The Original Caffe Boa
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My husband and I really, really like this place. It's become our place to go before heading out to a show at Gammage. It's located just off Mill Ave. in Tempe. There is a lot of outdoor seating with string lights and misters and surrounded by lots of greenery. The building looks old and the interior has high ceilings and lots of exposed brick. I love the very tall wooden doors and a super fun artwork. There is a separate bar area. We got: *Para Mi Amor (cocktail) *Paulander-Mulchen Hefeweizen (beer) *Noble Bread *Lasagna *Luca's Meatballs *Broccolini *Espresso Mocha Torta The lasagna had a three meat sauce that was amazing! Even after I was full I couldn't stop eating it because it's so delicious. Lucas meatballs came with spaghetti with mushrooms in a red sauce. It was also delish. Portion sizes were quite large. The Espresso Mocha Torte was absolutely luscious. Is a great dessert to share because it is so rich. So good! I have to give so many bonus points for the customer service here. I had made an error and even though it was totally on me, the manager make sure that the bread and dessert was complementary. Even after I told her that I understood it was my mistake, she insisted and said she wanted us to go away happy. And we did! This place has been on our rotation for a while and it will continue to be. It's really such a perfect mix of lovely ambience, great service, and always amazing food. Keep in mind that this is Mill Avenue so you will need to allow a few minutes for parking. That said, we've never had an issue not finding a space out in front.
I've been to Caffe Boa at least 5 times, and it's never disappointed. I have had their salmon salad, crepes, shareable board, and more. They were all delicious! I appreciate that their portions are not humongous, so I can explore Tempe afterwards without lugging around a doggy bag. The servers are super professional. They have accommodated our requests without any issues. The service is not the quickest, but that is okay because the food is super fresh, presentable, and yummy. The environment is pretty laid back. It's not informal like a sports bar, but it's not formal that it requires jackets. It's classy for a brunch with friends or a cute date. For a fun weekday date, they offer live music Monday nights.
I treated myself to a solo Easter Sunday brunch at Caffe Boa, and it was such a beautiful experience from start to finish. I sat out on the patio, and the weather was absolutely perfect, truly the ideal setting for a relaxing brunch date with myself. I ordered the steak and eggs, and let me just say... absolutely delicious! Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. I also had a ginger beer, and when I requested it in a wine glass with a side of olives, they made it happen without hesitation, which I loved. It's the little touches like that for me! Griffin, my server, was attentive and kind, and honestly, every employee I came into contact with was phenomenal. The team consistently checked on me and made sure I was comfortable without ever being intrusive. The level of service really stood out. Of course, I couldn't leave without dessert. I kept it simple with vanilla bean gelato, and they served it in the cutest little glass--such a perfect, thoughtful presentation. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything was fantastic! You can truly tell that the team takes pride in what they do. Keep doing what you're doing! I'll definitely be back! -Mika
The service here is hit or miss, the food takes awhile to come out. The salmon ceviche barely has salmon. The voodoo penne is my favorite pasta dish ever. I am a very big fan of the breading on the calamari as well. The margarita flatbread is perfect to me. The crepe is very fresh.
My party had been to Caffe Boa last year during a conference, and wanted to go again. They remembered the beautiful patio, good food, and good conversation. It wasn't within an easy walking distance from the hotel so if we went. We were seated in the corner of the patio. We started to wonder if we could not be seen, because it took a long time to get water. We thought that won't be the end of the challenges. Other tables had been seated after us and not only had water but their food as well. We finally were brought water and placed our orders. We had mentioned that we were going to share a salad for our appetizer. It took a long time to get the salad and the soup that was ordered. But we were not given plates, and had to track the waiter down, so that we could split the salad. The rest of the food took a very long time to come out. The steak salad, soup, and pasta were good. The salad had a great dressing, but the chicken was very overcooked and dry. I was worried that the salmon would also be overcooked, but it was not. The pasta sauces were delicious. It took a very long time to get our plates cleared and then to get the check. And another long wait to get our cards back so we could sign and leave. I'm hoping this was really just an off night. When we did have service, it was fine. We were checked on multiple times. But when we needed service, it just was not available. The front patio really is very lovely. And other guests were served much more quickly.
The charcuterie board options are great. Pretty restaurant. We were blessed with beautiful weather so we sat outside. Our server was very nice & helpful. I got the butternut ravioli dish. It had good flavor and I would order it again. My husband got the lasagna and he wasn't quite as impressed. He said it lacked flavor. It looked delicious, but he struggled to finish it.
Still one of the best restauraunts in Tempe. The Coniglio is a must-try always. Huge portion and homemade!!!
Excellent food, strong wine & cocktail program, real potential... Largely positive experience at Caffe Boa Tempe. The food is genuinely excellent (house-made pasta and sauces, thoughtful sourcing, beautifully plated). Craft cocktails are inventive, and the wine list is extensive with a focus on cleaner selections. The space is warm and inviting, with free Wi-Fi and some power access in the back, giving it potential as a strong third-place gathering spot. A few service flow and accessibility details could be refined, but the foundation is solid. For a full breakdown of food, accessibility, atmosphere, and brand observations, read and follow Accessible Tempe on Medium.com: https://medium.com/@accessible_tempe
We came to Cafe Boa for a weekday lunch, and unfortunately, it was a pretty underwhelming experience from start to finish. While the restaurant has a nice layout and the patio seating was pleasant thanks to great weather, the positives ended there. The food was mediocre at best. My Bianco Flatbread was bland and overly oily--there was barely any flavor to it. I also tried the Reuben, which had potential, but the sauce made the bread so soggy it fell apart in my hands. The antipasti platter was fine, but it's hard to mess up a plate of cured meats and cheeses. The biggest issue, though, was the service--it was incredibly slow and inattentive. We waited far too long for everything, and our waters sat empty for most of the meal. What should have been a quick one-hour lunch turned into a two-hour ordeal, which was frustrating since we were on a work break. To top it off, a table near us actually got up and left after no one came to take their order. Maybe dinner service is better, but based on this experience, I wouldn't recommend Cafe Boa for lunch. We expected much more.
Our reservation mix-up had us seated outside in the Arizona summer, but luckily it wasn't too hot--and we had the best waitress, Ava. She made the night fun and memorable. Her recommendation of the Antonino Street Corn was spot on, and the mains (Ossobuco, Coniglio, Ravioli Zucca, Voodoo Penne) were excellent. We ended with the amazing Zucca Gelato. Ava's great service turned a warm evening into a wonderful dining experience.
Service was great, we made a reservation for dinner and were seated promptly inside. We got two pastas, 1) fettuccine Bianca with adding the wild Alaskan salmon ($34) and 2) voodoo penne blackened chicken with Cajun cream ($23). We got two drinks and the special sausage perogis as an appetizer ($24). They charged a 2% credit card fee which was not communicated to us that was strange but we paid it. 3.5 stars, overall the food was too expensive and drinks were average. I got the Haboob and it came without a straw so my first sip was all bitters. Asking for a straw helped but it was too sweet for me. My pasta was delicious, noodles were delicate for the fettuccini but the value fell short. The had other items menus that sounded intriguing (rabbit, ossobucco) that we wanted to try too but came for a pasta craving. The perogis really missed the mark for us and were not worth the $24. They have indoor and outdoor dining and some metered parking outside.
Tucked away in a small inlet of businesses right off Mill Avenue. The ambiance is old luxury with a slight modern vibe. We arrived right in mid-afternoon on the weekend. The dining room was surprisingly empty. We headed to the bar where another couple were enjoying libations and conversation with one of the bartenders. Another bartender was prepping for the next service and while we made eye contact, neither staff member made an immediate effort to approach us. Upon finally being greeted, we ordered a cocktail - delicious - and a Chimay on draft! Presentation of the Cucumbersome was fitting for the atmosphere and Chimay on tap is a HUGE plus! Definitely worth returning, or so we thought at that moment. As we were waiting for other folks to partake in an event nearby, we asked for our check promptly so as to not have to wait to get the staff attention as they were in the midst of prepping. I provided my credit card and waited for the receipt to tip and pay. That's when the surprise came in... Not previously disclosed, there was an additional 2% "credit card" fee added to the final bill. If I can afford to pay $15+ for a cocktail and around $12 for a pint of beer, an additional 2% isn't an issue. The hidden way it was charged was revolting. And I hate being nickel-and-dimed! Just add a freaking $0.50 or $1 to each drink and include it as an expense! The majority of folks will pay by CC. You are just aggravating us. Turned off enough that I will never recommend the business or return.
