Caffé Molise — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

A Gastronomic Delight at Caffe Molise!

Caffe Molise is an absolute gem nestled in the heart of the city, and it has quickly become my go-to spot for an extraordinary dining experience. From the moment I stepped foot inside, I was greeted by a warm and inviting ambiance, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey.

Let's start with the star of the show: the mushroom ravioli. Oh, my taste buds were in ecstasy! The delicate pasta parcels were flawlessly cooked, revealing a luscious filling of earthy mushrooms that burst with flavor in every bite. The accompanying sauce was a masterpiece on its own—a perfect balance of creaminess and richness that complemented the ravioli beautifully. This dish alone is reason enough to visit Caffe Molise.

Now, let's talk about the vegetarian eggplant dish—a true revelation for all plant-based food enthusiasts. The eggplant was masterfully prepared, showcasing a tender and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It was elegantly seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, allowing the natural sweetness of the eggplant to shine through. The dish was beautifully presented, a vibrant medley of colors that stimulated both the eyes and the palate.

Beyond the outstanding mushroom ravioli and vegetarian eggplant, the menu at Caffe Molise is a testament to culinary excellence. Each dish embodies creativity, passion, and attention to detail. Whether you're a meat lover, a seafood aficionado, or a devoted vegetarian, there is something for everyone on their menu. The wait staff is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, always ready to offer recommendations and ensure a delightful dining experience.

The ambiance at Caffe Molise is both charming and sophisticated, with an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The restaurant's attention to detail is evident in every aspect, from the elegant decor to the soothing background music, creating the perfect setting for a memorable meal.

To top it all off, the service at Caffe Molise is impeccable. The staff is friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They go above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels special and well taken care of.

Overall, Caffe Molise is an absolute gem that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. It offers a culinary experience that is second to none, with mushroom ravioli and vegetarian eggplant that will leave you craving for more. Whether it's a romantic dinner, a family celebration, or a casual lunch, Caffe Molise is the place to be. Treat yourself to an extraordinary dining experience—you won't be...

This is a review from my wife and I who went to Caffe Molise (first time) last Friday for a romantic V-Day evening dinner/experience. Though our first time, our 19-year-old son took his date there previously in a casual attire and felt quite under dressed. So we made our reservation for a more formal occasion on V-Day weekend. Sadly, our experience did not live up to our expectations. Here is our review:

First, my impression from the door to table was the ambience was very casual. We noticed right away there was little effort made for V-Day decor as our table had no covering. For the table setting, the server had to rush to get the flowers, menu, and glasses which we expected for this sort of reserved dinner. No complaints on the silverware or cloth napkin which were clean. Additionally, the server was young and polite, though limited in her knowledge of drink/menu items which caused her to run back and forth to answer questions.

For our dinner, we ordered the halibut fish ($44 ea.), and upgraded our salads (+$12) to spinaci, and ordered a bottle of wine. Both food items were above average in taste, so no complaints there.

Secondly, and most importantly, when we made a phone reservation, we informed the restaurant of this being our first time visit, and to the occasion/formal dining experience we were expecting for this V-Day evening. These two info bits are usually important for restaurants to key in on, especially those who advertises V-Day specials.

TO OUR SURPRISE, after our meal we wanted to check out the rest of the restaurant for a possible revisit, what we found was a completely romantic upstairs setting with live music! After experiencing a mediocre evening, we saw there was a completely better and more romantic ambiance on the second floor which was never mentioned or offered to us. Overcome with disappointment from the management/staff for not suggesting we move upstairs, I asked the staff about how this happened. They responded with, "most locals know to ask." For clarification, we are not locals, and we informed the staff immediately that we wanted a formal V-Day setting in which they could have easily given. Typically, it is NOT the responsibility of customers to know the unknown, and for the restaurant to recognize these types of oversight.

Overall, the food was good enough to try again, but the oversight of this place to recognize something was uncomfortable and not memorable for the suited guests is inexcusable. Included is the best photo we had...

This was quite the experience that was worth all the commute and money:

I went by myself and was seated at the bar where I got to expirence very effective bartenders and staff work like unique golden gears in an old antique clock. Each employee showed a culture that very much values and celebrates individualism while maintaining professionalism. Each server I interacted with was a raw, real person serving the customer and not just some employee who definitely doesn't get paid enough.

My bartender, Nick has worked there for quite sometime and it showed in his skill and leadership. His charisma yet non-cookie-cutter personality was relatable and made me feel valued as a customer and individual.

The food: the special - Pan seared scallops in a mango saffron sauce with buttered pasta and arugula salad.

Dessert was creme brulee with a dinner roll to dip it in per suggested by Nick the bartender which did not disappoint at all. I remember thinking to myself, "Why has no one made a creme brulee filled pastery, yet?? This is delectable!"

Drink was an earthy iced tea to completely wash each bite and experience each bite over and over again.

The smell was incredible. The mixture of tangy sweet and spicy complemented the natural fresh scallop scent so distinctly that you could choose one of those three smells and pick out each ingredient source.

The scallops itself was crisp on the outside; a slightly carmalized crunch with the inside moist and flakey which told me that the scallops were fresh. The pasta was classic, Italian mama buttered pasta comfort with the decinance of spices like chives and cracked red pepper.

Aurgala salad with red wine vinaigrette was just as classic. The dinner rolls were perfect. The sound the crisp crust crackling on the bottom, but soft warm pourous interior was vintage Europe 🙏

But, the sauce though . . . The second the sauce touched my tongue, I got goose bumps. Fire works of orange and red lit up in my mind. I expirenced the presance of saffron in the center of my mouth while sweet, tangy slighty spicy mango danced around it.

Nick told me that the owner is the head chef. I could tell that whomever made this loves to cook and cooks with a lot of experience! I hope to copy the recipe, but will probably not come near to what I have had the pleasure to taste in this...