Caffe Classico

I just had one of the best tasting foods I have ever had I got there beef empanadas Wow they are fantastic I have never had these before in my life but there’s are great, I have never been here but you can count on me going back.

I love Café Classico and frequented this place many time before I became a Unilocaler. It should have been one of the first places that I reviewed. This night, I wanted a light and tasty dish that is made with the freshest of ingredients. We visited about 9p on a Friday night. Amy and Tommy (a Classico staple) took care of us wonderfully. For an appetizer, we ordered the Belgian Pomme Frites, which came with three different sauces (regular ketchup, a Wasabi mayo and a Chipotle mayo). The Pomme Frites were lightly salted and mixed with a herb that I could not determine. I liked both mayo dips.
My Beau ordered the pork tenderloin with sweet potato purée and asparagus, while I had the Sausages Alamania. It came with mashed potatoes and sauteed red onion. The portion sizes were just right for one meal and were not very large. For dessert, we shared a Strawberry sorbet that tasted as if it contained lots of fresh strawberries (Tommy confirmed this lovely suspicion, lol). It had a creamy texture without the calorie-​laden cream.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed our late dinner. I have never had a bad, or even luke-​warm experience here. The food is fresh and very good. The service is always excellent and the atmosphere is inviting and relaxing. All of my visits have been exceptionally positive and I will return.

I love this little café. It’s my go to for carry out in the neighborhood. Everything is always fresh and consistent. Their espresso is one of my favorites in the city. I must admit I order turkey club sandwiches quite often and theirs is by far my favorite. Also the vinaigrette they put on the salads is to die for.

I love Café Classico! The food is always consistent and fantastic!
My favorites are the empanadas, the ham and pepperoni pizza and the risotto cakes with the delicious Lima bean succotash!!!

Came to see the flamenco dancers, reservations were lost but we managed to get a table, service absolutely horrible. We would have bought more drinks but flagging the waitress down was impossible. They weren’t serving anyone. They could have made more. money if they were taking drinking orders. My mom ordered a orange sparkling water, that they served in a can. We had to ask for a glass with ice, they were out of cheese and crackers as well. Really?. The only great thing were the dancers… Last time I was here it was to see the dancers, if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have bothered twice.

Beautiful store and good espresso! We stopped in for an espresso on ice and wished we were hungry to try the empanadas. The espresso was nice, rich, and dark. The menu had a nice selection so we will have to come back when we are in town. It seems like a great place for date night as well; very romantic. The service was quick as well!

Always good service and good food priced fairly. Good atmosphere… a real gem of a place for lunch or dinner.

This place gets a good 3.5 star rating for me. To be honest, I don’t think it exactly knows its’ spot in life. My man friend and I came in here for a low key dinner and enjoyed some wine, the cheese plate, the Salmon cakes (for me) and the vegetarian cakes for him. We both enjoyed our food and wine, but I think the spot has an identity crisis. That being said, I enjoyed it! So many different types of people enjoying a different type of time in one place. I will definitely be back, but understanding this place is key!

This is one of my all time favorite places. The food is great and reasonably priced. If you’re really looking for a good deal, most of the entrees can be ordered in half portions. If the fancier sounding dishes aren’t your thing, they have spectacular pizza, steaks, and French fries. They usually have a great selection baked deserts and even gelato. As if the food wasn’t enough, the ambiance is wonderful and there is almost always ample seating, even on Friday and Saturday night. Finally, the service is always friendly and professional. I can’t say enough good things about Caffe Classico.

I just love when a place lives up to my hopes for it!
For too long, Caffe Classico had occupied a spot on my list of restaurants that I wanted to try out in Louisville. I perused their menu on line and saw that they offered weekend brunch, so I made a mental note to go on a weekend. When I woke up this morning, something told me that today was the day. Maybe it was the warmer weather, the birds singing their blissfully bucolic song as I woke up, or the sun after a gloomy Saturday (and even gloomier previous week that had seen it – eek! — snow). In any case, today was the day.
I’ve been fortunate enough to do quite a bit of traveling, and from the outside, Caffe Classico reminded me of an Old World eatery. The understated sign, the corner doorway with a lever handle, and the large picture windows for people-​watching all made me feel like I was a little bit closer to somewhere like France or Argentina. Inside, it had the fastidious simplicity of a coffeehouse in Austria: clean, bright, organized, but never stark. Tables were decorated by an organized container of sweeteners (including sugar advertising a coffee from nowhere other than Austria) and a single fresh rose in an elegant vase.
It came as no surprise, then, to read that the owner’s wife is from Argentina. I can definitely see the Latin undertones in the place, but there is a decidedly European twist in everything from the menu to the décor.
I seated myself and was quickly greeted by a courteous server. After ordering a drink, I asked a question about the menu to help me decide on my brunch. While I waited for my food, she kept my water glass filled and offered me a complimentary lemon scone.
The scone was authentic in that it was small (about 2″ diameter), and you could taste that it was made fresh in house. It was the perfect thing to whet my appetite for the Spinach Florentine omelet, which was filled with salty feta and fresh spinach, all topped off with a side of homemade salsa and some crusty bread. I was in heaven!
I spent my time alternating between reading a book and people-​watching. You can tell that this place is a local hangout, as many of the patrons greeted waitstaff by their names, and also went by to say hello to friends and other patrons on their way into and out of the restaurant. It added to the overall inviting vibe of the place, and made me want to come back and introduce friends to my awesome new restaurant find.
If you’re considering going, please stop considering and make time to check this place out for yourself. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

