Mi Piace :-) (Caffe Uno in general)

Name: zoe_page_1

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Product:	Caffe Uno in general
Date:	01/03/02 (199 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: in ze op

Disadvantages: in ze op

University has taught me so much. I’ve learnt how to sleep any time of day in any place, where to find the cheapest Warburtons in town and how to make seemingly understandable notes from lectures given by professor types who only appear to know a smattering of English. The most important thing I’ve realised though, is that there’s more to Italian Restaurants than just the Tiggis I grew up with.


-- The Background --

Over the last 5 or 6 months, Quy and I seem to have spent a lot of time eating, and 99% of those occasions have been in Italian restaurants. There’s Michelangelos (which I’m not writing an op on since he has already), Est Est Est, Ask! and Tiggis (all reviewed by yours truly), Via Roma and Don Antonio’s (too bad to even think of it) and Don Giovanis and Cocottoos (will get around to it one day), to name a few. The last one we went to was Caffe Uno in Didsbury – my choice based on the fact I was craving their garlic bread, in the way only a garlic bread connoisseur can….


-- The Food --

Typical Italian fare including salads, pasta, pizza and meat dishes and various appetizers and puddings. Their pasta is wonderful - you know how you can just *tell* when it’s ultra fresh? Their Parmesan comes in one of those tiny graters and so doesn’t leave the wedge until your meal is in front of you, thus retaining all it’s flavour - full marks there. The garlic bread is unusual for this area in that it’s not a pizza base style one: instead it’s made from a ciabatta roll sliced in half, lightly toasted and topped with just the right amount of garlic and butter, plus a sprinkling of herbs. Mmmm mmm good (what was that an advert for?). Being vegetarian I didn’t sample his steak or starter on either occasion, but I’m told it was “fine” if not spectacular.

They have a decent selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic drin
ks available, and a small but delicious looking pudding menu – I can’t comment though since as always I was too stuffed to try one.


-- The Setting --

Our local restaurant is, I would imagine, typical of the chain (have a look at the website – address below – for your local branch). There are sparking wooden tables with candles, and a paneled wood floor. The walls are decorated with large blackboards showing the specials and interestingly enough, dinner plates and empty vases. It might not be wonderfully romantic or typically Italian, but it’s certainly nicer than Pizza Hut.


-- The Service --

We’ve been to this branch twice. On neither occasion did we encounter terrible service, but the last time we went (mid week, not near valentine’s day, not all that late) it was a bit slow, although it appeared they had very few waiting staff working so no doubt a few had called in sick. Still, we’ve never had to wait long to order, the food arrives before you get to the point of wondering whether your order’s got lost, and the bill arrives the second you click your fingers.


-- The Cost --

Probably average for the places we go to, it’s somewhere in between pure fast food pizza/pasta, and fancy posh, waiters-who-look-down-their-nose-at-me-employing Italian places. As a guide, 4 courses and 4 drinks would usually cost between £25 and £30 depending on your choices. We have a great system where he pays and I, ahem, leave the tip…. For more info on all the dishes available, and their prices, have a look at www.caffeuno.co.uk.



-- The Extra Info –-

Unlike some local restaurants, they do take bookings, and don’t seem to have a minimum party size. Last time we went we got a “Book Now for Mother’s Day” stuck on the bottom of the bill.

They have a reasonably sized children’s menu and
offer lunch time offers throughout the week. They’ve also been known to have all-you-can-eat buffet style deals on.



-- The Verdict –

Mi piace. What can I say? It serves Italian food. They have Coke not Pepsi. It’s in Manchester. Works for me. I only wish there was a branch at home.

Summary: