Il Caffè is perfect for a ladies' lunch, though not when you're on a diet.
A tiny outfit, the restaurant consists of a small counter behind which stands an elaborate coffee machine, microwave, and mini kitchen. On the left as you enter is an impressive array of pastas. You select your pastas and pay up front (16,60€ for the meat special with two pastas, a bottle of blood orange lemonade, and an Illy espresso), then find a seat while they heat it up (or wait for them to box it up if you get takeaway).
The special of the day was a chicken scaloppine, and I chose the creamy mushroom penne and the salmon and black olive penne. It wasn't easy to make a choice! Between the tomato-based sauces, the pesto, the ravioli, the lasagna and the other creamy sauces, it doesn't look like you could go wrong (though I regret not trying a red sauce, and perhaps the pesto. Two creamy pennes were almost too much after the chicken).
They top the scaloppine with a slice of lemon before bringing it over on a little tray, and at the table parmesan awaits (I'm told that they give you a little pot of cheese when you get it to go). If you order a coffee, one of the two ladies will bring it to your table once you've finished your lunch. read more