You can't go wrong with Cafe Classico! Everything on the menu is fantastic and the service is great. I would recommend the steak frittes. I also love their cookies and coffee. And they have a decent wine and beer list. I would recommend for a lunch spot and a date night! read more

We came for dinner, and everything was just perfect. The beer selection was great, the live music was just right, and our entrees were hot and delicious. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Absolutely excels at every turn. Service, atmosphere, selection, flavors and textures, this place is bliss. Last night was only for sherbet and coffee but what a delight. Strawberry sherbet and a soy latte before an evening stroll down Frankfort Ave? Yes, please. Regarding staff, all I can say is that the service here reminds me that service was once a respected profession which required sophistication and training - and here, it still does. The atmosphere succeeds in transporting one to a European café and the space is divided between casual lunch or coffee tables/bar and a dining room for supper where a corner is dedicated to live entertainment. One evening it was simply a man with a Spanish guitar. Now, the food: Intentional. Balanced. Flavor is always matched with texture and proportion, effectively engaging the entire palate. Stuffed spiced pork tenderloin supper, Belgian Fries appetizer, fruit and nut salad over field greens, en croute. That is a sampling of dishes I've enjoyed in recent years. Please start or finish with your coffee or wine. The coffee comes with a tiny graham cookie to which I look forward on every visit. Watch for their wine tasting events, too. Shortly, C'est magnifique! read more

Great coffee and great food. It feels like a european coffee shot. The decor and atmosphere speaks authentic Eurobistro. The staff and owner are friendly, easy going and polite. Great smooth coffee. Where else can you find Chimay Ale on tap? here is a professional review: http://louisville.metromix.com/restaurants/restaurant_review/review-caffe-classico/785040/content read more

Caffe Classico - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Loved the shrimp pasta, jamon (prosciutto) starter, house salad (impressive Gorgonzola!) and flank steak. Espresso and créme brûlé were good. Only negs were that service was a bit slow and certain details of cleanliness were in question (table and floor). Thoroughly enjoyed the live music from the classical guitarista from Cuba. He was awesome!! read more

I used to love this place. But lately it's been hit or miss. I keep giving it one more chance but now I'm done for a while. I paid $18.00 for a veggie pasta with basically no veggies. When I asked my server about it she sneered and told me that's the way it is supposed to be. No offer of adding anything to it or taking it off my bill. A different waitress was nicer but still no offer to do anything. I took it home and doctored it up myself. Which I shouldn't have to do!! My husbands meal was okay but uninspiring. We're done for a while. Hope it gets better. read more

Read the hubs' (Brett W.) review for a full recap. Sure enough, this place is wonderful and I look forward to a return trip. read more

Things ordered/sampled: ENSALADA FRESCA Fresh mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette, fresh tangerine wedges and pine nuts. I did the "half n half" option with the sandwich, so this was a half portion. It was OK, I am generally not a fan of salads being pre-tossed in dressing because most of the time I think people are too heavy handed on the dresing. Case in point here. The salad was OK, but not anything I'd get again. BELGIAN POMME FRITTES Delicious Belgian style French fries with three dipping sauces. (ketchup, ranch, some kind of flavored mayonnaise) These were amazing, and if I wanted to murder myself slowly by only eating fries for the rest of my life these would be the ones I'd get to do it. The ranch was meh, the ketchup, boring and expected, but whatever that mayonnaise was - wow! CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH Curried mayonnaise chicken salad with bits of celery, scallions and Dijon on toasted pugliese roll. This was quite delicious and I was sad I didnt just get the full portion. Curried chicken salad is one of my great loves and this was made perfectly. A definite win. The only thing I really didnt like was the very cold and sterile look of the cafe itself. It reminded me of a school lunchroom. I do wish they'd warm the space up a bit, but I guess as long as they offer take out I dont really need to care about that...! read more

My corner of Spain with delicious coffwe, and great ambiance. Jamon Iberico y gazpacho, Ole!