The romance! The Jamon Iberico!
I really really like Caffe Classico! So much so I am not sure where to start…
The ambiance: dim lighting, fresh roses on every table, live classical guitar player in the background. The sound level is at a perfect decibel that allows for entertainment and conversation at the same time.
The food: This is the first time I have tried the famed Jamon Iberico. I cannot get enough! Everything that Bourdain and Zimmern has said about this legendary ham is true! «Nutty» is the first word that comes to mind when I tried the Sample Jamon. It is not salty like most of the prosciutto I have had. I just need to get the bigger portion when I return. I also ordered a bowl of seafood chowder. It was creamy, rich and spicy. The food here has that light handed touch: unpretentious, uncomplicated but still refined. The portion sizes are adequate but will not leave you dreading your decision to finish the whole thing.
This is definitely a great place for a romantic date in the evening. It can also be a great place for a leisurely lunch with friends in the afternoon. I can’t wait to come back!

This is great food and a wonderful place to just relax or study. If you find yourself on Frankfort aveune come to this café. Yes it might be pricy but the food is amazing definitely somewhere I will come back to.

Delightful wine selection and the food I’ve enjoyed in my two visits has been fantastic. It feels like walking into a European café.

My ratings are based on 5 things, each earns a star.
1. Atmosphere
2. Service
3. Food
4. Price
5. Wow
— atmosphere —
Romantic and Classy
I was looking for a nice place that you wouldn’t go on a regular basis for a special Christmas date with the GF. This was the place I was looking for. The room was dimly lit with a single candle on each table, also had a rose on each table. Each table was a minimum of 6 feet away from all of the other tables, which made for an intimate date, we could see the other people but not really hear what they were talking about. A man was playing music on an acoustic guitar that really made the evening great. Attire around the place is nicer. I wore a pair of dress pants and shoes with a button down and didn’t feel overdressed. If you and the lady want to get a little dressy, go for it, you’ll fit right in.
— service —
Professional and Helpful
The service was great, cups were never empty. The waitresses were there to do their jobs, they weren’t checking their phones or chit chatting between table visits, they were serious about what they were doing. They were informative and did anything I asked them but were never intrusive.
— food —
Fancy and Good
App: Croquetas De Salmon. These were good but not blow my mind good. There were two that came with it. The sauce that comes on the side dashed like mayonnaise with a bit of wasabi, of what we had, this was the least favorite, but it was still good.
Meal: Chicken Roulade. Very flavorful and delicious. It looks like little Italian chicken sushi pieces! The risotto cakes were absolutely amazing. Both my girlfriend and I got this and were very happy with it.
Dessert: Two cookies with some filling between them, and coconut on the outside edge. They had a lemony taste to them. With this we had a double shot latte. The combination was great! For sure my favorite part of our meal. Soft and firm, not messy. The coffee was also very good.
Overall: the more we are, the better it got. Portions were modest, but we were both full.
— price —
Not cheap but Worth it
I went into this expecting to spend some money because it was supposed to be a nicer place to eat and a special occasion, and I was actually surprised when we got the bill. By the end of the night, with all we had eaten, the service we received, and the great experience, I expected a larger bill. The total bill was around $ 55! I was more than happy to cough up an extra $ 20 for a tip (including the guitar guy). As far as price goes, this place will give you a bang for your buck. Guys, if you want to impress a special someone this is a great place to go.
— wow —
Excellent Service
This is the «above and beyond» category. When I left I was thinking about how pleased I was with our waitresses. They would stand in the corner and watch the room and somehow, every time I thought to myself «I need our waitress» she came over! They always seemed to know when to come over. We were there for a good 2 hours at least enjoying our conversation and they never made me feel like I needed to leave soon, it was a constant attitude of «I’m here to help you».
OVERALL
I would for sure return to this place and recommend it to my friends. It was fancy, but not too fancy, and not too expensive. The food tastes good, and the service is some of the best I’ve had.

