Vincent G.
Yelp
This restaurant is a real treat, and a gem amongst all of the dining options in Atlantic City.
There are a lot of ways to judge the legitimacy of an establishment, but one in particular for me is a difficulty in which it is to make reservations (albeit frustrating at times.) And it is hard to get reservations here, but if you get them and have a chance to dine at café, then you understand why they are in such high demand.
The inside space of the restaurant is tight, which can make it hard at times to have a more intimate meal, but it also lends to both a really cozy and energetic space. As you sit there, you can't help but eavesdrop on other conversations as people talk about how good their food is or watch as the wait staff run back-and-forth providing high-quality service to each guest.
Sitting there, I found myself continuing to compare and feel like it was stepping into a scene in Goodfellas. It is a darker space from a lighting standpoint, which gives it this very relaxed and moody vibe. Tables with white tablecloth's and a lot of rich wood fixtures. You also can get lost looking at the pictures that hang on the wall which must be showing the owners and original guests of the restaurant itself.
The service here is high-quality, as you can quickly see they go through training and really care about their guess. Honestly, a huge stand out for me in the service overall was their teamwork. While we had one main waiter, we were seen by three additional as well for different dishes & orders.
I don't even know where to begin with the food. If you have to get one thing, then it must be the table side Cacio e Pepe pasta appetizer that is prepared for you tableside inside of a cheese wheel. It hit all the right notes of creamy and cheesy, and it was a perfect kick off to the meal. I personally ordered their chicken parmesan entrée, but this was no ordinary chicken parm. It was two layers of thinly pound chicken breast, fried perfectly, covered in Bolognese sauce, and hot peppers. I love the unique aspect of this classic dish, and the portion size was unreal. I still went ahead and ordered broccoli rabe as a side, which provided a nice pairing of bitterness.
There were no complaints with the rest of the dishes that were ordered at our table. They included a swordfish special, a mushroom pasta, and stuffed calamari.
The other thing that I would insist you get is their cheesecake dessert. One slice can easily serve two people, maybe even three. They top this mountain of a slice with a blueberry compote which is to die for (and having a little bit of fruit, in any way possible, makes you feel a little bit better as you finish your meal.)
To me, this is an experience worth trying even if you're coming from Philadelphia. If you were looking for an upscale and delicious dinner this summer, you need to get this on your list.