OH GOODY, EVERYTHING’S COMING UP GARLIC!
Okay, admit it. You have secretly always wanted your own Mama Mia: someone who lovingly turns out Italian delicacies day after day to amuse your discriminating taste buds. (Someone who also cleans up the mess.)
Well, “she” is here. Well…”she” has a mustache and hairy arms and answers to “Phillip,” but don’t let that stop you from visiting Café Dolce Italian Bistro. “Papa” Mia is as good as it gets, if you are looking for ample servings of inspired Italian family cuisine, that is gentle on your bank account and served along with the Rat Pack gang.
It was a rainy evening and a serendipity experience, when four of us hastily changed directions and ducked into a bit of Little Italy at 3444 Central Avenue, St Petersburg. Intimate, Comfortable classy is the décor, with art for sale scattered among treasured family photos of mama and papa. The ladies swooned (Yes, ladies can still swoon. Trust me.), delighted in the photos of Frank, Sammy , Dean, James and Elvis as we were swept away with roasted-garlic and tomato- simmering aromas, plus the swinging sounds of Tony, Frank, and friends.
(Not a bad beginning on a wet and dreary mid-week night. And there were plenty of Marilyn pics for the gents.)
Our fashionably dressed server (He didn’t wear the all too familiar jeans and t-shirt.), welcomed us with an overflowing basket of seasoned, warm crusty Italian-bread wedges, along with warm marinara for dipping. And another welcoming touch, he was pleasant, well-trained, and knowledgeable about the menu.
If you are bored by the same tired Italian menu of pasta and meatballs and pizza, you will be excited about venturing into the kaleidoscope of Italian dishes offered by Phillip, a transplanted Chicago restaurateur.
You want to be treated like family? How about bottomless glasses of good Chianti for $5.00? When’s the last time you had tender braciole with pasta and an abundant salad for $10.00? My huge, deliciously stuffed artichoke was a meal in itself. How would you like fresh-made pasta in your lasagna? The chicken and orzo soup, however, stole the show with its multi-layers of flavor…flavor that only comes from expertly combining a lot of “ this and that,” (if you know what I mean).
We’re looking forward to enjoying these other to-die-for-Italian dishes (No pun intended.): Ravioli Fritta, Florentine Alio, Rotinelli Bashemael, Classic Caccitore, Veal Francaise, Scallops Naples, Cioppino, Chicken Marsalla, Sicilian Chops, cheese Tortilli, wedding zuppa, and, of course, any Italian dessert. The menu changes, but I bet the chef would make your heart’s desire if you call ahead.
Café Dolce has an all-you-care-to-eat Friday fish fry and daily family-style dining for 1, 2, 3, or 4. The lunch menu also offers out-of–the ordinary soups, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Reserve your seat early for their 1st-Saturday-of-the-month, 8-course Italian feast, where Phillip strives to bring you a relaxing, memorable Italian over-the-top dining experience. So bon appetite and ladies don’t forget to kiss the cook!
Is the address correct? I think I have eaten here but it was further east in the Grand Central District.
While its nice to get reviews of eateries outside of Gulfport, how about covering some of our restaurants right here in Gulfport.
While not all of them could compare to the gourmet restaurants found elsewhere, a good many of them outshine any competition they may have any where in the world.
And for those who haven’t reached that level of excellence, perhaps some helpful comments may well put them on the road to a tasty success.
mtober, Thanks for your comment. I put my glasses on and read
that the address is 2444 Central Ave, not 3444!
Dogfish, I will be sending in my Gulfport dining experiences,
too, but BigDog restricts how many I can put in at a
time.
I write what inspires me, CHEFS ON THE LOOSE and Cafe
Dolce made my heart sing.
Thank you for your assessment Foodie, I look forward to them!!
I will certainly check it out.
We just happened to dine at Pia’s Trattoria on Saturday, sitting in the back next to the banana tree with Pavarotti singing in the background and it was delightful. Debbie, our server and neighbor could have broken out in Latin at any minute, teetering on the artful language between English and the description of what to expect.
Of course you should tell all …please….
We don’t restrict our dining adventures to any area code. Meeting friends in Tarpon Springs is always a pleasure as is floating on a boat down at href=”http://www.billysstonecrab.com/menu1.html” target=”_blank”>Billy’s in Tierra Verde.