Alison C.
Yelp
3.5*s
I had been to Caffe Anello a few years back, when it was mainly a bakery and café. However, they since obtained a liquor license and turned into a classy Italian restaurant and bar that I was eager to try. The staff was absolutely amazing and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our experience, which we did for the most part...However, we found a few issues with the food. First, the menu was rather limited, leaving us to select options that we were not super excited about. Secondly, the proteins all were either over-cooked or not prepared properly. Allow me to explain further.
Our experience began with cocktails, and since many of the custom ones included sweet juices, I decided to go with my old standby - an Aperol Spritz. While the drink had a good deal of Aperol, which was my preference, it tasted off. I could not determine if it was the prosecco that they had used or if there was just too much club soda in it; either way, it was not great. One of my dining companions opted for the Mango Margarita, which she loved. She insisted that I take a sip of it, and I agreed that it was delicious. In addition to our drinks, we received a bread basket while we waited for our appetizers. The focaccia bread was infused with sundried tomatoes and olives, and it was served with a small bowl of aromatic olive oil filled with red pepper flakes. The bread was excellent, but our second basket looked like a bunch of leftover toast, rather than a cohesive unit like our first loaf.
One of the appetizers that we shared was the Homemade Meatballs, which were great. Though we were unsure of the meat varieties that had been used, we believed them to be beef and veal. The rich pomodoro sauce, creamy whipped ricotta, and subtle Pecorino Romano that encompassed the balls were all fresh and excellent. We also ordered the Garlic Shrimp as another starter. While we loved the sweet champagne vinegar reduction with its infusions of garlic and citrus, we found the shrimp chewy and fishy. My Bronzino entrée was in a similar sauce, and the filet was similarly strong tasting. I did like that roasted red tomatoes and kalamata olives were used as garnishes for the fish, but the protein itself was just not flavorful. Other main courses at the table included a special Veal Parmesan and the Wild Salmon, both of which were overcooked. The meat was chewy, while the fish was dried out. The tomato sauce on the veal and the bourbon mustard glaze on the salmon were yet again winning toppings on mediocre proteins.
I cannot emphasize enough that the staff and atmosphere at Caffe Anello could not have been any more welcoming, but the food preparation had its highs...and also, sadly, its lows.