Excellent all around. Started with salmon cakes then have the black eyed pea soup and sausage with braised red cabbage.......all amazing. The service is top notch and very friendly. Nice and bright interior with soothing background music. Will definitely be back. read more

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. Great service and amazing food. It's hard for me to pick my favorite dish because everything is so great!!! Definitely the best pommes frites I've ever had. Can't wait to go there again. read more

Good coffee experience

I really love Cafe Classico's options. One side is a casual contemporary coffee shop and the other side is an upscale restaurant/bar where servers dress in black button down shirts, a single rose filled vase is placed on on each table, and live classical guitar music plays in the background. If you're in the mood for casual or classy, lunch or dinner, coffee or dessert, this espresso boutique and cafe has something to offer you. When I visited with a couple of friends, we were craving dinner. Dinner entrees range from $14 to $17. I ordered the garlic shrimp linguini. I am often disappointed by pasta dishes that I order in Louisville by their use cheese to overcompensate for a lack of spices. But at Caffe Classico the shrimp was perfectly cooked and the linguini sauce was light, yet still flavorful. The portion sizes aren't huge, but that can be expected from any restaurant attempting a fine dining flair. This leads me to my one criticism. While I love the drastic differences between the restaurant and coffee house that makes up Cafe Classico, I believe that it's also its downfall. I think that, much like a pre-teen girl wearing makeup for the first time, Cafe Classico overdoes it with the fine dining elements without tying them together in a cohesive manner and I think it comes across as a little tacky. Regardless, I still think its a cool spot with great food that is well worth checking out. read more

Caffe Classico - Shrimp with Linguini - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

The food is fantastic & comforting, the service is absolutely lovely! Always a go to spot for me--soup and sandwich is my favorite.

I'm always on the lookout for Belgian Fries and saw that Caffe Classico advertised their fries as such. Although they were served like real Belgian Fries, upon first bite I realized they were not fresh cut but rather, frozen fries done up like Belgian Fries. The disappointment was gut-wrenching. I ate 3 or 4 fries, to give them the benefit of the doubt but I stopped right there because I hated them. My fellow diners thought I was insane (not just because of my overdramatic reaction) but I was proven correct when I asked an employee "These are not fresh cut, they're frozen, right?" and s/he replied in the affirmative. I think Caffe Classico should start with fresh potatoes or change the menu from Belgian Fries to Classico Fries. So, so disappointed. (My friends loved everything) read more

My ratings are based on 5 things, each earns a star. 1. Atmosphere 2. Service 3. Food 4. Price 5. Wow - atmosphere - Romantic and Classy I was looking for a nice place that you wouldn't go on a regular basis for a special Christmas date with the GF. This was the place I was looking for. The room was dimly lit with a single candle on each table, also had a rose on each table. Each table was a minimum of 6 feet away from all of the other tables, which made for an intimate date, we could see the other people but not really hear what they were talking about. A man was playing music on an acoustic guitar that really made the evening great. Attire around the place is nicer. I wore a pair of dress pants and shoes with a button down and didn't feel overdressed. If you and the lady want to get a little dressy, go for it, you'll fit right in. - service - Professional and Helpful The service was great, cups were never empty. The waitresses were there to do their jobs, they weren't checking their phones or chit chatting between table visits, they were serious about what they were doing. They were informative and did anything I asked them but were never intrusive. - food - Fancy and Good App: Croquetas De Salmon. These were good but not blow my mind good. There were two that came with it. The sauce that comes on the side dashed like mayonnaise with a bit of wasabi, of what we had, this was the least favorite, but it was still good. Meal: Chicken Roulade. Very flavorful and delicious. It looks like little Italian chicken sushi pieces! The risotto cakes were absolutely amazing. Both my girlfriend and I got this and were very happy with it. Dessert: Two cookies with some filling between them, and coconut on the outside edge. They had a lemony taste to them. With this we had a double shot latte. The combination was great! For sure my favorite part of our meal. Soft and firm, not messy. The coffee was also very good. Overall: the more we are, the better it got. Portions were modest, but we were both full. - price - Not cheap but Worth it I went into this expecting to spend some money because it was supposed to be a nicer place to eat and a special occasion, and I was actually surprised when we got the bill. By the end of the night, with all we had eaten, the service we received, and the great experience, I expected a larger bill. The total bill was around $55! I was more than happy to cough up an extra $20 for a tip (including the guitar guy). As far as price goes, this place will give you a bang for your buck. Guys, if you want to impress a special someone this is a great place to go. - wow - Excellent Service This is the "above and beyond" category. When I left I was thinking about how pleased I was with our waitresses. They would stand in the corner and watch the room and somehow, every time I thought to myself "I need our waitress" she came over! They always seemed to know when to come over. We were there for a good 2 hours at least enjoying our conversation and they never made me feel like I needed to leave soon, it was a constant attitude of "I'm here to help you". OVERALL I would for sure return to this place and recommend it to my friends. It was fancy, but not too fancy, and not too expensive. The food tastes good, and the service is some of the best I've had. read more

