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June 2003

Café Napoli – A Superb Dining Experience

By Jack Matsas

 

We have all heard about how previous generations had very little to choose from in terms of kosher dining. A pizza store, a bagel store and a bakery were all considered a rarity. For a Jew living today in Brooklyn, it is difficult to walk a single block without running into a kosher establishment.

With so much variety, some restaurants get lost in the shuffle. Conversely, others stand out despite the amount of competition. One such shining star is the highly popular Café Napoli. Located in the heart of Jewish Brooklyn on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Avenue M, the Italian dairy restaurant is not to be missed.

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Café Napoli and we found ourselves on a Venetian canal of culinary pleasure. Evening is a great time to dine at the restaurant as the waitered service, cloth table cloths and general atmosphere create an elegant, unforgettable eating experience.

To start, we made selections from the Café’s antipasti menu. I chose the Giambotta tossed potato chips with peppers, onions and basil. My wife went with the Piadina di Spinci – toasted tortilla stuffed with spinach and cheese with cipolte sauce. Both were outstanding and got us very exited about what was to come next.

Café Napoli’s exquisite salads were the next dishes to make their way to our table. My wife enjoyed the Insalata Con Pere – arugula topped with fresh pears and caramelized pecans. I joyously made my way through the Insalata Alla Cesare – incredibly fresh Romaine lettuce and croutons tossed in a creamy parmigiana sauce.

As this was not our first visit to the Café, my wife and I knew that when it came time for the main course, we would be faced with an incredibly difficult decision. In the past we have enjoyed a number of delicacies from the fish menu such as the Tonno Pepato – sautéed black pepper crust tuna served with caramelized onion in a compote sauce, and the Avvoltini di Sogliola – a delightful stuffed filet of sole with vegetables.

We are also big fans of the many varieties of brick oven pizza that Café Napoli offers. From the mock “Pepperoni” – pizza topped with roasted peppers, onions, tomato sauce and mozzarella with a sesame seed crust, to the “Broccoli” with garlic, tomatoes, broccoli and mozzarella; you have never tasted pizza like this.

This time, though, we decided to go with the pasta. My wife chose the Cannelloni con Spinaci – rolled fresh pasta with sautéed spinach, sun dried tomatoes and ricotta served in a pink sauce. I decided on the Gnocchi alla Capri – fresh potato pasta in a tomato sauce topped with baked mozzarella. Both pasta dishes were bursting with flavor and left us with (unfortunately) no room for dessert! For those of you who can handle it, the dessert of the day and fruit of the day looked positively superb.

A meal at Café Napoli is something that is truly remarkable. From the fantastic food to the stylish décor to the great service, you are guaranteed to return in the near future.

Café Napoli is located at 1636 Coney Island Avenue M. Call 718-627-6077 for more information.

 

Jack Matsas is a journalist and director of sales and marketing at Image Magazine.

 

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