Food is delicious Authentic Italian for sure! Small place, go early or make a reservation. read more

Place is awesome. Parking limited. Bathroom very clean. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable about menu Items. They have beet raviolis with cheese and marinara sauce. Having penne noodles with 4 meatbal read more

Backstage Cafe - Rootbeer - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

Ambiance was nice & our waitress we had when we arrived was friendly, attentive & gracious. Our fondue appetizer was delicious & we were excited to get our food even though it took close to an hr & a half. When the food arrived it was AWFUL. the pasta was overcooked & the Alfredo sauce tasted like a bowl of milk. The chicken Marsala was not Marsala. The worst Italian meal we ever had. The waitress we had at the end of our meal wasn't a lot of help. Our bill was over $150 & we waited almost 2 hours for food that was awful. I shared our experience with the 2nd waitress & I received a sorry, she blamed it on a new chef & gave me a 15$ discount. My family & friends will never come here again. As we were leaving the restaurant an employee came out of an open door in the kitchen. Not sure if they are meeting state health codes because this man didn't appear to be wearing gloves or hair nets. Looking into the kitchen was even worse due to how unclean it appeared. We would have had a better meal, spent less & would have made it home sooner if we would have driven 35 mins to Olive Garden in Vancouver read more

Nice little Italian restaurant with a mom and pop feel. The building is older with aluminum windows and signs of a obvious previous water damage noticeable in the main dining area. Otherwise appears to be maintained. The food is delicious and delivered on a hot plate with a smile. Pleasant Italian restaurant music lightly played in the background. Portion size is respectable being it's labor intensive making house made meatballs and lasagna. read more

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the pasta was delicious but we ordered a pizza from here and it was completely sopping wet yet charred also. NEVER order from here and avoid it in general what a shame to screw up pizza that badly. read more

Backstage Cafe - The most disgraceful pizza ever, it was 32 dollars wasted I was so mad. - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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I absolutely love other handmade, pastas, pizzas, and everything else you have to offer a real tour of Italy.

Sarah was our server and she was delightful. The interior is small and quaint. I'd suggest that you arrive before peak hours to get a table. We enjoyed everything that we ordered (see photos) and had a lovely time at this establishment. read more

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Wow wow wow.last time we came here it was awful.clearly they have a new chef and I AM IMPRESSED!! We are definitely foodies and will drive to Portland for dinner any day for a quality meal. We had an appetizer called for fondata....delicious!!! My husband had the Butternut ravioli which was just perfect.ihad the duck breast with gnocchi figs and goat cheese.it was seriously spectacular!!! My only complaint was I could t eat it all. A part of me doesn't want to tell people how amazing this is so I can keep it to myself but I want them to succeed and if people know they certainly will. Absolutely spectacular and I'm thrilled they are here!!!!! The wait staff was sweet and helpful.such a great experience!!! read more

Backstage Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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Reserved for 5:30 p.m. 45 minutes later still no salad, I had to ask for it and refill of water. 15 min. Later it finally arrived and was incorrect. Then 7 p.m. ravioli with steak and lasagna arrived. Ravioli tasted like vinegar sauce.Rather than what menu described as pesto and garlic. Waiter never asked us if we wanted more water.Another drink or wine after first seating us. The ambiance was to ignore us. 2 servers tried to blame their computer ordering system as defaulting. Even if true, they still could have checked on us personally and retaken orders by hand. A couple other couples just got up and left, valentines day.! Cook problem? Lack of preparation? We decided no dessert and no tip. read more

We were excited to try a new pizza place but that quickly disappeared. The chicken was inedible and spit out the first chunk. It left a rancid chemical taste in my mouth. I am very confident that they have not tasted the chicken. The crust not completely cooked. This was NOT worth $30 on Doorsdash. read more

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Great food and service. We are quickly becoming regulars! The restaurant is small but never crowded.

