Well... it all starts at a gas station as most great restaurant stories do. No, seriously, you enter Cafe Tuscano through a gas station, take a left past the cashier, and pause at a sign indicating you are to wait to be seated. So for the sheer novelty you should go. I had a side Caesar salad, chicken parm and tiramisu. Salad was good, parm mediocre and I don't recommend the tiramisu. Parm was a special and not typically on the menu. Asked for a recommendation and was your run of the mill three highest price options with no substance behind the recommendation. Service was friendly and prompt, and interior was charming (for the back of a gas station). Would not go back unless through trial and error determined this to be acceptable Italian cuisine in the greater Pocatello area. As the waiter said, it was the best pasta I would ever have in a gas station. I sincerely hope he is correct. Forever. read more

Uhg It's really too bad this place is newly remodeled and feels like a 1980 mafia dive. Fake flowers, dark and goddy decor. Awful. We went for a family gathering, they were very friendly and tried hard to please. But the food was subpar and there was a big hair in the middle of my wrap which was completely disgusting. My husband had a pasta dish that was floating in oil, a broken cream sauce. Very disappointing experience in general. read more

cafetuscano in pocatello in Idaho a little italian Jewel in the city of Pocatello. Plenty of food in a great ambiance. Everything was fresh and the meat was so tender that you can cut it with your fork. read more

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Service was great! Waitress was very attentive & friendly. It's a very nice place with some wonderful art work. The food was also delicious! We had pasta with marinara, shrimp & chicken and the tri-tip. The price was reasonable & portions were nice sized. read more

Had takeout lunch there yesterday as the hotel I'm in shares parking lot with them. Service was pleasant but my order got screwed up... found out in hotel and had no time to ask to fix it... burger was very well done instead of medium and instead of some fruit I selected I got pretty awful pasta salad... prices are steep! read more

Passing through on our way to Montana. Arrived at the Home 2 hotel and took a short walk through the parking lot to try this out. Delicious! Service was great! Best caprese salad I've had. This is a simple appetizer but their spin on it was perfect. We had the lasagna. It tasted like homemade which I love. It came with a side salad and 2 pieces of bread. My husband and I split all this and it was the perfect size! Taking dessert Togo! read more

Cafe Tuscano - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

Really liked it. I heard a lot of good things about it, took me a while, but finally me and my buddy decided to try it. It is located at the end of town where there are not so many restaurants, so unless I was staying at the hotel nearby or visiting Portneuf Hospital there was not much need for me to stop there and the terrain is also unpleasantly uneven to the sight. Forgive me locals, but food felt more fresh and authentic than at the Buddy's and we enjoyed our time together. Our server was very attentive to our needs. Decor and all the statues was also pretty nice. Don't let me comment on famous Rodin's sculpture's posture ;). When it comes to the final bill is where you realize that value comes at a price and it is not the cheapest eatery in town, but almost everything after the covid year feels pricier than it should and if your visits are less frequent there's a way to keep it all under control. read more

My wife and I road trip through Pocatello a couple times a year and we also enjoy dinner here when we are ion the road. Food is really good and service is as well. I've had a variety of dishes here and they have all been tasty! Wine selection is solid as well. read more

Four weary travelers stopped in for an early dinner and were quite glad we did! We loved the decor and ambiance ... and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Attentive service sealed the deal. My prime rib salad was tasty throughout, with plenty of goodies to tantalize my taste buds. Hubs had a cheesesteak pizza, large enough for leftovers. Thanks, Tuscano! read more

Man. Had high hopes. $15 Caesar salad, rotten bagged Romain lettuce. Forgot my daughter's pizza... add another 30 min while she watched us eat. Silver lining Server (Koi) did everything she could. Good service, garbage food (at least my meal). I could have done better with a prepared salad from Costco ($6) and it would have had chicken. read more

This place was a to surprise! I went a few months back because while passing through the area. The flatbread pizza with Brie, berries & rosemary was so good. I think about it til this day. We ordered a myriad of other things, all of which were devoured. The decor and art are beautiful. The workers were courteous and even offered me a drink while I waited for our to-go order. I can't wait until I'm in the area again, so I can hopefully dine in and get the full experience. If you're in the area, go here!!! read more

Very nice decor; service was great. Food more than met our expectations with a multitude of beers, wines and cocktails. By the time we finished our entree we were too stuffed to try their super looking deserts. Would return the next time in the area! read more

