Category Archives: Italian

Trattoria D.O.C.

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*** (3 stars)

This is a pleasant Italian restaurant in the middle of an old fashioned block of main street surrounded by lots of interesting shops. Pizzas are served uncut so they don’t get soggy, and there are some interesting salads. I had a combination of celery, apple and radicchio that was quite refreshing.

The wine list has some uncommon offerings by the glass, including the seldom seen primitivo.

There is some sidewalk seating that’s perfect on a nice day.

The only downside is that it’s not inexpensive, and there doesn’t seem to be a lunch menu, so two courses can result in a rather pricey noon-time meal. But on a nice summer evening it’s certianly a good outside dining option.

Trattoria D.O.C.
706 Main St
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 475-1111
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trattoria-d-o-c-evanston

Convito Cafe & Market

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IMG_6921**** (4 stars)

What lovely place for a al fresco lunch on a nice day! Plentiful patio seating, most of it nicely shaded make this a terrific (and popular) place to enjoy a nice day outside.

We particularly likes the salmon flatbread, with its pungent base of boursin cheese. I also enjoyed the trio of cold salads, which featured a particularly tasty chicken salad the day we visited.

The blood orange mimosas are a nice midday drink. I thought the ginger beer could have used a bit more kick; its heavy emphasis on citrus made it more like lemonade.

Definitely a nice respite from downtown sidewalk dining!

Convito Cafe & Market
1515 Sheridan Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-3654
http://www.yelp.com/biz/convito-cafe-and-market-wilmette

Noodles & Company

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**** (4 stars)

Excellent service at this Noodles & Company, and a nice outside dining area. The dishes aren’t quite as integrated as at some others I’ve been to up North. My Pad Thai was just okay; the chicken seemed like an afterthought that just sort of sat there. The edamame seems expensive at $3 considering the small serving, and it’s completely lacking in any seasoning or salt. My friend’s Shrimp Bangkok Curry was much better, and is what I’d have on a return visit.

Noodles & Company
12529 State Rd 535
Orlando, FL 32836
(407) 560-8325
http://www.yelp.com/biz/noodles-and-company-orlando

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano

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**** (4 stars)

Any restaurant that has been in business for thirty years must be doing something right, and Christini’s certainly is. In fact, they’re doing it exactly the same as thirty years ago. We went here when they first opened, and upon a return visit thirty years later we could detect no differences. It’s still got that traditional restaurant decor and lighting, still offers the same traditional Italian dishes, and the owner still comes around to every table, just as he has been doing every night for thirty years.

That dedication is reflected in the loyalty and enthusiasm of the entire staff. Ingredients are fresh, and service is prompt and friendly.

If there’s a downside to Christini’s, it’s the price. Food prices tend to be 50 to 100% higher than comparable items elsewhere, and wine markups are astronomical. Since no corkage is available, be prepared to pay $200 for a decent bottle of wine. Is a multi-course dinner for two with wine worth $400 to $600? The packed room on Saturday night attests to the fact that Christini’s clients believe it is.

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 345-8770
http://www.yelp.com/biz/christinis-ristorante-italiano-orlando

The Cellar Restaurant

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***** (5 stars)

I love the ambiance of this restaurant in both of its very different rooms. Downstairs is intimate (although it can get noisy) and not at all cellar-like because of the clever use of backlit stained glass windows. Upstairs is light and airy, like eating in a conservatory surrounded by flowers and shrubs.

The food and wines are mostly traditional Italian, and the ingredients are fresh.

Service is impeccable, and the proprietress keep a sharp lookout to make sure it stays that way. A terrific fine dining experience.

The Cellar Restaurant
220 Magnolia Ave
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 258-0011
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cellar-restaurant-daytona-beach-2

Cala Bella

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**** (4 stars)

Although our first visit to Cala Bella wasn’t a stand out, we decided to return a year later when, on a busy convention night, we were only able to get into Calla Bella. We sat at the “Presentation Bar” which faces directly into the kitchen, and it was, ironically, the quietest spot in the house.

Service was attentive and knowledgeable, and the food was excellent. Unlike the bland cioppino of our first visit, the flatbread was bursting with fresh flavors and tasted just like the sidewalk pizzas in Italy. Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked, and the mushroom side dish with our entrees was another standout. A completely different experience from our first visit, and I’ll happily return.

Cala Bella
9939 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 996-3663
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cala-bella-orlando

Symphony’s Cafe

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***** (5 stars)

From the outside Symphony’s looks like it might be a period diner, but in fact the interior is bright, modern, sleek and very appealing. So is the service, which is very friendly.

While a large section of the menu is breakfast, there are some great sandwiches and entrees here as well. I had the Chicken and Vegetables, which were stir fried to caramelized perfection. On a tip from another Yelper I ordered the accompanying salad with garlic dressing. Wow, was that fantastic! Fortunately I got it on the side, and while I used very little on the salad, I saved it and couldn’t resist dipping my chicken in it. Great combination. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of this menu.

Symphony’s Cafe
1945 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-1200
http://www.yelp.com/biz/symphonys-cafe-evanston

Dave’s Italian Kitchen

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**** (4 stars)

Dave’s may have the best wine list in Evanston. It’s certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems.

Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I’ll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn’t sample the pizza, but it looked very good.

The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space.

Service was very friendly and attentive. We’ll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.

Dave’s Italian Kitchen
1635 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/daves-italian-kitchen-evanston

Campagnola

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**** (4 stars)

An intimate upscale Italian restaurant with good food and great ambiance.

I tried three three tasty dishes: The diver scallops appetizer was a bit heavy, almost floating in butter, but tasty. Caesar salad was traditional and tasty, but served in “kit” form requiring a lot of cutting up to assemble it. The barramundi special was a tasty piece of fish enhanced by the horseradish creme fraiche, but the beets and kale didn’t add much.

Very reasonable wine prices, and attentive, cordial service. I loved the intimate atmosphere, subdued lighting, and low noise level.

Campagnola
815 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 475-6100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/campagnola-evanston