I have to say that I was a bit underwhelmed with my experience here. Maybe I had expectations that were too high.
We arrived about ten minutes early for our reservation time, and we were greeted right away. They said our table was ready and given instructions to go have a seat at the second table on our left. I understand the place is small, but a male front of restaurant can escort us to the table and at least offer to pull out the seat for my wife. (Don't worry, I got that covered for her since you just pointed out our table.)
We were greeted quickly by a friendly server that covered the specials and gave us a minute to review the EXTENSIVE wine list and the menu.
Menu covered all the bases. Plenty to choose from. We tried the garlic bread, scampi, spinach salad, a chicken pasta, and a sausage and pancetta pasta dish.
Garlic bread should be complimentary. Wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about.
Scampi - cooked perfect, great flavor, only 3 shrimp. Could have been larger sized shrimp or one more for the price.
Spinach salad - great dressing, good amount of bacon. Problem was I found a bit of hard plastic, possibly part of spinach container, in my salad. I pointed it out to waitress that was clearing our table, but only got an "I'm sorry" from her. Nothing more.
The two pasta dishes were just OK. Both would have benefited from fresh pasta rather than dried. Just lacked flavor. I expected more.
We did decide to go ahead and get dessert. This saved the meal. The Tiramisu was exceptional along with the white chocolate ice cream. Both are a must have. One of the lightest tiramisus I've had, but still rich and decadent.
Overall, it was just okay. Great wine list, and cozy romantic feel, but food didn't live up to the hype. Might try again on our next trip out to Tahoe and try a meat or seafood dish instead of pasta.
I swear, I would not know why this place is less than a four and a half star. The ambiance is awesome, makes you feel super cozy, and the servers are very helpful. I went there with my family of seven.
The food here is awesome, ESPECIALLY there special of swordfish. OMGERRDD so goood. We all shared each others plates and enjoyed every single one of them. The dessert was good too, i beleive they hand make their ice cream, it was delightful.
I wish i can come back, but i was just a tourists from the bay area. Hopefully, I can come back on day.
Cafe Fiore was a unexpected find! So small and cozy, great Italian food and a warm welcome. It was off the beaten path of Tahoe, and my wife loved the charm and warmth of the little cafe. Food and Service were great. Brian our waiter was full of great suggestions and pairings. The filet did not disappoint. Thanks Cafe Fiore for making some great memories. We will return soon.
Review Source:Actually, about a 3.7
I've eaten all over Tahoe for years and for some reason Cafe Fiore just got beat out each time and in 38 years I had never eaten here. Although, I had always heard great things about it. My husband and I had missed our reservation a for a different anniversary dinner and in a last minute call Cafe Fiore got us an 8:30 reservation that night. We were very thankful.
The place is small but "Tahoe quaint" little restaurant, as most reviews say. We didn't mind the smallness of it, even had the weather been nice I think I would have chosen the experience of the indoor atmosphere.
There were two servers, both were very lovely and accommodating. We found them to be knowledgable and friendly. We had good conversations about food and wine pairing.
The food was ok and actually the major reason that it doesn't get a higher rating. We spent the extra $4 for the garlic cheese bread although it was good, it wasn't good enough, it really should be a complimentary item as well. The bill isn't cheap here so the customer more than pays for it. For appetizer we ordered eggplant crepes. We enjoyed this, it was more simple then the menu made is sound. But it was yummy and we loved the sauce. The salads were good, we each got a different dressing and thought they were both good and perfectly dressed. For dinner I had the special Ciopinno (seafood soup). I love Ciopinno, my husband is an Italian chef and no one can ever make it as good as him. Cafe Fiore was comparable, so I say good job. My husband ordered a seafood pasta with white wine sauce. It was just ok, we asked about fresh pasta, they do not do fresh pasta because they serve al dente, which was a good excuse but it would be way better with fresh pasta. And dessert OH YES, the homemade white chocolate ice cream with fresh berries. Absolutely the yummiest item of the night!!