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The food was great, but the wait staff wasn't. It was very slow and we felt like we were inconveniencing them by asking anything. The Spanish guitar was a nice addition to the atmosphere. read more

OMG, Caffe Classico was certainly superb. Cool vibe. The food here is fantastic, I had several items off their menu, but Pomme Frittes is especially great in my opinion. The staff is surely a highlight of this place because they are always fast, polite, and provide service with a smile! I'm hooked! read more

The atmosphere is light and refreshing while the food is decadent without being heavy. My husband and I used to live in Louisville and when we recently visited this was number one on my list to eat at. Everything I've had has been great but there are two dishes that I would wish for as my last meal. To start, their pomme frittes, crispy, salty, perfect. Seriously they are delicious on their own but then they are served alongside three different sauces that level up the flavor! For the main course, saffron asiago risotto cakes...the description won't do it justice but here it goes. Risotto cakes that have a perfect crispy golden crust while maintaining a creamy interior sit on top of a lima bean succotash. There is a small bit of perfectly sautéed spinach that lightens the dish a bit. But the real star is the broth, aka, nectar of the gods, the broth is vegetable based but has such a depth of flavor from the saffron that it almost tastes meaty. Seriously don't miss this dish, even meat lovers will be satisfied! read more

Caffe Classico - Saffron asiago risotto cakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Excellent experience! Our waitress, Marie, was extremely attentive and friendly. She gave great tips on the menu and I throughly enjoyed her recommendation. I had the spicy shrimp pizza which was very good. It had good spice balanced with an Asian type flavor. The gelato was also very tasty. Would recommend the key lime flavor! read more

First, the decor is wonderfully simple and clean. The dining room is small and yet somehow manages to remain open and airy. Even when it is full with people, it never feels crowded. Definitely the best cup of coffee outside of a coffee shop I've ever had. Often, restaurants over-brew the coffee, use bad beans, or some combination of the two. These guys are brewing it right. The food was simple. I started with the black-eyed pea soup. It had good flavor and a little heat. I was told there was sausage and didn't find much or any. The Feta panini was delicious. There were three small roasted(?) tomatoes on the panini. It didn't not have enough to cover the entirety of the sandwich which it needed. However, these are minor infractions that could be a result of kitchen error or just the way the recipes are written. And I think that brings this full circle. The idea behind this café is not to over do things. The concept of simplicity permeates throughout restaurant from the atmosphere to the decor and to the food. Even the service wasn't overbearing. Each waiter and waitress respected the distance of each guest while still providing quality service. It's not the best food I've had for the price but that isn't the point. Caffe Classico is a lesson on the execution of simplicity. In a city full of expensive and diversely complex cuisine, this café is a welcome retreat from the overthought and over-execution of the dining experience. read more

