Palo Alto, CA - Cafe Fino - 2006 [MOVED]
RATING ( * poor to ***** excellent)
Type of Food: Continental-American
Food: ***
Service: ****
Atmosphere: ****
Value: ***
Cafe Fino Website
General: Maddelena's and Cafe Fino are two restaurant in one - sharing the same wall and kitchen but have different looks. Cafe Fino, the one I'm more familiar with, is one of my favorite downtown Palo Alto hangouts because of the combination of decent food, ambience, intimate service, and great music. If you don't want to feel like you're in the East Coast back in the 60s, this is probably not the place for you.
Food: Maddalena's and Cafe Fino share the same kitchen and offer the same menu. The selections are decent, and you will seldom find them really screwing up anything; however, you won't find any pleasant surprises either. The food is "solid" (don't worry, not describing the texture here), with some traditional continental dishes mixed with some Californian nouveau cuisine creations.
The surprise is the dessert. Forget tiramisu or green ice cream - this is you're creme brulee, banana foster or grand marnier souffle kind of place! We order the souffle everytime we go, and it never failed (or falled) us.
Service: Waking into Cafe Fino is like going back to your parents' place - only that you don't know where the utensils are. The wait staff is professional yet friendly, constantly smiling and even swinging to the jazz tune when they are serving - and miraculously none of our dishes or drinks ended up on my head. Maybe because of the owner is right behind the bar? For some reason everyone seems happy working there - even on a weeknight when it's not so busy (= less tips). Overall, service was impressive.
Ambience: This is where Maddalena's & Cafe Fino sets itself apart. I believe there are no more than five restaurants in the entire Silicon Valley that can guarantee you an East Coast dining experience like they can. It's truly a matter of personal taste though - it is obvious that not everyone appreciate dining with jazz in a dark mohageny, leather-upholstered, supper club-style dining room as much as I do. I wouldn't do it everyday, but it's sure a pleasant reminder of the old days - well, maybe my grandparents' old days. Have I mentioned romantic? Ladies beware - this is the kind of place that your boyfriend may propose to you.
Value: The restaurants seem to be on the pricey side at first glance, but when you realize that you are getting pretty decent food at a very comfortable setting with live music, the package is not bad. They are getting three stars here because to those who likes quantity as well as quality, they might feel a bit short-changed on the quantity side - the portions are not generous there.
Bottomline: I don't want to fool you - Maddalena's & Cafe Fino are not for everyone. Some people will hate their bland menu selection and old-time decoration, but if you appreciate a classic dining experience with great jazz, check it out and you won't be too disappointed. If you only care about good food and nothing else, I'd recommend that you go elsewhere - there are plenty of good restaurants in downtown Palo Alto!
Last Word: If you want to try to souffle I mentioned, you must ask for it at least 1/2 hr before you want it - the waiters there don't seem to consider it a treat so they don't typically bother to remind you, but I do recommend it HIGHLY.
Type of Food: Continental-American
Food: ***
Service: ****
Atmosphere: ****
Value: ***
Cafe Fino Website
General: Maddelena's and Cafe Fino are two restaurant in one - sharing the same wall and kitchen but have different looks. Cafe Fino, the one I'm more familiar with, is one of my favorite downtown Palo Alto hangouts because of the combination of decent food, ambience, intimate service, and great music. If you don't want to feel like you're in the East Coast back in the 60s, this is probably not the place for you.
Food: Maddalena's and Cafe Fino share the same kitchen and offer the same menu. The selections are decent, and you will seldom find them really screwing up anything; however, you won't find any pleasant surprises either. The food is "solid" (don't worry, not describing the texture here), with some traditional continental dishes mixed with some Californian nouveau cuisine creations.
The surprise is the dessert. Forget tiramisu or green ice cream - this is you're creme brulee, banana foster or grand marnier souffle kind of place! We order the souffle everytime we go, and it never failed (or falled) us.
Service: Waking into Cafe Fino is like going back to your parents' place - only that you don't know where the utensils are. The wait staff is professional yet friendly, constantly smiling and even swinging to the jazz tune when they are serving - and miraculously none of our dishes or drinks ended up on my head. Maybe because of the owner is right behind the bar? For some reason everyone seems happy working there - even on a weeknight when it's not so busy (= less tips). Overall, service was impressive.
Ambience: This is where Maddalena's & Cafe Fino sets itself apart. I believe there are no more than five restaurants in the entire Silicon Valley that can guarantee you an East Coast dining experience like they can. It's truly a matter of personal taste though - it is obvious that not everyone appreciate dining with jazz in a dark mohageny, leather-upholstered, supper club-style dining room as much as I do. I wouldn't do it everyday, but it's sure a pleasant reminder of the old days - well, maybe my grandparents' old days. Have I mentioned romantic? Ladies beware - this is the kind of place that your boyfriend may propose to you.
Value: The restaurants seem to be on the pricey side at first glance, but when you realize that you are getting pretty decent food at a very comfortable setting with live music, the package is not bad. They are getting three stars here because to those who likes quantity as well as quality, they might feel a bit short-changed on the quantity side - the portions are not generous there.
Bottomline: I don't want to fool you - Maddalena's & Cafe Fino are not for everyone. Some people will hate their bland menu selection and old-time decoration, but if you appreciate a classic dining experience with great jazz, check it out and you won't be too disappointed. If you only care about good food and nothing else, I'd recommend that you go elsewhere - there are plenty of good restaurants in downtown Palo Alto!
Last Word: If you want to try to souffle I mentioned, you must ask for it at least 1/2 hr before you want it - the waiters there don't seem to consider it a treat so they don't typically bother to remind you, but I do recommend it HIGHLY.
posted by His Servant at
1:00 AM