I have not been in the restaurant before but I Ordered a medium calzone through door dash so I was expecting a little bit of a drop in quality that could plainly be noticed. I didn't notice this at all. It was so cheesy and the meat was a perfect amount of greasy. If you like your pizza/calzone dough on the doughier side like I do, then you will love it. But still a nice little bit of crispy on the outside. Definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

Backstage Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

The ambiance, food, waitress Sarah, and Chef Mickey did an amazing job. We absolutely love this place now. Definitely our go to now. Thank you for an amazing dinner read more

It's a self seated spot, the atmosphere is refreshing, the food was amazing fresh as could be the flavor just blankets your tongue read more

Backstage Cafe - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

Amazing food!! Our first time in to backstage Cafe and it will not be our last! The fondue appetizer was delicious and our entrees were beyond delicious! Shrimp perfectly cooked, risotto with a lemon sauce smothered in garlic... so incredible. Thank you for an amazing dinner! read more

I ordered for takeout. I'm from out of town, house sitting, and picked this place because I felt like pizza. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised with the wonderful atmosphere. I wish I could have had a sit-down meal with friends or family. I went to the counter to pay for my order and the manager was very nice and personable. I special ordered my pizza, and she double-checked to make sure I wasn't overcharged before I paid. When they brought me my food, it smelled Devine! The kind of wonderful smells that make it feel like torture as you drive home. I ordered a specialty pizza and an order of Fonduta. The pizza is comparable to my all-time favorite pizza. It was a chain that was very prominent where I grew up, but hard to find in Washington state. Needless to say, I loved it! The Fonduta, on the other hand, is so flavorful and delicious I am in heaven! As I sit with both in front of me, I just want to devour the Fonduta and the crostini that came with it. I rarely leave a written review, but this place is worth every word! If you live near Kelso, WA, and you haven't tried the Backstage Cafe, you are inevitably missing out on exquisite food! read more

Backstage Cafe - Medium combo pizza with no peppers, Olives, or onion. - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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The Backstage cafe provides delicious Italian food! The servers are amazing! Lewis is a Rockstar! He is friendly, and helps make his customers feel comfortable immediately! Sarah is another Example of a Friendly server who has a great sense of humor & creates a fun environment! Chef Devon prepares a meal in a magical fashion, as though you are his only reason for cooking each night. Mike & Dawn, the owners are both intelligent, creative people who have dedicated themselves to helping support this community for years! Please go check out the Back Stage Cafe for a meal & then walk over to the Theatre Pub to watch a movie. You will be happy you did! read more

I have been frustrated for quite awhile that we don't have any Italian Restaurants in our area and have to go to Portland for it. But today, I discovered Backstage Cafe. This hidden gem seems to be unknown but has a small but flavorful menu. I went for a late lunch and was the only patron. I think the waiter was also running the kitchen, however I didn't feel shorted on either service or quality. I had an amazing dinner salad with some of the best Italian dressing. (I could have that on own!!!) I also had the spaghetti with meatballs. This was served in a timely manner, quite hot and with good flavor. The sauce had some chopped veggies and was well seasoned. The meatballs were excellently cooked and were meaty (I don't usually like meatballs that are ground too fine and these are not.) Overall greatly impressed and looking forward to going back. read more

