operacaffe food sampleOperacaffe
835 4th Avenue, San Diego
www.operacaffe.com
619-234-6538

There was an older couple in deep conversation. There was a group of friends laughing and talking over wine among this restaurant almost full of diners. Then there we were – tucked in the back of the restaurant by request so the chill of the evening air wouldn’t be too cold for my 5-year-old daughter.

Our trip to Operacaffe in San Diego’s Gaslamp district was a pleasant one. The food was tasty, the mood was serene and the staff was more than friendly. But we did feel a bit out of place as the only group in the place with a young child.

A boutique Italian restaurant, Opercaffe is the perfect place for mom and dad to steal a moment for a romantic date. The décor is fancy with touches of elegance. This would be a great place to catch up with friends over food and drinks. It certainly could be suitable for older kids, perhaps age 12 or older, but in my opinion, not so much for younger ones.

The food was excellent. I didn’t want to go on the judgment of my daughter Kai alone, so we invited our friend, Linda, and her home-from-college son Jeremy. While there was no kid’s menu, the restaurant will serve any dish in a half portions to appease smaller appetites. It would be hard for a child to say no to pizza or a nice plate of pasta. My daughter was no different.

We started with appetizers. Our waiter recommended the Gli Arancini ($7.95), deep fried rice cones stuffed with cream cheese, and the I Coccoli ($8.95), fried pizza dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma. Both were delicious, but it took some convincing to get Kai to try either one. Although, the dishes didn’t pass her visual test, and it took a minute for me and Linda (whose opinion Kai seemed to value more) to encourage her to give them a shot.

We all opted for pasta for dinner. I ordered the Farfarlinne Campagnole ($11.95), a smooth dish of chicken broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and light cream. Linda and Kai had the Fettuccine Campagnole ($11.95). The pasta, chicken and broccoli made it easier to pass the Kai-test. Linda was pleased as well.

Jeremy ordered Penne Carrettiera ($9.95), pasta made with tomatoes, garlic and Italian chili. It was a bit spicy, but to his satisfaction since he prefers food with a kick.

The restaurant is located right across the street from Horton Plaza, so parking isn’t an issue at the mall. It’s a good idea to visit Opercaffe with an empty tummy, so you won’t make the mistake I did of not having room for dessert. The Crema Bruciata, Torta Di Ricotta and Tiramisu (all $5.95) all looked tempting.

Operacaffe certainly gets my vote for a lovely evening for mom and dad, and perhaps your perfect little angel. Just don’t expect crayons and paper.

Freelance writer Denise Ward lives in Chula Vista. This review appeared in the May 2009 issue of SDFM.

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