Il Caffe di Napoli on Dublin’s Westland Row has morphed during it’s time from a really good coffee and light food outlet to a fully fledged authentic Italian trattoria.
I went along for dinner with my friend Ralf, a trained chef. The restaurant is half way down Westland Row on the same side as Pearse Station, and to the front looks like a nice coffee shop and gourmet food store. There are Panini and desserts on display and some cosy tables that on this evening were filled with groups enjoying a nibble and a glass of wine.
Walking downstairs to the rear leads to a large, modern restaurant with a fabulous open plan kitchen. Wooden tables and chairs complement the exposed brickwork and blackboards list the many wine special and daily food special available. We took our seats and were quickly given our sparkling water, some freshly baked Boccaccio and our menus.
The menu is a large card listing the fare. Starting at the top there are a selection of antipasti, in individual portions or to share. Then follows a selection of authentic Italian pizzas, several pastas including properly made carbonara, linguini with smoked salmon, and a gnocchi with tomato, mozzarella and parmesan. Cucina list the other main course and you can choose from Neapolitan sausages with parmesan mash, pan fried broccoli with garlic and chilli or chicken wrapped in pancetta with walnut and pear stiffing.
Ralf decided on a mixed antipasto to start, while I ordered a starter portion of the spaghetti with pan fried shrimp, cherry tomato, garlic and chilli. We looked to the daily specials for our main courses and I chose the medallions of pork with rosemary sautéed potatoes, while Ralf ordered the gnocchi with veal and tomatoes.
The restaurant was fairly full by now, and on a reassuring note at least half the clientele were groups of Italians out for a meal. I always find it a good sign when a restaurant serving Italian food manages to attract some of their fellow countrymen.
The starters arrived, with more of the delicious bread. My pasta was perfectly cooked al dente, and the shrimp and tomato sauce was very nice, but in fairness Ralf got the better of this course, his antipasto was excellent and easily big enough for two. His plate was laden with good quality salami, roast ham, bresaolo, prosciuuto din Parma along with tomatoes, pesto cheese and olives.
The main courses kept up the standard, my pork was excellent, the potatoes nicely flavoured while the gnocchi was delicious. We were really to full for dessert and finished with an espresso and an Americano. Caffe di Napoli is an authentic Italian experience with great food, value for money prices and friendly and professional service. If you haven’t already tried it, go along, you won’t be disappointed.