Cute place! I like that the table setting had a sprig of rosemary with the silverware. The service was on point considering how big our group was, but it also wasn't very busy that Sunday evening. I got the "Agnolotti" Boa and it was good, I wasn't wow'd by it though. A friend ordered the Coniglio and said it was good. I noticed that the drinks didn't look or taste the same when ordered the exact same one. It is a bit pricey here but I would come back to try something else next time. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Elegant afternoon dining. We were on our way to Phoenix Skyharbor and decided on a late lunch in Tempe. Caffe Boa was open in the early afternoon; high doors and ceilings in an Edwardian Era warehouse caught our attention immediately. First off, My Lady requested a Rosé from France. I noticed a Merlot-Refosco blend from Slovenia, and as this is where Refosco evolved, I saw an opportunity to to compare it with our own from Arizona. A dark ruby wine faced me, with a few large bubbles on the rim. A rich currant flavor, medium acidity, and a short finish revealed that our Arizona Refosco is very much like the original. We started our meal with Gamberi Adriatico, 5 large shrimp in a lemon tomato sauce that was so good we wanted to continue enjoying it after the shrimp and the baguette slices were done. My Lady ordered a salmon Niçoise, which included the famous Niçoise olives, a bed of arugula, tomatoes, potatoes, eggs, two full-sized anchovy fillets, and an absolutely delicious Atlantic salmon. I saw meatballs on the menu and had to have them. Of course they came smothered in spaghetti, and the sauce took me right back to Italy. My Lady then ordered us Vouvray sparkling wine, which our gracious server, Patrick, brought in coupe glasses. That's when it struck me: though this was 2023, she was in a sport dress and I was in a T-shirt and jeans, had this been 1910, she in frills and lace, and I in a waist jacket and top hat, the fare and the atmosphere would gave been the same. Somehow the impression of wine on lily pads pulled it all together. The Edwardian Era lives today. I accepted the challenge of Zucca gelato: vanilla ice cream with a pumpkin seed oil and salt. The flavors came together in a way that reminded me of salted caramel ice cream. It was the perfect treat for this outstanding meal. What a great way to kick off our vacation! read more
2 years ago
Came here with friends before going to Gammage. *Make sure you get your free dessert if you are seeing a show!! Overall bright and sleek atmosphere. The tables felt a little close together and had to talk loud to be heard over the music. Sometimes it felt like we were part of other group's conversations. I forget the name of the drink that I got but it was delicious and pink. We started with a salad that was mostly arugula and other mixed greens. I had the Pollo entree. The sauce with it was perfect. My friends had the Voodoo Pasta and the Fettuccine. Both friends loved them. Will probably return again to try a pasta dish next time. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Great server Chris!! Beautifully presented plates... food was delicious... loved the Espresso for dessert!! read more
1 year ago
I stopped by when I was in the area and loved the lunch specials! You can get a lovely salad and half of a pasta or panini at an extremely reasonable rate. The food is out of this world and the service is amazing. I ordered a SoCal Love salad and coniglio with mushrooms and thyme and both were delicious. Blazing fast Wi-Fi so I was able to spend a minute resolving a work issue before enjoying my lunch. You can sit indoors or outside. I've been here for amazing dinners before and can't wait to try the cocktails. The dessert I ordered was amazing: Vanilla bean gelato, pepitas, toasted pumpkin oil, black volcanic sea salt. Just a great combination of flagors read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
We stumbled onto Cafe Boa Sunday morning after hiking ASU Mountain. We were surprised that there wasn't any wait time! The location is hidden behind beautiful flowers & large front patio. We sat at the bar & the bartenders were extremely nice. I ordered a peach mimosa and chicken & waffles as my entree. Both were tasty! My fiancé was a little upset with them not having any steak for the "steak & eggs" entree. However, he ended up ordering eggs, bacon & potatoes. He was really impressed with the prosciutto bacon strips. The restaurant was very clean & the bathroom decor was chic. We booked reservations for dinner next week! read more
The rabbit in this pasta dish was pretty good but didn't do a great job at impressing. I was very excited to find a rabbit pasta dish as I've had some great experiences in the past at other Italian restaurants and the server specifically recommended this dish here. All together, pretty disappointing as the rabbit wasn't very flavorful and the hand spun noodles were not cooked for long enough. Ambiance is rather friendly and warm and is honestly a bit better than the quality of the food. You walk into the place and you expect top quality, unfortunate that the food doesn't live up to the standards. read more
Nothing special here. It's a fine spot but not much is distancing this place from other chain restaurants. The food is not special and interior is clean but not unique. Definitely a smart place to go on a first date, hangout with friends, or meet up with coworkers. Nothing offensive and nothing mind-blowing. It can't hurt. read more
1 year ago
