Love Cafe Firenze!
Cafe Firenze is one of our favorite restaurants; upscale without being stuffy or snobby, with high quality ingredients and a wonderful, warm atmosphere.
When I heard, on Top Chef, that Fan Favorite, Fabio Viviani, had a restaurant in Moorpark—about 30 miles away from where we live—I imagined a little Italian eatery out in the middle of nowhere.
I never expected the majestic, gem of a place—hidden in the Albertsons shopping center—surprisingly cosy and charming, even with the large, high-ceilinged rooms, and beautiful, regal decor. The booths, especially, are cosy and intimate. (Though we all agreed we could live without the decorative pillows—pretty, but not practical!)
You enjoy the royal, fine-dining treatment—even if you’re there with little ones—without the snobbery of the Los Angeles west side.
As musicians, we appreciate the subtle, tasteful, live music by the talented guitar player. (Think Sting or Eric Clapton.)
The staff couldn’t be nicer, and are very knowledgeable about the food. You can tell that Fabio really appreciates them (giving credit where credit is due), and they are happily supportive.
Left to Right: Adam, Executive Chef John Paolone, and Lindze
Our favorite waitress, Christina—she tells it like it is!
He certainly couldn’t do it without them—since he’s currently opening two more restaurants in Chicago; following the huge success of Siena Tavern, which opened in February 2013.
Our favorite, kid-friendly place for special occasions, we’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve at Cafe Firenze, with our three-year-old, Aja.
Valentine’s Day at Cafe Firenze, 2012
Perfect for a date night too; even our picky, jet-setting friends were impressed!
Kharen and Randy Bernstein
They loved the Chicken Scaloppini and Crostino Di Burrata.
Parmesan Bread, Burrata Cheese, Grilled Pancetta, with a Brown Butter Sage sauce.
You won’t go wrong with any of the pastas, but you HAVE to try the Braised Short Rib Ravioli. (To die for!)
Braised Short Rib Ravioli in a rich and decadent Taleggio Cheese Sauce.
Since my new obsession with Caesar Salads, I try them everywhere I go, and this one didn’t disappoint.
Next time I’ll try the Ossobuco, before attempting to make it from his fantastic new cookbook Fabio’s Italian Kitchen!
Click here for the Cookbook Review and Cooking Demo at Cafe Firenze >>
Click here for the full dinner menu >>
What are your favs at Cafe Firenze? I’d love to hear from you!
2 Responses
We LOVE this restaurant and we love Orna Bakes! We definitely recommend trying Cafe Firenze. We appreciate great food, atmosphere, and service and all three were superb. Thank you Orna for adding us in your fantastic article!