Annie L.
Yelp
Tucked away just off Harford Road, Cafe Campli is bringing Abruzzo-focused cuisine to the neighborhood with a dash of elegance and flair.
We booked a table for restaurant week dinner--the perfect avenue for checking out this new buzz worthy spot. The restaurant itself is a welcoming lot cozy and intimate setting, with a small number of tables tucked away from the bar entrance. A delightful atmosphere for date night and small group meals alike.
Service was a bit inconsistent throughout the evening, with gaps in attentiveness to our table. That being said, the restaurant was fully booked and bustling, so I imagine the team is just getting their flow under their feet. Service when present was inviting, friendly and professional.
As the vegetarian at the table, my decision on three plates was an easy one! I started with the Polpette di Verdure--fried vegetable croquettes with a tomato based side sauce. The croquettes were cooked to perfection with that delicious melt in your mouth soft interior but crispy exterior. With interwoven Parmesan Reggiano, they achieved a creamy texture with a pop of salt to elevate the flavorful vegetable base.
Next up, Mezze maniche con vincotto e noci (Le Marche)--a truncated penne like pasta with walnut pesto. Talk about al dente perfection! An ideal pasta shape to deliver hidden corridors of sauce sneaking inside. I loved that the dish wasn't over-sauced. The ratio allowed each element to shine, with the red wine adding a next level flavor profile to the pesto.
Last of the evening was Capesante del Sottobosco--trumpet mushrooms meant to mimic scallops, over kale. Unfortunately, this dish was a bit of a flop for me. Compared to the flavor punch of the first two courses, this one lacked "umf". The mushrooms were cooked beautifully but had little flavor beyond subtle earthiness. The kale tasted a bit heavy handed on the salt, and the leeks just felt out of place. The bite just didn't seem to come together, and I didn't find the plating as strong visually as other dishes on the menu.
At the end of the evening, we were certainly convinced to make a return trip though! Thank you for a nice evening Cafe Campli team and look forward to trying more of the menu.