Caffe Italia

We left the Fridays After 5 early so we could get a table. We were seated outside right away @ 725pm. 15 minutes later we were brought room temperature water and our order was finally taken (garlic bread, gnocchi allessandro and chicken marsala). Few minutes later cold bread and dipping oil were brought to the table. And then a large plate of warm garlic bread (quite yummy although awkwardly large - we cut it into manageable slices with the butter knife). And then service for us stopped. We watched table after table get their food. Tables that were seated after us. Around 820pm we asked to have our order packaged to go. The hostess came back to proudly tell us that she had our to-go order moved to the front and they'd start on it right away... WHICH MEANS THEY HADN'T EVEN STARTED IT! We asked for the check. It came quickly. And the card was processed quickly!! we still waited another 15 minutes before we had our food. We expressed our disappointment to the hostess... she looked at our ticket and said the time on the ticket doesn't lie... it was stamped 804pm. The picture I took as we first sat down was stamped 725pm... the picture of mostly eaten garlic bread was stamped 759pm. The gnocchi was disappointing... as if they took a package of already cooked gnocchi and heated it in water... pasty and flavorless... the sauce was tasty and mushrooms and peas fresh.

Hands down the best Italian food in Charlottesville and sorounding area. Everything on their menu is delicious 😋 but if you can't decide here's a good place to start: As an appetizer get the fried mozzarella As your main course the chicken parm Get a pizza as well AND your drink should definitely be a sangria (it will change your life) To close things off make sure to order a teramisu even if it's to go you'll thank me later. This is by far the best dinners you will have in your life.

Needs to be way more authentic and freshly cooked for that price! Pink lady sauce is plain pizza sauce with cream. Parmigiana out of a shaker and not grated fresh in front of you. Cheap silverware . Only benefit, is quick food and great Service. I guess everything is fully pre-prepared . Btw i am European.

Dinner on 6/19 for three. Only place on street which found seating for walk-ups. Big plus. Several live concert events were going on so very busy/crowded. Food was wonderful and my calamari was among best I've had in long time. Waiter was overwhelmed it still managed to be attentive. I suspect owners were helping bus tables as they were in plain clothes and older. I think that shows great leadership and empathy for employees. Great job.

Very friendly service. We had calamari and pasta, both with the pink lady sauce. The sauce was very pleasant. Interestingly the ravioli was a much smaller portion compare to the pappardelle despite a very similar price. I wouldn’t say it was the best pasta in town. The tiramisu is definitely unexpectedly weird and we were not so happy about it. But it was an ok dinner overall.