Came here for lunch today and had the most delicious sandwich, salmon bisque soup and fries! The restaurant is very clean and attractive. Reminded me of restaurant Cafes in Europe. My server, McKinley, was amazing and very sweet. I highly recommend this experience! Thank you! read more

What did I ever do to you, Cafe Classico? Seriously. Did I give you the stink-eye by accident? Did I leave the gate open to your backyard causing your dog to run away? Do you hate me because I am beautiful? Every time I come here it has been a laughably terrible experience after another after another. First time I came here on a beautiful, sunny Tuesday I arrived to glares from the girls at the bar. Confused, I awkwardly shuffled to a nearby table where I sat, unloved and ignored. After a good twenty minutes I walked over to the bar and asked if I could get a glass of water. With a hefty eye-roll and a subtle snort of disdain my glass of water appeared on the counter, to which I shuffled back to my table. Pass another five or so minutes and one of the waitresses unglues herself from her phone to come over to my table. "So, are you going to order?" She snaps. I order the cheese platter (which sounded absolutely delicious) and she flounces off without any acknowledgement that she even heard what I said. Fastforward another 20 minutes and my glass of water is sitting empty, and my stomach is chewing itself from hunger. I ask about the status of my order to which the girl at the bar shrugs her shoulders while typing on her phone. I guess her tumblr needed to be updated, so I go back to the table. Another ten minutes passes and the waitress comes over and says "Yeah, so, we're out of (one type of cheese) so we can't give you the order." I ask if I can just get the platter without that cheese. From the look on her face you might have thought I was a stupid child asking why I can't breathe underwater. Yet another hefty eye-roll and a condescending "uh, no." I canceled my order and left. A few months later I go with a group of friends who were eager to try this place out. We go inside, only to be rudely told "Uh, we're closing like in five minutes." My friend checked the hours and unless time truly is relative, we were smack dab in the middle of hours of operation. When pointing this out the waitress informs us that as a staff member she knows the hours better than us. We leave. They're still open an hour later when we walked by. THEN I was brought here for a date. I tried to politely suggest other places (I didn't want to tell the dude this place blows goats in service and run the risk of sounding uppity). I actually got to eat, and the food was pretty good (so another star for that. Bringing the score up to 1 instead of 0). The service was pretty slow, in fact, if they were any slower I think they might have gone backward. It wasn't busy, either. Oh well. Maybe one day Cafe Classico and I will have that awkward, weepy moment where we apologize and hug it out even though we don't even know what we're apologizing for. Can I also say how hilariously ironic it is that there is a question for "Waiter service" and the option of "Not sure", because I'm honestly not sure. read more

The food, especially the fries, is great. The reason this place gets one star is because I cannot give anyb less. Tommy, the owner, has got to be one of the rudest people I've ever met in regards to business owners. read more

Always great service and quality food! So glad this place is within walking distance of my home. I'll be a regular in no time! Highly recommend for any meal of the day! read more

Came here for lunch recently, and really enjoyed! I agree with Thomas - very authentic Eurobistro feel. Nice selection of salads, paninis, and entrees, as well as beer and wine. I hear they have events here sometimes, which could be really cool - flamenco anyone? I look forward to coming back here once I relocate to try more of the menu, and some of their coffee! read more

Lovely, lovely little place! Great coffee and great atmosphere. Perfect for a low key date night or lunch with friends. The seafood soup is just out of this world! Very small place, but very welcoming. They also have this really neat Flamenco night where you can watch dancers while enjoying a meal. Be warned though, that it's so small you need to arrive a good hour before the show to get a seat...unless you're ok with standing. Also expect to pay an extra $5 to get in on that night. I have enjoyed it thoroughly every time I've visited! read more

Excellent atmosphere, family friendly but definitely not a playground! Frittes were awesome and so was the Italiano Panini.

