Lori R.
Yelp
Finally made it here, and finally got to use the Groupon I'd bought a long time ago. Armed with $60 of credit that I'd paid $30 for, we ventured forth via the 6:30 reservation I made earlier this afternoon. After a very tough work week, both of us were truly in need of a real meal. And Cafe Tiramisu gave us not only a real meal, but a really GOOD real meal!
May I just say that I hope you appreciate the food porn, as this is not the easiest setting to get such? This is a TINY (capacity 49) restaurant. You need a reservation! You also need to know you will be close to folks around you (husband got bumped badly repeatedly with a table sitting nearby), and you will have to squeeze by folks to get to a rest room. That being said, you can also look at is as COZY. So, I can now understand why there are only a couple food porn pics for this place so far, and why you should really appreciate the ones I am now posting.
Server: Richard...awesome! Friendly, knowledgeable, sense of humor...loved him!
Having perused the menu online before going, I had some idea of what I would be ordering, but Richard changed that by reciting daily specials. We started with the special oyster appetizer: fried oysters with a light lemon cream sauce. It was 6 perfectly fried succulent oysters that were light and delicate with just a touch of sauce so they were rich, but not overly so. Husband said he'd give them 6 stars.
Before that, the BREAD. Seriously some of the best bread I've ever had. So light, yet crusty and flaky. How did they do that? (I asked, you're welcome) Neomonde. Ahhh, that makes perfect sense. And the dipping oil was so fresh and flavorful. It was green, yet didn't taste like basil. Parsley? If so, a very flavorful parsley.
We shared a Caeser salad next. This would be our only mild disappointment of the night. Kudos for them dividing it for us on separate plates, but while the lettuce was nice and green and cool, it was mostly devoid of flavor. Very light dressing, croutons uninspiring and no detectable parmesan. No biggee, just won't do that again here.
By the way, chardonnay lovers...Sonoma Cutrer for $8.95 a glass. 'nuff said.
For our mains, Husband went with the veal parmesan. I opted for the special of the day (without asking how much...armed with Groupons one can be brave, ya know?): it was a large shrimp baked in garlic special with spinach fettucine and a white clam sauce. Sold! (price unknown, care to guess?)
Both entrees were very very good. We would give them each 4-stars. Husband thought his veal parmesan was excellent, but the pasta part just okay (he's used to mine, sorry Cafe Tiramisu...but I don't cook veal, so he could really appreciate that). My meal was very good also...three giant shrimp, two of which were good, and one was outstanding, loved the homemade pasta cooked to perfect al dente, and the white clam sauce was perfect. Clams were not in their shells, but that was a plus as they didn't get in the way, and were so TENDER (rare for clams) and fresh-tasting. It was the perfect amount of food. Not too crazy big, yet filling. We tried hard to be brave and not lick plates.
Dessert: Hearing the folks behind me talk about a dessert drink, I had to order one. It was an espresso one, with vanilla liquor and all kinds of creamy rich delicious goodness. Husband had the tiramisu which might just be his all time fave, and he's a tiramisu expert. I tasted it and have to agree, it was excellent.
Atmosphere is very happy. People are laughing, and having a good time. You see great looking food on other tables, and the smells are amazing. Small, Intimate and very recommended. Just make reservations or you won't get in, cause it is SMALL.
So, did you guess how much? (neither did I) Drumroll, please....
My special-I-don't-care-how-much-entree turned out to be $22.95. Value for experience...INvaluable...and just what I needed after an especially tough week at work.