This restaurant has all the makings of perfection. Unfortunately when we arrived the entire inside was filled with smoke from something burning in the kitchen, it was pretty insane. Our servicer was incredible too & did a fantastic job. One of the reasons we ate here is because it was highly rated & they had chicken piccata on their menu. I LOVE chicken piccata!!! Like I mentioned our server was fantastic & an we ordered our drinks: a glass of cab & an ipa beer. It was pretty cool to have a very large bottle of beer delivered to my husband. My wine was good also, it was a nice pour. We ordered dinner salads, a pizza & of course my chicken piccata. The salads came out in a timely manner. One Caesar salad which was good & a dinner salad with blue cheese dressing.. not good, not at all, there was a lot of rotten spinach in the mix which was disgusting & the dressing was something less desired too. Oh well, we looked forward to our entrees. Our food was then delivered with a smile. On one look at the piccata I first thought that I had received a wrong entree because of the brown gravy, but saw that there were indeed capers in the mix. On my first bite I was like WTF; took a second bite and OMG. I decided to change my taste buds & took a bite of the rice pilaf, what is going on here? Ok - I then tried a bite of the veggies. Wow. I looked at my hubby & replied there is no way I can eat this, it's horrible, like everything on my plate is non-edible. He replied it's because I'm an excellent chef & I was just being picky. Then I made him take a bite. Ha ha ha! Any how - the chicken was so over cooked that it dissolved literally in your mouth like a flavorless paste, I have no clue what kind of sauce that was, it was somewhat of a brown Turkey gravy with a lemony taste & capers - yuck. The rice pilaf was so overcooked, have you ever had overcooked rice that had way too much water added? Yeah - not good. The veggies looked great, there were a few sliced onions in them yet the entire portion tasted like a super duper strong onion. No clue why, they just did. My husband said, his pizza wasn't very good but that I could have a slice. The pizza looked really good & I was super hungry so I jumped at his offer! Took one bite of it & replied how in the hell can you it that as I pulled the uncooked dough out of my mouth! He replied I'm starving & I'm a guy. What? Are you kidding me??? Any how, it was very embarrassing to leave my full entree left pretty untouched and 1/2 the pizza when we asked for our bill. Our server didn't ask about our meal, I believe she already knew that answer. I sure hope the owner reads this post because he really needs to work on his recipes & food prep. Like I mentioned above, the building has all the makings for an excellent restaurant!!! If we ever drive thru Pocatello again, I would love to see an improvement on their food. I would love to have their server over & over. But I'm believing that with what we experienced the first time, we would never go back. read more

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This place was a fantastic godsend! After a hair raising 10 hour drive thru snow and ice we found this charming restaurant with hand painted murals, fun Italianesque paintings and statuary, almost over the top save for the great dinner, fantastic service and nice attitudes of the staff. We can't say enough about our server Marisa, she made our crazy day melt away just by being kind and sweet and super efficient. One of the best! Our dinners were very tasty- the vegetables on the side of our chicken, piccata were perfectly done and seasoned, the chicken was tasty and moist and the risotto delicious! I could go on - but i'll just say when in Pocatello or driving through, stop here! read more

Very yummy bar and restaurant with lots of good food and drinks for everyone and a great time to visit the restaurant nice workers and delicious desserts read more

Cafe Tuscano - Brie Mac and cheese - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

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Within walking distance of the hotel, Cafe Tuscano does offer a discount for guests of the nearby TownePlace. It's a nicely decorated restaurant and the big screen television in the dining room that had a slideshow of artwork was nice. We jumped straight into main courses. Mom ordered the grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. Sadly, the chicken was awful. The flavor was there but these two chicken breasts were dry like bone. We pointed it out to the waiter who apologized severely and sincerely tried to fix it but it could not be so. We didn't want to wait for new ones to be cooked because I'd have been done with my meal by then and the drawn butter he offered didn't rescue it. The potatoes were good and he did comp the meal, so there's that. I chose the angel hair pasta with meatballs. This was good with the pasta cooked al dente and the meatballs tasty. There was plenty of sauce and while it was flavorful, it was very loaded with garlic. Enough so that my lips were burning from it. Wow. Maybe the chicken was just overdone because of the timing with the rest of the meal. It was not too busy and so maybe the cook was doing everything fresh? And the amount of garlic? Regardless, it soured us on the meal and as it turned out, we did not have Italian the rest of the week. read more

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If there was a negative star, that would be my rating. The food... Caesar Salad. Lino romaine DROWNING in sour dressing, no anchovies. Baked Chicken Cacciatore- tough as a rubber boot. Couldn't cut it much less eat. Steak Bruschetta- well done and cold on a cold soggy mini bread. Service was also subpar. Waitress took the order and didn't show up again (40 mins later) to deliver the order. We didn't eat more than a bite of any dish with exception of the chicken. We told the waitress about our dissatisfaction with our food and asked for our bill which took over 10 minutes to receive. There was no offer to reduce the 80$ cost of the ticket, (one bite was taken from salad and steak). All across the board it was a miserable experience that we won't experience again. read more

Great find in Pocatello. Delicious Italian fare. The steak bruschetta was a great starter. The chicken artichoke penne was tasty and so is the shrimp alla vodka. The servings are fairly large. There was a good amount of choices for dessert. We got two different kind I can't remember what they were but they were pretty good. Will go back again. read more

