Cafe Tiramisu — Restaurant in Raleigh

Extremely Disappointed! My wife and I have eaten here at least 6 times in the past few years and always thought it was a great dining experience. However tonight was the worst meal and most expensive we have ever had here. We called and requested seating for 2 for the Valentine’s Day Special and we were told over the phone it was a pre set menu and it was going to cost $90. Well one would assume that on Valentine’s Day you take your significant other out to dinner so we thought $90 per couple was a little pricey but still in line with what we normally pay to dine here so we were only allowed to sit at the bar and the only time available was 6pm. We were apprehensive about this but made the reservation under much pressure from the lady on the phone to give her a credit card so they could pre pay for the reservation? Never heard of such a thing?? Well when we finished the meal which only consisted of an appetizer and a entrée and then dessert and we only drank water with our meal. We received a bill for $194.85 for 2 people to eat a mediocre meal??? I was in shock so I asked the waitress if the bill was correct and she said "sure" it's $90 per person!!! I couldn't believe my ears and she asked me was there a problem and I said yes " that meal was not worth $194.85!" I felt so betrayed by Cafe Tiramisu because we have always had such great food and service and we have never had a bill over $75 for 2 people to eat here in the past. Well I can honestly say don't waste your time and money booking their pre set menu special because it is way over priced and you get to pick from just a couple of options, none of which would add up to $90 for all the items listed on this limited menu. I believe we have just had our last meal at Cafe Tiramisu because I don't mind paying for good food but I will not be taken advantage of like...

I had high hopes for celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, especially after doing research for some of the best restaurants in Raleigh and hearing such great things about this restaurant in particular. While the food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere was perfect, the service left much to be desired. I made a reservation well in advance and specifically mentioned it was a birthday celebration and requested that something be done for the occasion. However, when it came time for dessert, I noticed nothing had been done differently, and there had been no mention of a birthday from the server or the staff for the entirety of the dinner. I then kindly asked the server if they could bring out a candle for my boyfriend’s dessert, as I had mentioned his birthday when making the reservation and had requested something be done for the occasion. To my surprise, the server scoffed at my request, acting as if it was an inconvenience. Not only was this unprofessional, but it also made me feel completely disregarded, especially given the context of celebrating a special moment.

The lack of attention to detail and the dismissive behavior from the staff completely ruined what should have been a special moment. After dinner, I attempted to reach someone from the restaurant to discuss my experience, but it was nearly impossible to get ahold of anyone. I left multiple messages and was told I would receive a callback but received no response, which only added to my frustration.

While I can appreciate great food and a nice setting, I expect better customer service, especially for a celebration at a fine dining restaurant. It's incredibly disappointing that after such a great meal, I was left feeling unheard and dismissed. I’d caution anyone celebrating a special occasion here to manage their...

I’ve long been determined to find the best Italian in the area that could rival my favorite restaurant at Myrtle beach, Ciao, but have failed until my family and I visited Cafe Tiramisu for dinner. Don’t be fooled by the location in a strip mall shopping center; as soon as you walk into the restaurant you are transported to a classy, New York-esque atmosphere with its ambient lighting and decor. I always judge an Italian restaurant by the bread they serve, so I immediately knew I would have an excellent dining experience by the freshly baked, crunchy on the outside soft on the inside loaf our server John brought out for us. Along with it was the most amazing pesto olive oil which I wish I could’ve brought home with me.

Menu-wise, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the food. We ordered our universal starters calamari, which came crispy and perfectly seasoned, fried oysters, and mussels in a cream garlic sauce. The mussels were slightly on the briny side for me, but naturally being this far from the sea that is bound to happen. The cream sauce was perfect to soak the bread in. For entrees, we ordered the pork loin chop which was stuffed and served on a bed of spinach fettuccine alfredo, a classic chicken parmesan with linguine, and the lemon garlic shrimp pasta. All were perfectly seasoned and plates were cleaned. My only comment would be that the chicken parmesan was a bit soggy, but otherwise everyone enjoyed their meals. You have to finish the experience off with their infamous tiramisu, which was so light and airy yet rich and creamy at the same time. The prices reflect the quality of food and service you get and are definitely reasonable. I will be coming back for more and look forward to my next dining...