After searching high and low for some good Italian food in the area, we settled on Caffe Boa. Parking was easy, as there was plenty of parking in the lot under "A" Mountain and it was a short walk to the restaurant. Starting out with appetizers, we ordered the Fried Calamari and Bruschetta. The calamari dish was a little smaller than you usually receive but it tasted fine and the bruschetta was good. For our entrees, we ordered the Pollo Al Roasmarino, Fettuccine Blanca, and Voodoo Penne. My wife raves about her chicken and the fettuccine was good as well. I had the Voodoo Penne and it was delicious. A little on the creamier side than I typically order but delicious nonetheless. I liked that the dish was a little different than what you usually find in Italian restaurants. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and would return. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Caffe Boa, we got off on the wrong foot. We had a reservation for 17 people for my roommates 22nd birthday which was mistakenly given to another party of 17 thinking it was us. Our initial reservation was 7:00pm (on a Tuesday, which I was surprised was fully packed) and we were not able to be seated until 8:00pm. Management and staff were very apologetic and threw in a small complimentary shot/cocktail for our troubles. I was very excited to try out your lasagna, but by the time our waitresses (both were great!) got our orders you were sold out of the lasagna. At 9:00pm our food finally arrived. My dish of Fettuccini Bianca was okay. The salmon was bitter in some spots due to it being burnt, but the sauce in the fettuccine was creamy, garlicky and delicious. Overall Caffe Boa, if it had not been for my roommate saying that this was an unusual night for your restaurant I would not be wanting to come back. I hope to stop in again in the future and update my review. read more
3 years ago
The Voodoo Penne make's me foam out of the mouth like a rabid dog, I'm addicted. Ravioli Zucca is also amazing. Tried the flatbread, Calamari, and a few other appetizers and they all smacked. read more
Caffe Boa is the cutest place to go for brunch with your friends or significant other! I love the sangrias they have (if you can't tell by the amount of photos I have of them) and they're at a great price. You can ask to ensure that the fruits that will be put in are to your liking (not a fan of apples) and the staff was kind enough to fulfill my request. They also have bottomless mimosas which are always a brunch staple. The food is great as well and not just your typical brunch foods. The pasta is TO DIE FOR. I had some Serbian friends join me and they geeked out of their drink menu (some type of Serbian drink that reminded them of family) which was a wonderful surprise. When I went with a larger party we were sat in a separate semi-enclosed area which worked well. Down to the little sprig of rosemary in the table setting, and the lighting in the back dining area, caffe boa is the sweetest. read more
Great environment, the place was packed and lively on a Tuesday night. Chris was our waiter and was kind and helpful throughout the night - great service. Started with the Shishito Peppers and they were very tasty and easily shareable. Excellent garlic glaze. Ordered the Voodoo Penne for my meal and it was fantastic, the chicken was excellently cooked and the Cajun pasta sauce was creamy with the appropriate smokey Cajun flavor. To drink, I went with the Rakija flight of three. Cherry was my favorite by far, really deep flavor with a cough drop aftertaste. Plum was my least favorite and hard to get down - very sharp. Apricot was the most unique flavor, definitely tastes like apricot but has a hard bite that quickly follows to remind you you're drinking liquor not juice. Second time at Caffe Boa and wasn't disappointed, I will continue to come back! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Jessalyn I.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your review and your choice to…
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
The atmosphere in this place is perfect, friendly, casual but also nice with a fancy feel. It would be perfect for a romantic date, and maybe just as good for a large family gathering. We had a nice booth room or "stage table" for a group of 7 people, these areas feel a bit separate from the rest of the restaurant and there are a few of them used for large groups. Three of us ordered the half salad/half pasta or panini lunch combination special - for $15 it is great value. Everything was very fresh and good solid authentic Italian food. All of the food and the wine list is excellent - I don't think you can go wrong with anything in this restaurant. Service was also perfect, our waiter was attentive, very friendly and couldn't be better. I have been there several times before (even for the first time, I was taken there for my job interview before I moved to Arizona!!) but I never got around to writing a review. Excellent place in downtown Tempe, great lunch specials, highly recommended!! read more
5 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Looked up best places to eat in Tempe and this popped up so we headed there. First time for us both. It was a Sunday and we somehow got parking right in front and no charge on the meter (Sunday) we sat on the patio which we were warned might be a little "buggy". We didn't see a single bug and the weather was lovely. The menu looked great mostly Italian and what seemed like some German as well. The specialty drinks killed me they all sounded so amazing it was hard to choose. I can't remember which we choose but it was fantastic maybe the best specialty drinks I've ever tasted or at least top 5. I got the special kielbasa plate and my date got the gnocchi. Our waiter was the best! He was kind and fun and attentive and adorable. I will daydream about this place until I return again. Thanks for the great experience Caffe Boa! read more
2 years ago
What a wonderful treat!! We accidentally stumbled upon this AMAZING gem!! Christina H was OUTSTANDING. so attentive, knowledgeable and all around amazing. The food exceeded all expectations and sangria was so refreshing. We will be back again when we are in town next. read more
Business owner information
Jessalyn I.
Thank you so much for your review and for supporting local! It means…
3 years ago
Zach provides awesome service and knows his food. Real awesome ingredients leave me feeling nourishes and not weighed down. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
More info about The Original Caffe Boa
398 S Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281
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(480) 968-9112
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http://www.cafeboa.com
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