The Italian Caffe , Enoteca

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The whole world is a stage, and all the men and women merely actors. They have their exits and their entrances, and in his lifetime a man will play many parts, his life separated into seven acts. *William Shakespeare*

In Milan this is taken literally, The Milanese have perfected the street scene into art.

There is nothing better than having a nice stroll before dinner, especially in a city that is synonymous with style and elegance that is Milan.

One of my most favorite walks is taking an evening stroll from my favorite hotel, Armani Hotel and walking along Via Montenapoleone and watching the great and the good of Milanese society strutting the stuff with nonchalant elegance.

I love the juxtaposition of the gritty graffiti with the elegant storefronts, the Loro Piana store with the bags of refuse that the Italian council workers did not uplift because some people did not grease the right palm.

I love how the modest moped is riden with style and aplomb, anywhere in the world it’s a basic form of transport except in Italy, where the rider rides like its thoroughbred horse, it also doubles as a platform to watch pretty girls go by.

All this *theatre* is amazing to watch, as dusk falls the boutiques light up and the soft white light adds to the framing of the street *theatre* the beautiful people sit at the placement restaurants and eat expressively all vying the attention of a fellow Milanese while disdainfully looking down at anyone not wearing a Moncler quilted jacket or the white Armani denim worn everso on the ankle and the Tods sneakers.

On Sunday Glasgow’s Merchant City actually looked cosmopolitan like Milan due to the COVID restrictions all the restaurants had outdoor seating and the great and the good of Glasgow society had turned out, the weather was cooperating and if you had the correct filter you could have been sitting in Milan,

The Alfie Foodwala jeeajunt (family) love their Italian food so we decided to try out the Italian Caffe in Ingram Street, this is now the Italian Quarter, what with sic Italian restaurants in a few yards of each other.

We opted for the effortlessly elegant Italian Caffe

the restaurant was modern and minimalist with dark wood and leather perfect Italian style the experience was heightened even more as the staff was actually Italian.

We kicked off the proceedings with some Neopolitan Pizza, the sugo and cheese topping was spot on, the zerozero flour base had the right amount of elasticity.

a promising start.

Bakree Foodwalee opted with the Pene Pasta, the Past was tossed with tomato sugo and olive oil with a wee touch of chili, simple and delicious.

The mark of a great restaurant is how the simplest of dishes are complex and how complex dishes are simple,

Rani Foodwalees risotto was buttery and firm, the rice were al dente and the King Prawns were plump and firm.

In Conclusion

The Italian Caffe had style, elegance, and substance, the food was honest to goodness North Italian simple.

The superior ingredients did the talking rather than complicated names and egotistical dishes.

Simple and delicious and attentive nonchalant Italian waiters.

The Star of the Meal?

The stars in my humble opinion were the Pizza and the Rissotto

The miss of the Meal?

Possible the roast potatoes, they could have been fresher.

Honorable Mention

So how did The Italian Caffe do against its peers?

The Padella in London definitely did a better pasta, La Lanterna on Great Western Road is a hard-to-beat class act.

Halal Rating

The Chicken, Beef, and Lamb  is NOT Halal

Alcohol is served on the Premises

Pork is served on the Premises

100% impartial Guarantee

Alfie Foodwala visits all restaurants anonymously and pays for the bill like any other customer, Alfie Foodwala does not except free meals in return for meals

All reviews are the personal opinion of Alfie Foodwala based on his 30-year experience as a restauranteur.