Cafe Cafe

Confession, I do not actually like pizza. I know, gasp. Pizza will never be something i suggest, and it’s never something i crave. However, my little ones love it. So often we’re in places that are known for pizza and I’m looking for alternatives. This little eatery exceeded expectations in every way. The kiddos shared a pizza, and both proclaimed it the best they’ve ever tasted. I had their spinach and strawberry goat cheese salad, and the calamari artichoke appetizer. With a glass of house chianti, it was a perfect dinner. One word about their truffle oil dipping sauce, it was literally the best I’ve had anywhere, and to me truffle flavor can be tricky to get just right. Desserts sounded divine but we were too full. A great location on top of a great taste too!!!

Best Italian food in Santa Fe! Everything is made from scratch. Even the pasta. The service is amazing and friendly. You have to try the pouched pears. Ey Dios mio! I didn’t want to share. Guys, want a nice place to take your lady without the high price? This is the place.

First time I went was very pleasant however, today I did a call in order for salad and it took 30 mins and was very expensive for out of the bag lettuce and a grilled piece of chicken.

Outstanding experience last night at Café Café, a charming pizza/​trattoria here in Santa Fe. My wife, father-​in-​law, and I happened upon it while walking to our hotel and decided to give it a try.
Café Café’s interior is nothing fancy, but it’s cozy and welcoming. We had salads, pizza (Chicken Pesto), pasta (Veal Marsala), and a decent bottle of Cabernet (Louis M Martini)… all for under $ 100. We were pleasantly surprised that our server, Letitia, was also French-​speaking (plus Italian/​Spanish). She and the hostess adroitly managed 9 – 10 tables, while charming us with stories from her childhood in Belgium and later life in New Mexico.
I would HIGHLY recommend Café Café as a tasty, affordable dining option in Santa Fe. And don’t forget to ask for Letitia!

We were here only for gelato. It was disappointingly too cold and hard, and the vanilla was icy and flavorless. It certainly wasn’t fresh.

The service was amazing! The music was perfect. I highly recommend the eggplant Parmesan and the pizzas are also super fresh and delicious! This place is incredible and I definitely recommend it.

We enjoyed a very pleasant dinner this past Friday evening. The restaurant has a very friendly atmosphere and everyone who took care of us was great. We had a pizza for two special of a 12″ two topping pizza, salads, and house wine. It was a good value, and all the food was very tasty. We followed it up with some gelato that was the best I’ve every tasted. And to top it all off, we enjoyed live music from a very talented trio of musicians. This was our first time at Café Café, and we’ll probably try it again next time we’re in Santa Fe.

This was my favorite pizza, not now, but still very good. Pasta dishes are tasty and you’ll feel comfortable here with personnel and service. Good menu and prices, and a flexible kitchen with changes, love Italian restaurants for that. It’s a good reasonable meal, hard to find fault in.

Very good food and incredible service. We stopped here as we were staying next door and a huge thunderstorm rolled in. I have to say I was pleased we did. The pizza was great and super fresh tasting. The olive paste and bread was awesome! The risotto is to die for! Share bc it’s very rich! Great spaghetti as well. Service was impeccable and attentive.

Superb food and exceptional customer service!
First let me start off by saying that the owners served our party of seven when they were actually supposed to be closed. We were headed to a local distillery tasting room only a block away when we decided food might be a good idea before sampling whiskey, vodka and gin. When I popped in to look at a menu, one of the owners told us they were in between the lunch and dinner service, but he said he could accommodate us anyway. He set a table, took our orders, probably assisted with the prep, served us (the food came quickly), bussed the table, and dealt with the bill split among three credit cards. You don’t normally experience outstanding and speedy customer service these days like this, especially in Santa Fe!
Oh by the way, the pizzas were fabulous. In addition my wife has gluten allergies, and they had multiple options for her including GF pasta.
If we ever come back to Santa Fe, this place will be on the short-​list of places to eat.

Stumbled across this place during my visit to Santa Fe. I was tired of green chile everything and decided to give this a shot. So glad I did! Truly amazing food. Their grilled caprese was delicious and filling. I’m taking a slice of their amazing looking cheesecake to go! Service was also top notch.

Wonderful service and great food! Highly recommend, followed other Unilocal reviews and completely agree. Recommend reservations on Sat night.

We were referred by the folks at Guadalupe Inn, had an amazing dinner! Everything was delicious! We had the Calamari, Risotto with Truffle Oil, two pizzas that were kid friendly… we did have a younger kiddo with us that ordered the Penne Alfredo and she loved it! I had the special vegetarian meal… with Chicken on it of course, because meat is good! The service was fantastic and the atmosphere is delightful with live music playing!
David made us feel welcome and the staff took us right in! We will definitely be back soon!

Delicious! Great service! Great atmosphere! I had the Fried Calamari and Risotto Cake for appetizers. For dinner I had the Special Mushroom Pizza and it was all sooooo good!!! For dessert I indulged in the Affogato. I will be back to Santa Fe and will be back to Café Café. Thank you for a great dining experience.

Incredible pizza, and even better service! I got the meatball pizza with goat cheese added on, the goat cheese really made the pizza. It was delicious!!! I highly recommend splitting the 10″ though, because my boyfriend and I could each only finish half of our pies. Our waitress was one of the best I’ve ever seen. She was so polite, attentive, and she made us feel like we were old regulars even though this was our first dining experience there. The live music was great, and not too loud. Loved this place! Tell Dave to hook you up!