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The food is meh... The halibut was far better than the sandpiper, the cheesy risotto was good all be it unconventional. I'm from Alaska though so I bet locals would love it. The veggies were over cooked. The appetizer flat bread was an odd selection of flavors. The chief tries which is nice. The chicken penne pasta with artichokes was almost good. The toast was good. Maybe if there were no onions, as mine was mostly red onion. Thr chicken was not very quality. The pizza good really good and my 9 yr old liked it. She said there was a lot of flour on the bottom but other than that it was really good. The ambiance is fun. I love all the art. Go in with low expectations knowing it used to be a gas station and you will be presently surprised. They made a big effort and that is HUGE for Pocatello. I've been 2x I think we I need to find the right thing to order like many restaurants in town. Note we only moved here a couple years ago so locals might like it better. read more

Had takeout. ready on time, got order correct. Not cheap but decent value. I had saltimbocca--made with pork (more moist that the chicken version I have had before). The crawfish bisque was tasty--?really any crawfish in there? The veggies and risotto that accompanied my meal were excellent. My wife had the shrimp in linguini and a house salad--good but nothing to write home about. Would go back if in Pocatello again. read more

Passing through Pocatello after climbing Mt. Borah earlier that day. We were starving, but it was also our wedding anniversary, so we were looking for some place that would feel a bit special, vs. the normal post climb burger and beer we usually seek out. Cafe Tuscano was perfect...nice ambiance in the dining room (I don't understand the reviews that say you go through a "gas station" entrance...it seemed like a normal entrance to me. Maybe I missed something?). The service was really good. All of the staff we interacted with were lovely. The food wasn't the best Italian I've ever had, but certainly good. We started with the Tuscano Caprese salad which was excellent! For dinner we had the Shrimp Alla Vodka and the Tuscano Shrimp Penne and both were yummy! Our son ordered a Margherita Pizza and was happy with it. I don't agree with reviewers who have said the food seems like pre-made frozen, at least the entrees we ordered were not. I will definitely come back if I'm ever in Pocatello in the future. read more

From the moment I walked in until the moment I left, I had a wonderful experience. I am in town for business and am SO glad the front desk manager at Hampton Inn recommended this place. I ordered the saltimbocca with a salad. I'm sad I ate so much of the salad (it was amazing), because I wanted ALL of the saltimbocca to eat. I'm part Italian and am very picky about my foods. This was the best saltimbocca I have ever had. Five stars PLUS for sure. Don't let the entry through the convenience store deter you because they have an amazing wine collection for sale as well. Will definitely come back the next time I'm In town. read more

Cafe Tuscano - Saltimbocca with pan mushroom gravy, risotto and steamed vegetables. - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

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We had a long day in the car and asked the clerk at our hotel where we should go for dinner. Without hesitation, she said Cafe Tuscano. What a gorgeous restaurant! It is just beautiful. Everything is so clean and the tables are nicely spaced out. Seating is comfortable. Our server, Courtney, was top notch. She was friendly and efficient and just made the evening a delight. It was easy to tell that she has a great rapport with her coworkers and with everyone who comes in. She seems to really love what she does, and she is great at it. It's a rare thing and it truly makes a difference. We had the Melange for an appetizer. It was a mixture of bleu and Swiss cheeses in a fondue served with crostini. It was delicious! My husband had the crawfish bisque soup and really enjoyed it. He had the Salsiccia entree and loved it. I had the Carbonara and had to laugh. I've been looking all over the world for YEARS for someone to make Carbonara sauce the right way and found it in Pocatello, Idaho. This chef is super talented. I had chicken added to the dish, and it was full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Our one regret was that we didn't save room for dessert. I'm sure it would have been wonderful. read more

OMG Best Italian Food Great proportions, Can even take home, Well established staff Unique and Amazing drinks Wonderful Dining Areas

Amazing food and nearly always exceptional service. Their bisque is always phenomenal.

I'd love this place in eastern Idaho. Delicious food and always consistently good. Service at the bar is always on point and an overall fun atmosphere. You can't go wrong with their pasta dishes or main entrées. read more

LOVE to eat at locally owned places! If you like true Italian food, this one is a must. Everything we had was great. Service was wonderful (Brock). The Zuppa Toscana was delightful, so creamy. The ricotta filling of the ravioli was very smooth. Really enjoyed the Bolognese. Only change in our visit....maybe add a few upper end bourbons for an after dinner drink. read more