The wine list was extensive and made me happy. They had wines, by the glass, the half bottle and full bottle. There were all different price ranges and good vineyards to choose from. The pour was a great size. There was also a great selection of beers but I don't remember seeing any liquor. The cappuccino smelled excellent.
Overall, I'm glad I finally made it to Cafe Fiore and I will make it back at some point. I would recommend the experience to others. I just wish the food would have been a little more on point for the price. It wasn't bad but it wasn't the best meal I ever had.
The food is good but not good enough for the terrible customer service and dismissive attitudes. You would think that if patrons were frequenting your establishment that the staff would treat you as a valued customer not a nuisance or inconvenience. For the poor treatment alone, I will never come here again.
Review Source:Awesome food, a fantastic Caesar salad with one of the best filet's I have ever had.
The servers spiel started out professional border lining pretentious, mostly due to his complete lack of eye contact. However after hearing his rehearsed script with other patrons it became obvious this was more of an annoyance and absolutely pretentious.
Ridiculously for having less than 10 tables we were never checked on, never offered another glass of wine, or water for that matter.
When the check came the server reluctantly as if forced went through the dessert menu, this time he was just being an ass, they were out of Port so it saved me $24 anyways.
Unfortunately the lack of service took away from the overall experience of what should have been a romantic dinner...
I wouldn't let a server stop you from enjoying a terrific meal; just know what to expect and your experience will most assuredly be better than ours.
The price was spot on for such a delicious meal.
I really wanted to like this place more, but I was a little disappointed in the experience.
First, the guy who I assume was the manager was great. He took photos of my wife and I before dinner--very nice. But the other two front-of-house people there had some annoying quirks which took away from the experience.
The server named Marcus, really got us off to a bad, dishonest, and deceptive start. He has a well rehearsed spiel about your bread choices (he says it verbatim to every single table). You're in an Italian restaurant and you usually get complementary bread for the table. Before the menus come, he says they can *offer us* the regular bread, or the garlic cheese bread. So of course we said we'll take the garlic cheese bread. Â
Then a couple of minutes later they bring the menu and I see that the garlic bread is $4. Seriously, I don't care about the $4 charge for the bread in itself. We would have paid for it if we wanted it. What I have a problem with is how Marcus makes it sound like both kinds of bread are complimentary when he of course knows full well they are not. He should be honest and tell you that there's a charge for the garlic bread. Seriously, I'm not going to let something like that bend me out of shape, but Marcus was very shifty for trying to get one over on us and bump up our bill (or whatever he was thinking.) Actually, that seemed to be a common thread with everyone in the restaurant--they kept trying to upsell us over and over at every possible opportunity. That was annoying.
So then Marcus comes up to tell us about the specials. Again, he has a rehearsed script that he says word for word at every single table (and since this is such a tiny place you can hear him say it to every single table.) I don't have a problem with his passionless rehearsed script (although it makes him seem like a robot)--I'm sure it just helps him remember it all. But the problem is that he doesn't even look at my wife or I while he's saying it. He stares up at the ceiling rocking his head side to side like he's Stevie Wonder or something, so we really can't totally understand what he's talking about, even though we've heard the speech so many times.
Then the lady server (who seemed to be the wine steward too) always seemed impatient and in too much of a hurry to give good service. When asking about wine or food she did some eye-rolling and said she'd be back later. She did that at least twice, which is really not professional.
Now for the food...
Well that $4 garlic cheese bread was just bland. We could not taste the cheese or the garlic at all.
And bland pretty much summed up the rest of the food.
The salad seemed to have enough dressing on it but it was more or less flavorless.
My pasta (Fettuccine al la Calabrese) really didn't have much flavor. It had about 4000 olives in it, and I love olives, but there were really too many if you can believe that. The sauce was pretty much flavorless, so flavor-wise I felt like it was just olives and plain pasta.