Backstage Cafe - Excellent dinner salad (very fresh not like bagged salad) and incredible Italian dressing. - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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The inside of the restaurant is "rustic" and that's a very generous way to put it. The wine selection was not good. The chicken tasted very odd, like it was cooked in the same pan as fish or something. My spaghetti and meatballs were okay. There was hardly anyone in the "restaurant" yet the service staff had to return to our table multiple times to clarify our order. Then we made the mistake of taking a couple pizzas to-go to try out. When I say this pizza was bad... oh my god. To be fair, it was only the 2nd worst pizza I've ever had in my life. I wish I had taken a picture. Somehow, the entire bottom of the pizza was just black, but the dough was undercooked. It was incredibly greasy to the point that if you picked up a limp, wet, sopping mess of a slice then all of the toppings just slid off. Couldn't stomach it at all. It was a Friday night so I thought I would try getting drunk and seeing if it would help but even then I wish I had just ate a $1 tostinos frozen pizza instead. Ended up tossing two entire pizzas out. Left them out in the alleyway in case some hungry houseless folks were desperate enough to give it a shot. One of the things that frustrates me the most about any restaurant is when the kitchen sends out food that they wouldn't even eat themselves, because if they did, there's no way they would have found it acceptable. And if they did and thought that it was something they were proud of and worth paying for, that's even more disturbing. This place makes Olive Garden look like a Michelin star Italian restaurant and I cannot for the life of me understand the mostly positive reviews. If this is your only option for Italian food and you're in a pinch, I recommend perusing the selection of Stouffers at your nearest grocery store or gas station instead. read more

We stumbled upon this cafe by accident. Sometimes by stumbling we find the best ones. Such was the case here. I'm actually surprised there aren't more reviews for this place since its been in business for many years. It's also attached to a theater where not-so-current movies are shown along with food served from the cafe. There are two separate services. One is for lunch and finishes by 2:00. The dinner service is entirely different with butcher paper table cloths and a special full dinner menu. Both menus are great with something definitely for everyone. Lunch menu includes sandwiches, salads, soups, hamburgers, pizza and even Italian food. There definitely is something for everyone. The chef to this location is fairly new to this establishment and his food was fantastic. It was obvious you weren't just in a back street diner. Food was several steps above and you knew there was a good chef in the kitchen and not just a line cook. It was lunch and we just ordered the pizza combo special which included an amazing salad, small pizza and iced tea. Food and service was great. I would recommend stopping here. It's not the normal diner. The debate was whether this should be a 4* or a 5*. It really should be a 4 1/2* but if we try the dinner service, maybe it'll get an upgrade. read more

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I often lament about the lack of high quality options in this area, but just had the most AMAZING meal at the Backstage Cafe in Kelso. I cannot believe I have never dined here before! It has to be the best kept secret in the area. Everything from the garlic shrimp to the brisket to the pear dessert exceeded my expectations. We realized too late that we should have taken photos of the main courses. My husband who loathes onions even picked through the risotto that accompanied the shrimp because it was THAT delicious! If you have ever wondered where high quality fare can be found in this area, you don't need to look any further. We will definitely return! read more

Backstage Cafe - Pear dessert - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

My boyfriend made reservations here for Valentine's Day. Had a personalized and festive decorated table waiting for us by the window. The service was really attentive and timely. They had a special limited menu for Valentine's Day, $30 all inclusive with tax and tip, appetizer, main course and dessert. The food was delicious. I got the fettuccine with salmon, he got penne with mushroom and chicken. The atmosphere and decor is lovely, warm and intimate. Really made the night feel special. Thanks! read more

Backstage Cafe - Charming exterior - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

Dinner was very good ! Compliments to the Chef, the Hostess and our server Louis ! The Meal made our bellies Happy and and Ambiance was wonderful. Even though they had reservations for several they managed to squeeze us in and made our night out something special ! Thank you all very much !!! read more

Lovely establishment. Friendly staff. Gluten-Free accommodating! Gluten free pasta with Chicken, broccoli and cheese - made especially for Me and my needs! Nice. Very tasty! read more

Backstage Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

This place is enchanting and amazing. Everything is freshly Made to perfection. The staff goes above and beyond.

