Cafe Vitale — Restaurant in Los Altos

Cafe Vitale hosted a big birthday bash for my mother Aug. 20, 2022. Searching for a restaurant, we were looking for the Goldilocks spot: Not to expensive and overly formal, not too cheap and underwhelming but a perfect balance between charm, intimacy and openness with a flexible manager or owner. When I visited the week before, I liked what I saw.

The decor was a quaint Italian village setting with a nice breeze ran through the restaurant and bar. As with most restaurants responding to pandemic conditions, there were sidewalk tables and a garden patio. Plans were for us to occupy one room but as we discussed guest count and things we wanted to do, the owner offered us his largest room located in the front of the restaurant primarily because we held a Saturday afternoon luncheon. It was far larger than the other room so worked out perfectly. They allowed us to decorate, which meant a few posters on the walls and setting up table decor, goldfish included.

Food was excellent. I had veal piccata. Meat was was tender and juicy with a delicious wine gravy. There were zero food complaints including from an uncle with a reputation for being so picky about his food he'd bring his own outside food into other restaurants.

I really enjoyed the owner. He was very involved ensuring our satisfaction and a memorable experience. Our birthday girl had everything she needed including a good time. I cannot speak highly enough about this place and its owner. It's a hidden Los Altos treasure for which I shall return with friends in...

We often order their takeout food, and it is good. This dine-in experience was chaotic from the time we arrived. Our reservation--number of attendees--had been updated via phone call, but that info didn't make it to the greeter. Our greeter disappeared, grumbling, and when that got sorted out, he simply grabbed menus and walked away without comment. Uncertain, we followed him. We were seated and eventually ordered our meals and beverages...two cokes. The place was pretty full, and the noise level was horrific...only sheetrock and glass on the walls and ceiling. We struggled to have conversations. The drinks took a long while...we had to inquire about them. The meals took a long while...we had to inquire about them. The food was good, if not great. Service all night was verrrrrrrrrrrrry slow, we think because they were badly understaffed. Our server--a nice person--seemed to be attending to the entire dining room. She did her best. Ultimately, we ordered one sherbet dessert. When it didn't come, I went to the counter to cancel it. I was told that an employee was scooping it at that moment. When I got it, it was not what I ordered. At the end, my son went to the counter to pay. We were glad to get out of there, and I had to apologize for my decision to meet/eat there. I might still order takeout from there, but I will NEVER dine IN...

In search of a simple Neapolitan style pizza, I was SO disappointed.

This was a pick-up order

Instead Cafe Vitale's kitchen puts out a thick flat bread with a bunch of ingredients. At best described as some sort of an interpretation of a pizza.

You can tell that this is a pie carelessly prepared. The first offence, for a red pizza, they did not bother to apply a tomato sauce ("house made pizza sauce") that was defined as part of the Don Corleone. Toppings seem like they were scrounged up left overs.

The pizza was undercooked either the oven is not at a high enough temperature or it was not cooked enough. Toppings were clearly not inspired by the heat but just enough to melt the cheese.

The pizza dough shows some promise but did not achieve a classic chewy texture, again oven temperature is too low.

I was looking forward to trying Cafe Vitale's pizza but left disappointed

So many simple things that could be done that could make for an excellent pie. For whatever reason that drives their business model, it was not a pizza experience.

Left me on a quest for a better Neapolitan pizza solution in my 'hood...