Caffè Tosi — Restaurant in Saint Joseph

As a local chef (of 35 years), it is lovely to go out once in a while to a cozy spot and be pampered. Tosi's is a small, fun, cozy restaurant so seemed the perfect choice on a snowy Feb. evening. 60's - 70's tunes greet you as you enter and the whole space is awash with color and fun items to purchase, like coffee cups, t-shirts, gourmet teas etc. Food is tasty and prices are about what you might expect along Lake Michigan. There is a static menu with daily specials as well. Artisan breads, cookies, tarts, and desserts are baked at the Bit of Swiss daily and available behind a glass counter. Near the end of the night the selection can be sparse so the earlier the better. I have always enjoyed the food and that is what has kept us coming back. Last night, however, we were seated near the door to the kitchen. It is several steps higher than the restaurant level so allows a birds eye view of the kitchen activity. I observed that a young man was cutting strawberries. He alternated between the strawberries and texting on his cell phone, back and forth with not once washing his hands. Nor was he wearing a hair restraint or gloves and regularly touched his face with his bare hand. Every employee that walked behind him reached in and took a strawberry and went on their way. Another young man came in and pulled a pie crust from the refrigerator. He went from counter to refrigerator wiping his hands each time on his trousers. Again, no hand washing. Then the first young man reached into his mouth and removed his retainer (I guess that is what it was) and showed the other guy, put it back in his mouth and laughed. All standing over the food that was being prepared. When I spoke to the manager he was quick to tell me that I must have missed them regularly washing their hands and that he had washed his hands before reaching in for a berry. Please, train your employees in food safety and handling. Your customers lives depend on it. It would be ashamed to have to cross your restaurant off my list of...

Caffe Tosi, a culinary jewel nestled in the heart of gastronomic wilderness, stands as a beacon of consistency in a world where the only constant is chaos. This isn't just a café; it's a sanctum where the religion of flavor is practiced with a fervor that borders on the fanatic.

The food, oh the food! It's not just consistently delicious; it's a relentless assault on the mediocrity of taste buds. Every dish is a testament to the artistry of the kitchen, a symphony of flavors playing an ode to the joy of eating. The minestrone? It's not just soup; it's a liquid masterpiece, a bowl of soul-warming magic that could very well have been brewed by culinary wizards.

The staff, they're the unsung heroes in this opera of eating. Their friendliness isn't just a service; it's an embrace, a warm welcome to the family of flavor aficionados. They don't just serve food; they serve happiness, one plate at a time.

Peak hours? Sure, the place is busier than a bee in a field of clover, but the wait? It's not just worth it; it's part of the ritual, the anticipation that builds like a crescendo before the symphony of taste begins.

Caffe Tosi isn't just a café; it's a bastion of culinary excellence, a place where every meal is an adventure, a journey through the landscapes of taste and texture. It's a gastronomic pilgrimage to the holy...

Stopped in on a Sunday morning on our way through town. Coffee was fine food was extremely over priced and service missed one of the things we ordered because she was talking to one of the other servers instead of paying attention to our order. Ordered mini frittatas which were supposed to be a sampling of three different flavors and only got one. We got a pack of mints an order of these mini frittatas and a side of bacon and it was $35. I’m not one to typically complain but that is outrageous….. It would not have been as egregious if we got our actual sampler plate but our order was messed up because of the order taker not paying attention. She then got attitude when I asked to make sure it wasn’t rang in since our tab was $35. I come from the service industry and thought it may have been a pos mistake not human error. I would not be complaining but the compounding interest of just ok coffee just ok food and very high prices and then attitude when I wanted to check we weren’t charged provoked me to actually write this review. Save your time and wallet and find another...