We made a reservation and arrived shortly after opening. We received no silverware, glass of water or anything. We ordered and two of our dishes came out cold. The other order was pizza and it was the completely wrong pizza so we had to wait another 10 minutes for that and it was awful. This was strange since we were the first ones there so clearly kitchen wasn't backed up. Server didn't ask if we wanted coffee or dessert so we asked if there was dessert and the server didn't know. She checked and nope- no dessert available. I am Italian and I'm sorry- bit will not go back die to quality of food and service. read more

We started out with the Bread and Butter plate. Homemade bread with homemade butters and pickled blueberries. We then split a Caesar salad which was fresh and crisp. My main course was the carbonara. It was rich and flavorful. I highly recommend it. The Mrs. had the La Tua pasta. It was very good also. We like the ambiance. It was warm, inviting, and relaxing. Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert as we cleaned our plates completely; however, we will make an adjustment on our next visit. They offer the option of split dishes, so maybe a little of this, a little of that and viola! room for dessert. read more

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Waitress was super friendly and soooo helpful! Chef was very accommodating with pre-mixing the salad we three shared and the Greek Salad....one of the Best I've ever had! Pasta was Awesome and my appetizer fondue had wonderful variety of breads and fruit! Will Definitely return! read more

Backstage Cafe - Yummy Fondue Appetizer - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

***updated July 19, 2017 Amazing service and great food. The key is to come at opening at 17:00! The waitress went above and beyond! read more

This place doesn't look like much from the outside, but going inside is a whole different story. It is decorated so beautifully. This place was perfect for our family's Christmas dinner. It's is a family owned business, and you can tell right off the bat. The service was impeccable right off the bat. The truly care about the service they give and the customers needs. They tended to us so well. I got their KP wine which was delicious. My family and we're very satisfied, and shocked at the quality of food and service. read more

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Ordered the flatbread pepperoni pizza . EXCELLENT and service was excellent Very happy read more

The restaurant is great, my wife and i have been there several times and always had good food and service. The theater is a cool idea but wow... the one modification to our pizza was overlooked somehow and we had a topping we specifically requested not to have. The pizza was also extremely burnt and was not enjoyable and really took away from the experience. For the price I would have expected something half way decision. I'm disappointed by my experience in the theater part overall. read more

Wonderful service and great food. Server took our order promptly and food was delivered in a timely manner. Give it a try.

Paid 40.00 to have this delivered tonight, 1 pepperoni pizza deliver through DoorDash, the driver was awesome their web pic Pepperoni pizza is covering pepperoni the one I got had hardly any on it at all. Posted a pic of their sight and what we got. read more

Backstage Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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We went for Valentines Dinner and it was wonderful! At first we were reluctant as they put all of the tables together and we were not sure how comfortable it would be sitting with strangers. We had a blast and will be going back. read more

This is the restaurant attached to the kelso theater pub in kelso. Definitely a local landmark worth visiting and one of the very few Italian restaurants in the area. My wife and I had some of their pasta and I have to admit was pretty decent. Portion size and flavor for the win. The staff was also very welcoming and did an excellent job. Parking is generally best across the street when visiting. Only thing I'd change is that the exterior could use some slight cleaning up. Still keep the rustic charm but just alittle extra maintenance would make this place perfect! read more

Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken as good as I have ever had. Went there for lunch. As far as inflation in America, it has not hit the Backstage Cafe! Don't miss this well kept secret!! Great staff and service. read more

I love this place! The best Italian food you can get in town, hands down. The staff is always super helpful and I love the fact that the dine in movie theater is right next door. If you haven't tried their pizzas, I HIGHLY that you do. read more

This was a wonderful stop for my family of 5. They were very accommodating to us and the food was absolutely delicious! We had small pizzas for all and the apple pecan salad. There was nothing that was disappointing! Met our expectations completely :) read more

Backstage Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington

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Swung in for a nice lunch! Our server Molly was more than attentive! She checked on us often through out our meal. Two of us had the $5 lunch dealio. I asked for the gluten free lasagna which is on the dinner menu. After checking with the kitchen they were happy to serve me. I didn't realize it was also vegetarian. Didn't matter. It was really good! read more

Backstage Cafe - Gluten free vegetable lasagna! - Italian Near Me - Kelso, Washington