Cafe Italiano — Restaurant in Englewood Cliffs

Late on a Sunday driving through Englewood and starving, what did I find? A delightful local Italian restaurant! This is not a carryout sandwich joint. This is a proper sit-down and use manners place, but light, bright, and airy. I wish I hadn't just been taking a break in a long trip because I would have liked to try some of the rich, delicious looking options on their menu, not to mention the decadent desserts I saw arrayed. I can tell you that the primavera toscana was delicious, full of fresh vegetables that were lightly cooked so they retained their character, pasta al dente, and a bright, lively tomato based sauce that was well balanced for the meal. Serving size is generous but not oversized, like mama bear's chair, it was just right.

I also want to specifically note how welcoming and gracious the wait staff are. It was Sunday evening, in a place where I might normally dress up a little, but as it happened I was passing through and dressed for moving boxes and driving. Nonetheless these kind souls put me at ease, brought me a delicious dinner, and were absolute professionals.

Now, access. I came in up a flight of stairs. They probably do have access for mobility impairment but call ahead to verify. They do serve alcohol. Cash, credit and debit accepted. Parking adjacent. No endless breadsticks or all you can eat or drink. Nice choice for mother's day or a date. I would call Cafe Italiano cozy and romantic. Pretty sure I saw outdoor seating for...

The worst dining experience I have ever experienced. As soon as we were seated, the waiter came to us and was rushing and pressuring us to order and our whole party Of 5 was not even there yet. We were not even given menus and were expected to order. Then once we did order- I ordered salmon with penne, not veggies and potatoes. When the order came out, guess what came out? You guessed it, veggies and potatoes. Very politely I told the waiter that I ordered penne and he abruptly cut me off and rudely stated, “I know I know.” As if I was bothering him when I inquired about it. After this debacle, my party and I ate our food and the waiter kept coming back to our table as if we were bothering him with our presence. After we ate our meals, we asked for the check. That is where things really escalated. We asked the waiter to split the bill so we were able to put the tip on one of the cards. The waiter acted as if he did not understand our instructions. We asked for the manager to see if the manager was able to better explain to the waiter but instead we were surprised with the rudest person ever. The manager argued with a guest in my party and stated, “It costs too much to put money on two cards.” And waved his finger in the person’s face. I will never dine there ever again!! Very rude...

Starting with the good, the service was very nice and my drinks came out fast. They were always attentive in asking if we needed anything else. The quality of the food was certainly not bad, but quite bland. I ordered an appetizer that was ten dollars and it was literally only a few bites. Unless you have an unlimited wallet, that is going to sting a bit. Secondly, there was no pizza on this menu. Having an Italian restaurant with no pizza is like having an ice hockey game with no skates. It’s possible but it ain’t gonna be sharp as it could. I ordered a pasta dish which I usually never do at restaurants just because generally pastas aren’t very high in portion when eating at these kinds of places. This portion was not bad and neither was the food, it was just bland in my opinion. It also didn’t help that the prosciutto was a bit rubbery and I was not able to eat some of it. I would have rather gotten a large pizza which is what I could have had with that same money and Id have enough food for a few meals. It just was not worth what was being charged. Good service and patient waiters for sure, but the food and menu does not live up to it. There were not enough options and I ended...