.
(3)Curt C.
Uncomfortable seating, no waiting area and it was so busy that the people waiting for tables were jammed into the backs of the people at the tables eating. We were asked to move to a different table so they could move ours to another table for a large group. What made it so Akward is we weren't really asked, it was like " we need to move you to another table". I will say the food was good, but it just couldn't make up for the whole uncomfortable experience we had here.
(1)Peter R.
Have eaten here 3 times, have been impressed each time. Excellent food, very attentive service, great experience overall. Recommend this place for a good meal!!!
(5)Bill H.
Exceptional dining at a reasonable price. The restaurant is a casual sit down place with waiter service . Perfect for us. We had a pizza and chicken parmesan on this trip. It came with complimentary garlic rolls and a small salad. The pizza had very high quality meats and distinctly good flavors, unlike many pizzas you get today that are rather bland. My wife loves the thin crust cheese with black olives. The chicken parmesan was also seasoned well and the portion size did not leave you feeling hungry. It was our first time there and we will definitely be coming back. I forgot to publish the first review so I will just add my second. We are becoming regulars there. About once per week so far. This time we had the lasagna and pizza. The pizza was great as usual. I thought the lasagna could be a little more seasoned but it was still very good. Just picky I guess. It was certainly far better than most. We have lived within 3 miles of this place for several years and never knew it existed until I saw it on Yelp! Now we can get good Italian food without having to drive to Star Pizza or Antonio's
(5)Lacuna S.
I LOVE this place. The pizza is generous and delicious. The bruschetta is just lovely (fresh tomatoes, Balsamic vinegar, pizza crust bread wedges - I could eat it everyday). The chicken Milanese is to die for - my personal favorite. The servers are attentive, but not overly, and always polite. The prices are great, too.
(5)Scott H.
This place is awesome. Great food, good price, very responsive service. as crazy as it sounds even the ice tea was great.
(5)Patrick H.
My wife and I just moved into the neighborhood and we needed some Italian food to help us get our second wind for all the unpacking. Saw this place and thought we'd check it out. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was amazing. Everything was fresh tasting. The portions are enough for two meals and it tasted like homemade. The wait staff were very prompt and respectful. Since it is family owned they genuinely care that you have a good experience. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Cynthia H.
Don't be fooled by the exterior, the food was wonderful! Really fresh salad (Italian dressing was good, ranch was not). One of the best chicken parms I had! My husbands pasta pescatore was loaded with fresh fish.. The service was lacking, granted she was in training. Other than that we really enjoyed it!
(4)Donna L.
Eh, waitress was pleasant, the guy playing guitar & sing in was ok. Pizza crust under cooked. We probably won't go back.
(2)Wouter W.
Great service! Today we tried the pizza's. Very very good! Margarita pizza was a bit heavy on the garlic - even though we love garlic - so they suggested to ask for easy garlic next time. Dinner salad great, and they were easy with additions or substitutions. Great evening!!
(4)Speak E.
I love this place everything I tried has been great the owners are very nice as well great little place down. The street from the house
(5)