Cafe Tuscano - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

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Ok so when my boyfriend asked if I wanted to eat at the "gas station" I gave him the look. I will forever refer to this place as "the gas station" but it is not gas station quality! He also filled me in on a bit of the history which I found interesting. The decor and lighting is decent. The staff is exceptional. Multiple staff members both welcomed us and said goodbye as we left. We started with the melange which is bleu cheese and swiss cheese dip served with bread. The dip wasn't as flavorful tonight as my boyfriend says it usually is but that didn't stop me from eating it. I ordered the saltimbocca and he ordered the prime rib. Both dishes were phenomenal! I didn't finish even half of my meal but I sure tried! The caesar salad was excellent with fresh greens, a creamy dressing, and shaved Parmesan. I really had a great dining experience and can't wait to come back. Maybe next time i'll save room for dessert, but probably not. read more

Cafe Tuscano - Saltimbocca! - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

We decided to come here because they had some gluten free options (I have celiac, so this is always a little scary). The waitress was very knowledgeable about gluten free food, so I felt comfortable eating. The cauliflower crust margarita pizza was the best pizza I have had since being diagnosed with this stupid gluten problem. They were renovating parts of the place, so that was a little ugly, but I would gladly come back again for the food. I'm tempted to drive the 2 hours from my house to get the pizza again; it was that good. read more

Cafe Tuscano - Cauliflower Margherita Pizza (amazing)! - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

This was an easy stop while I was waiting for my sweetie. The Crawfish bisque was delicious and the service excellent! For my course I got the chicken parmesan... it was a little dry and not very flavorful. The atmosphere is welcoming and surprising seeing how it's attached to a gas station. It's a nice little getaway from the everyday I must say even though I didn't have dessert that the tiramisu looks delicious and they have a wide variety of cheesecakes to choose from. read more

Cafe Tuscano - Crawfish bisque - Italian Near Me - Pocatello, Idaho

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First time visiting this establishment and although the food wasn't horrible, it just didn't leave us with that "we'll definitely be back" feeling. Service was slow and we dealt with 3 different waiters. The salads weren't large enough to fill a rabbits belly. The spaghetti tasted off and was sticky like glue. Our main waiter held his own while the others looked lost and confused. He ran his butt off. The other dinners were okay, but not knock your socks off. The establishment is currently under construction and it looks like they're expanding. Parking was get in where you fit in. Best part of the dining experience? The Ice Tea was on point! read more

Though it was near closing time, we were carefully attended to and cheerfully served. The waiter was kind and allowed us to stay and finish our tasty pizzas while they closed up shop. read more

We came to Pocatello for our grandson's baseball tournament, and our first night was open, so the front desk attendant recommended Cafe Tuscano, and it was fabulous. Brock, our server, made excellent recommendations from the wine to our meal. I highly recommend that if you're passing through, live here or staying a few days, make time to eat here! You won't regret your decision. read more

The food was okay. We expect more. Salads were wilted, and the shrimp with ravioli was not flavorful. The pizza was good but not great. Sorry we w assa ted to like it more. read more

Food, drinks, experience. You will come back more than once! I came and enjoyed, tried a restaurant near by, won't leave again. read more

After a long drive and travel day my husband and I stopped in here late and had a great meal. Our server was Charles and he was great. He was very friendly and attentive. We had the chicken piccata and a pizza. They were both delicious. We didn't have room for dessert but they looked really good. read more

Had lunch here. The staff is attentive, courteous, and the food is amazing. I highly recommend this place for excellent Italian food.

Pocatello Wins with Cafe Tuscano... That's how the headlines should read... We paid a visit to this great new cafe on Saturday evening around 7pm...we walked in and sat right down. It has a nice warm atmosphere, small but new and comfortable. There is a restairant setup and then a pub/bar area as well. Since it was St Patrick's Day we sampled some special faire: Bangers n Mash--i give it 5 stars for the potatoes and 3 stars for the Banger sausage Greek Salad--5 stars for taste, size and the perfect quantity of kalamata olives, onions, goat cheese and mixed greens. Cheese Melange--God i wanted to take a bath and die in this stuff...its a delicious blend of cheeses served fondue style with a hearty sourdough. This gets my special 1,000,000 stars rating. Strawberry torte--tasty but nothing to write your mom about...3 stars Cabernet and Green Stella--limited selection of wines but the Cab was serviceable...3 stars. The best part part about the attitude here is that we used our Restaurant.com coupon. Our waitress was very helpful and was actually excited that we had used it. They were having great local success already and had done no other advertising than to engage this service so it was good to know that as appreciated. Highly recommended...the proprietor has had great success in Pocatello in the past with The Bistro so you can bet it will always be superb. read more

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If I could give a negative review I would. The caprese was drenched in olive oil with wilting basil and red onion, the Tuscan salad was bland with wilting salad and the lasagna was an American recipe with what tasted like Walmart French bread. I could have gone to Olive Garden and gotten better Italian food and I don't even count Olive Garden as Italian. read more

Fantastic meal and a great find. Make sure you stop and enjoy. Thanks for a wonderful meal.