We stayed at La Fonda on the Plaza for one night and got a recommendation for food near the Plaza. The concierge stated that Café Café was not in walking distance.
We didn’t buy it and wound up making our way to this awesome little spot.
It was my birthday and I wanted a special place for dinner.
Café Café was it. The service was spectacular. Our main waitress was probably among the nicest people we’ve ever interacted with in Santa Fe. She was fun, friendly, nice, and gave excellent recommendations. Her backup wait staff member was also very friendly and helpful.
Now, onto the food. The complimentary focaccia bread with sun dried tomato and olive spread was delicious and the «Pizza Special» for two was a terrific deal. It provides 2 glasses of wine, 2 salads and a medium pizza for $ 34. AND THE WINE WAS GOOD!
For dessert the Crème Brulee was a clean, refreshing finish to a great meal. Not only was it incredibly tasty, but because of my birthday, it was free!
All in all, this place provides a comfortable atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service. Can’t wait to return again soon!

The server David? was just wonderful, sweet man. Too bad, the night we were there he was the only solo waiter around. Quiet night nonetheless. This place is rather new and the façade of the restaurant like many others in Santa Fe, still throws me off,-being that I’m a city gal. Inside, is cozy and warm. I wouldn’t mind the kitchen being closed however (open kitchen) as it isn’t really eye candy to stare at.
The Calamartachokes was DELICIOUSO. assumed that they blended/​infused the two-​calamari and artichokes but alas, it was just half/​half. booo. but off to a brillant start.
I got the linguini with house made meat balls. the meatball are tiny suckers that needs work. Kinda tasted more frozen then reheated rather than home made. Didn’t dig it at all but the linguini and marinara sauce was good. Any marinara sauce linguinin will do you justice.
Two of our party both got Chicken Piccata. skip this dish. Though described to be appetizing, the chicken was too tough and they had trouble cutting it into pieces. Bleh.
My man got the GREEN CHILE BUFFALO LASAGNA. Now, this dish is the ultimate HOMERUN. I normally don’t dig lasagna but this was EXCELLENT
Don’t forget to cop a bottle of wine. Affordable and yum.
Dessert was pleaseant. Scored a pumpkin crème brûlée. Yums. Espresso Gelato with espresso might do the nightcap just fine.
Will probably be back for the Green Chile Buffalo Lasagna next time we’re back in town…

While this was our default pizza place for the past few years, due to an unfortunate experience I find myself pizzaless in Santa Fe until I find a new joint.
A few weeks ago I ordered 2 pizzas. Extra toppings on each… run at about 2 bucks a piece, but asides from the pineapple, sausage and all, I must have accidentally ordered off the secret menu and asked for hair on my pizza.
I took the third bite and there was a long hair. I pulled it from my mouth and free of the cheese and gave that hair the benefit of the doubt that it was indeed my own.
I finished that piece with no further incident. Meanwhile, boyfriend is chomping down sans hair. (different pizza)
So, I take out my second slice. In the first few bites it happens again. Bummed out that I have to take in percentages and this is likely not my own hair, I remove the pizza from my presence and pout.
Flash forward to the next afternoon. I’m starving. The hair pizza is just sitting there in the fridge and I decide to give it one more go.
I heat up the oven and get it perfect and bubbling… put it on a plate and hope for the best. The best would have been another long blond or brown hair. I wasn’t so lucky… I got a short and curly.
Sorry, 1, 2, 3 hairs you’re out.

We were in town for a family vacation. We wanted nice food without the hassle of all the tourists. Also, we needed a place that is child friendly for our 7-​year old daughter. Café Café fit the requirements in every way. I think their strategy was to be away from old town, provide a nice atmosphere and wow clients with food and service. It works well.
Food: Calamari/​artichoke appetizer (excellent); bread with olive tapenade (fantastic); Chicken tortilla soup (hearty with some spice); Linguine with clams in red sauce (fresh pasta and nice sauce); Shrimp with Penne (shrimp cooked just right); Penne with marinara and meatball children’s dish (adult-​size portion for only $ 6 and tasty).
Service: David Dawley is the GM and one of the waiters. He is enthusiastic, professional and very warm. He brings it all together. The rest of the staff were prompt, professional and friendly.
Child Friendliness: ¹⁰⁄₁₀. Extensive child’s menu with generous portions. Basically, the items on the adult menu that a child is interested in comes in child portions and is about $ 6.
Wine: The list is very complete and has a good selection of both Italian wines and CA options that go well with Italian wine. I had a 2010 Meiomi Belle Glos Pinot Noir from the CA Central Coast. This wine was huge body and flavored.
Ambiance: Quiet enough to talk and roomy. They have live music on Saturday evenings and its perfect for the background.

I as in town and stopped in at cigar shop nearby and was talking with the owner who told me if I wanted a steak, to go to Café Café and that was the best in town.
Well I went and it was nice. Interior dark like many Italian restaurants, not bad, created a warm mood. Some slices of warm Italian bread (a hint of herbs) with a delicious pesto-​like spread.
As much as I wanted to try the steak, I declined and went with the special, a green chile and buffalo lasagna. It was delicious. It came out piping hot and I constantly burned my mouth, but it was so delicious and flavor full. I added a few crushed red pepper flakes, but I was wrong and it only took away from the food’s flavor. It was a thick piece and I ate it and felt full but not bloated.
The owner made numerous rounds to talk to all the customers. He is from Binghamton, NY (which is near where I went to school) and travelled to work in other areas of the country. He has owned it for about 9 months. And I advise, if the rest of the food is as good as mine, he will be staying put.
If, and when, I return to Santa Fe, I will have to try the steak.