Caffé 500 — Restaurant in The Municipal District of Carlow

Had Caesar salad and tiramisu. The salad was a very lazy attempt and served in a crazy small round bottom wooden bowl. It couldn’t be eaten from the bowl without tipping it over the table. I asked for a plate and transferred it to that. That’s when I discovered the laziest attempt at a Caesar salad that I have ever seen. It was a head of lettuce chopped into 3-4 sections. Placed in lumps in the bottom of the bowl, covered in a thick mayonnaise based dressing, a sparse sprinkle of bacon, very little chicken and sourdough bread chunks untoasted. A few shavings of of Parmesan and that was it. No attempt to season it. Zero attempt to toss the salad and no room to do so in the small wooden bowl. The tiramisu came in a glass cup and was more like a layered custard with very little mascarpone, savoiardi or coffee. It was mostly liquid. The pizzas and pasta had by the rest of my family looked good. The restaurant was comfortable and had a pleasant atmosphere. The menu is quite limited especially if you are not into pasta and pizza. I know it’s an “Italian” style restaurant but it needs to up its game to Italian standards throughout the menu, traditional Caesar and tiramisu would be a good start. You don’t need to deconstruct them. The service was very good and the staff were pleasant. It was my first time there, but my extended family have been many times and enjoyed it. I won’t be rushing back with them. Two others had the Caesar and really struggled...

Well, what can I say, Caffee 500 in Kilkenny City Center is a real gem and rightly so. The aroma of roasted garlic, Italian herbs and fresh pizza crust in the air gave advanced enticement, to lure you in. We ordered the Corleone pizza, a mixed salad and a pana cotta with strawberry sauce for desert. I assumed it would be good but my taste buds soon told a different story. The food was really, truly delicious, like I just arrived in Napoli, Italy. The salad was simple but delicious with Bibb lettuce, tomato, red onion and black olives, finished with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The pizza was sublime with rich tomato sauce, roasted peppers, goat cheese and a mild salami, topped with fresh mozzarella. The crust was thin and light, just like authentic Napoli style. The panacotta was amazing. Light and semi sweet with strawberry sauce. They have three floors of seating so don’t be fooled that there is scant room for inside dining. The bottom line is….Caffe 500 is a jewel with delicious food and friendly staff. Oh yes, a shout out to Pizza Chef Andres a waiter Marcelo for singing along with the Italian songs, helping to make it a lovely lunch for my wife and I. I recommend Caffe 500 x 500 times more. We will definitely be back again soon. Kev & Stephanie...

rom the moment we arrived, we were impressed with the fast and very friendly service provided by our waiter, Jean Luca. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely, with a relaxing atmosphere that made us feel like we were in Italy.

The decor of Caffe 500 is truly amazing, with creative metalwork all over the restaurant that adds a unique touch to the dining experience. The Italian coloured drink bar is also a standout feature, and catches the eye as soon as you walk in.

Moving on to the food, we were blown away by the delicious and juicy garlic mushrooms we had as a starter. And as for the pizza, it was the best we've ever had. The combination of fresh ingredients and perfectly cooked crust made for an unforgettable dining experience.

But it wasn't just the savoury dishes that impressed us - the dessert was on par with any Michelin star restaurant we've been to. Every bite was a burst of flavour, and we couldn't help but be impressed with the attention to detail that went into every dish. Birra Moretti on tap was also a very nice addition

Overall, we highly recommend Caffe 500 Italian Restaurant in Carlow. From the friendly service to the amazing decor and unforgettable food, this...