Naturally it's hard to come by ripe tomatoes in the winter, but Riace did pretty well. The luscious juxtaposition of creamy cheese and pungent basil worked brilliantly. And the fragrant, balanced fruit and velvet tones of the wine did the rest. Steaming plates of pastas passed as waiters served with flourish and pride to the delight of each table. Cafe Riace makes no pretenses to be a high-end designer establishment.
Every dish is made with honest expertise.
No tricky trendiness here. Our waiter offered fresh gratings from a chunk of Parmesan reggiano. The penne, luscious with eggplant and ricotta, prompted a quick return to a childhood state of pampering. With it were mashed potatoes of incredible integrity and long, perfectly steamed green beans. Each dish was wonderful, made all the more so by the simpatico cafe, its staff and our fellow diners.