Love love love this place, ordered the pork, could have t Picked the plate. Music on weekends, good wine list. Husband got pasta , delicious!! Only negative, they were out of vanilla creme Brule read more

This was a one and done dining experience. Menu was dated and not well executed. Restaurant had no ambience, bathrooms were filthy. The place is in need of serious cosmetic repair. Paid roughly $150 for a dinner for four, with service that was sub-par and inattentive. I've seriously had better experiences at Panera Bread. read more

Stopped in for lunch today. Perfection. Soup-10. Bread-10. Sandwich-10. Service-10. This place is proof that bigger is not needed for better. This small cafe is awesome. Enjoy, and you are welcome. read more

i was in town from colorado visiting a friend and she took me to cafe classico. honestly the best coffee i have ever had in america, which is saying a lot. we split the chocolate creme brulee and a regular creme brulee. i had never tried chocolate before, it was alright but the regular one deserves a gold star. i have never lived in louisville, but this cafe makes me want to! read more

I haven't been since they've expanded, but Caffe Classico has always been a little bit of Spain (and Europe, in general) in Louisville. The decor and design of the place screams modern European bistro, as several have mentioned already. The coffee is very similar in style and quality to what you'd find at most coffee spots in Europe. There are plenty of equally excellent coffee shops in Louisville, but this one is great when you want something a little different and a little more European - in this way, this spot is unique. Furthermore, the food is amazing and some of the best in Louisville (at a very reasonable price, too). Without going into specifics of the food, I will say this place is a hidden gem. However, I will say the pommes frites are great, and I love the small but impressive selection of beer. read more

You simply will not find a finer cup of coffee (or any type of coffee drink) anywhere in the U.S. (forget Louisville). Tommy Mudd is peerless in this respect. I recommend the Cafe Roma. The food is very good too. Kinda a Euro bistro / Argentinian vibe. read more

I had iced espresso and I loved it very much! I can't believe that it was much better than Julius Meini in Chicago. Not sure same coffee bean they use or how they brew??? I can't wait to drink thier espresso again. and also I had argentina style hot dog. the sause was sooo good! read more

The pomme frittes were as good as promised. Service was slow. It took 25 minutes to get our drinks and actually what we ordered was not available. Apparently the regular bartender was out and they couldn't make the lemon drop martini. And the draft beer my husband ordered was not available. So after we were reordered drinks it took probably another 10 minutes. At that point we were considering leaving after the appetizer. We were wondering how long it would take to get our food. Once we decided to stay and ordered the food. It arrived in pretty short order and was very good. In keeping with the European Cafe theme, portions were much smaller than most of us are accustomed. It actually was just the right amount of food. We ended with the chocolate creme brulee which was excellent. I would probably want to give them another shot to see if they could improve upon their service. read more

Delightful wine selection and the food I've enjoyed in my two visits has been fantastic. It feels like walking into a European cafe.

My wife and I have lived in Louisville for about 4 years. We were lucky enough on the first weekend in town to meander into this gem. A lot of other reviewers have nailed it in terms of a Euro style bistro. You immediately get that feel and it is not contrived at all. We don't just go for the great ambience though. The food is always wonderful. I love the fries, paninis, chicken salad sandwich, and nicoise salad. The one item not mentioned by others is the Seafood Chowder. It is killer but not always available. Give this place a chance and you will be going back again and again. read more

I love this little cafe. It's my go to for carry out in the neighborhood. Everything is always fresh and consistent. Their espresso is one of my favorites in the city. I must admit I order turkey club sandwiches quite often and theirs is by far my favorite. Also the vinaigrette they put on the salads is to die for. read more

The food was fresh, flavorful, and all around enjoyable. The ambiance was perfect. Had someone play acoustic guitar softly. The wine list is appropriate. The only downside was the servers were icy. Whether it was in our brief interactions or as people came in and stood ignored as they tried to figure out if they were supposed to seat themselves or wait. The service was efficient, but far from friendly. read more