Enchanting ambience with live classical guitar performance. Tonight’s grilled salmon layered over baked sweet potato was gastronomy built upon simplicity and the caffe mocha … classico.

I’ve never been to France or Italy — some day, fingers crossed! — but I feel a little like I’m in the Europe of my dreams when I’m at Caffe Classico.
There’s a Vespa in the corner for crying out loud!
I went to Caffe Classico for lunch with a new friend and ordered the Panini Prosciutto, which comes with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes and baby spinach. The mozzarella was warm and gooey — not congealed like it can get if it’s not served immediately after coming out of the press. Kettle chips and a small salad came on the side.
Our service was prompt, attentive, and the restaurant is spotlessly clean.
I feel a bit regretful that I didn’t order the coffee, though. After reading some other Unilocal reviews of Caffe Classico, it’s now evident that I missed out.
Oh well, next time.
Also next time, I’d like to go there for dinner. It seems like it would be very romantic as a date spot.
Molto romantico!

Fancy, but fairly priced. Our group arrived around 6 and the place wasn’t full at all, but it did fill within the hour, so if you show up and are a person who normally takes emptiness to mean «not such a good restaurant», do not be deterred. The food was great, service friendly, and who doesn’t appreciate a cool older gentlemen playing guitar in the corner. ha.
We ordered Unilocal recommendations and server recommendations and were pleased with each one. Bonus — if you’re craving ice cream after, there’s a Comfy Cow across the street…
Will be returning to the café section for coffee!

I really love Café Classico’s options. One side is a casual contemporary coffee shop and the other side is an upscale restaurant/​bar where servers dress in black button down shirts, a single rose filled vase is placed on on each table, and live classical guitar music plays in the background.
If you’re in the mood for casual or classy, lunch or dinner, coffee or dessert, this espresso boutique and café has something to offer you. When I visited with a couple of friends, we were craving dinner.
Dinner entrees range from $ 14 to $ 17. I ordered the garlic shrimp linguini. I am often disappointed by pasta dishes that I order in Louisville by their use cheese to overcompensate for a lack of spices. But at Caffe Classico the shrimp was perfectly cooked and the linguini sauce was light, yet still flavorful. The portion sizes aren’t huge, but that can be expected from any restaurant attempting a fine dining flair.
This leads me to my one criticism. While I love the drastic differences between the restaurant and coffee house that makes up Café Classico, I believe that it’s also its downfall. I think that, much like a pre-​teen girl wearing makeup for the first time, Café Classico overdoes it with the fine dining elements without tying them together in a cohesive manner and I think it comes across as a little tacky. Regardless, I still think its a cool spot with great food that is well worth checking out.

Absolutely excels at every turn. Service, atmosphere, selection, flavors and textures, this place is bliss.
Last night was only for sherbet and coffee but what a delight. Strawberry sherbet and a soy latte before an evening stroll down Frankfort Ave? Yes, please.
Regarding staff, all I can say is that the service here reminds me that service was once a respected profession which required sophistication and training — and here, it still does.
The atmosphere succeeds in transporting one to a European café and the space is divided between casual lunch or coffee tables/​bar and a dining room for supper where a corner is dedicated to live entertainment. One evening it was simply a man with a Spanish guitar.
Now, the food: Intentional. Balanced. Flavor is always matched with texture and proportion, effectively engaging the entire palate. Stuffed spiced pork tenderloin supper, Belgian Fries appetizer, fruit and nut salad over field greens, en croute. That is a sampling of dishes I’ve enjoyed in recent years.
Please start or finish with your coffee or wine. The coffee comes with a tiny graham cookie to which I look forward on every visit. Watch for their wine tasting events, too.
Shortly, C’est magnifique!

I’ve only eaten at this place once, but the salad I had was absolutely tops! The lyonnaise salad had nice, fresh lettuce, delicious bacon-​y dressing, a perfectly-​cooked egg and a «croûton» (ie a toasted slice of baguette). I ate the whole thing in one sitting and scraped the plate.
I am taking off one star because the croûton was a little thick and hard to cut and the ambiance was a little quiet, but even so, I would come back for another «breakfast salad» (my words, not theirs’).