Caetanos Cucina — Restaurant in Kenilworth

We visited for our first time based on all of the amazing Google reviews. After being seated, it was 10 minutes before someone came over to open our wine. She then asked if we needed glasses? Unless we were going to drink it with a straw from the bottle, I'm not sure why that was a question. We noticed that the table next to us had to ask for wine glasses 10 minutes after she opened their wine. Why aren't glasses just already on the tables? We had to ask for glasses of water too, why isn't it just given to everyone? We also had to ask for more water every time our glasses were empty. It was 20 minutes before anyone took our order. Our appetizer took another 20 minutes to come out. We got the clams based on reviews. They were nothing special and some were extremely tiny. We had arrived at 6:30 and weren't served our dinners until 8pm. I ordered a special - Chicken Murphy. The chicken was extremely thin and dried out, I couldn't even cut it. The sauce was oily marinara. It was not Chicken Murphy. My husband ordered the Shrimp Diavolo which was supposed to. be spicy Marinara with fresh tomatoes. The sauce was not even remotely spicy and tasted basically the same as mine, and there were no fresh tomatoes in it. The portions were not overly large, we both finished our entire dishes because we were starving. The pasta that came with the meals was a very skimpy serving. There are weird blue lights that gave it a strange atmosphere. They initially had Frank Sinatra playing but then turned it off and played dance music and then completely turned off the music. The table cloth on our table had stains on it from the people seated there before us. The waitress was not attentive to any of the tables. We could see her in the front goofing off and doing stuff at the register rather than taking orders or checking on anyone. The owner didn't come out and talk to anyone the entire time we were there, although that is mentioned alot in other reviews. The best part of the meal was the bread. I don't know why there are so many great reviews or why they're not on Yelp. I'm mostly posting this honest review here to see if it gets deleted because I find it interesting that there aren't any others speaking the truth about this restaurant. There are many other Italian restaurants in the area that are way above and...

My friend and I discovered the cutest little spot in Kenilworth for a most delicious Italian dinner. After walking through a sandwich shop, in the back, is the coziest, most delicious restaurant I have been to in a long time. The owner, Caetano, and his wife, Erica, were just so welcoming right from the start. It was my friend’s birthday and he made this evening extra special from start to finish. Thank you for the chop-chop salad. I eat salad everyday and this was so delicious. I know the dressing was oil and vinegar, but the taste was superb and it was definitely large enough to split between two people. I have a feeling this will be my new “go-to” place. I love that the owner takes such pride and has fresh food along with a very appealing menu. It is not overly extensive, but that is what I like. (I already have some ideas as to what I want to try next time.) Every dish that I saw come out of the kitchen looked scrumptious. My friend had rigatoni Bolognese and even though it had cream sauce, it was so light and flavorful. She even had some to take home. I tried the stuffed shrimp with fresh crabmeat. OMG! It was perfect and plated beautifully. The shrimps were large and it was over linguini. The perfect taste. I even had three of the six shrimps to take home. (Always love leftovers). I asked the owner/chef how he prepares this and he assured me that it was fresh crabmeat and not salty. He really goes the extra mile to satisfy his patrons, as this is evident after speaking with patrons who were regulars. They went on and on about how great this restaurant is. My friend was surprised with a birthday dessert, tiramisu and a candle. So nice, especially since I never asked for anything! Caetano told me that some days he even has “specials” so I look forward to seeing them in the future. We most certainly enjoyed every bite of food there and it is a perfect hidden little gem in the small town of Kenilworth. Reservations are recommended, as the restaurant is very small and on weekends will be busier. Parking is easy, too, as they have a lot in the back. I can not wait to share my thoughts to friends and visit again soon. I think I have found a new favorite spot. Thanks, Caetano for being so welcoming...

Chef Caye has a hidden gem, and a great experience in fine dining. Our reservations were for 5PM, despite the restaurant not opening until 5:30. The interior is tastefully decorated, and the table set with elegance. This is a BYOB restaurant, and if I am eating good Italian food, I am drinking a good Chianti Classico. We had a delightful young lady who was an efficient server. I had to start with Clams Oreganato, which I do not see in New Orleans. Here, oysters are plentiful and the dish is usually a casserole. Chef Caye makes his version in the same manner we make Oysters Rockefeller or Bienville. Not only was this dish novel and creative, but it was a dish to be savored. A friend got a perfectly cooked steak, another got the Veal Parmesan, another the Chicken Marsala. Recently, a local restaurant near my home changed owners, and the cut the best dish on the menu, the Frutti di Mare. I HAD to try Chef Caye’s version, and was not disappointed. This dish is brilliant, mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp over linguine. Dinner was nicely paced, and we had plenty of time to make our next appointment. Thank you Chef Caye for an outstanding dining experience. See...