On the plus side- my wife said her entree was really good (a veal dish) and the white-chocolate vanilla ice cream was absolutely amazing. It was insanely rich and would have been hard to finish, if not for the fresh fruit which really cut the heaviness.
And they also give a good sized pour of wine which is nice.
Overall, it's a nice little romantic place and we liked the atmosphere. The service was a little flaky at times which took away from the overall experience, and most of the food we had was pretty bland and flavorless so that was disappointing. I'd be willing to give the place another shot though.
Oh and manager, if you read this...please tell Marcus that it's really dishonest and shifty to try to trick people and sneak a little $4 charge for the garlic bread onto the bill. That's really beneath the reputation of the restaurant!
Excellent Italian food and a great wine list. Service is very attentive and friendly. I've actually never ordered an entree off the menu (I always get the specials...the osso bucco the weekend I went was incredible) but my wife loves the vegetarian pasta dishes. Only drawback is the price, but with only 7 tables I guess it's necessary (but the small size is what leads to great service and food). Highly recommended!
Review Source:Had an great evening at this restaurant. What made the evening so special (besides celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary) was the service and staff. Â The place was quaint and inviting and the 2 guys that served us were so professional and friendly that that alone made the whole experience amazing. Â the food was good ... We had the garlic bread, veal satimbocca, and pollo in porchetta. For dessert the white chocolate ice cream, which was the BEST ice cream I have ever had. Definitely recommend for the whole package. Did not get the names of our servers (assuming one was the owner) but the service was great. We will definitely be back. Cannot believe I have never been to this place before.
Review Source:I dined at this place on my first anniversary day. The place is a little crammed but is adequately compensated by the attentiveness and hospitality of the staff.
Although this is not so much of a complaint on the restaurant as on the kind of customers the restaurant had that night, I was a little uncomfortable when a lady showed up in what appeared to be only underwear (and stockings with garter belt?? Seriously???) and was seated next to our table.
Not that I'm uptight or don't support freewill, but I think restaurants should have a minimum dress code so as to not make the rest of the customers uncomfortable.
Love how this restaurant was voted most romantic place to kiss in Northern California, if you haven't experienced it for yourself, now is the time to plan ahead.
Love the tiny and cute wooden space with an atmosphere that feels like I'm dining in a European mountain chalet. In summertime you can also dine outside on the deck.
Love, love, love the home cooked Italian food and especially the pastas. Make sure to start off with an order of their famous garlic bread, straight out of the oven. Check out their excellent wine list, too. At the end, make sure to leave room for dessert, you won't be disappointed with the entire experience.
Advance reservations are an absolute must here because the restaurant fills up fast, this is the kind of place people come from far away to dine at.
This place is truly special and one of South Lake Tahoe's local gems.
Yeah! Â This place was great!! Â Super friendly staff, small intimate and romantic restaurant (when they say only seven tables, they mean it!), yummy food, good times!
We ordered the garlic bread (3.5 stars), the calamari (4 stars), the veal osso bucco special (5 stars), the swordfish special (6 stars!), and the tiramisu (4 stars). Â
The only thing about the food that was disappointing was the meals came as a small plate with a piece of meat and this weird shared plate of sides, which consisted of a piece of steamed broccoli, a boiled potato cut in half, some penne with parmesan cheese, and some pickled cabbage. Â I only tried the cabbage and it was tasty enough, but I prefer a more composed dish. Â
I also want to make sure to say that the wine list is excellent! Â There are some great wines from small wineries and it's VERY reasonably priced. Â Or, their corkage is only $15. Â Wow!
I would definitely go back, and give friends all kinds of glowing recommendations - but I've also been to Edgewood Restaurant, and if given the choice would probably go back there first. Â (Sorry Fiore's! Â The only reason is the sides!!)
Protip: Â Call at least a week in advance for a reso. Â I emailed Tuesday for a Saturday reso and got in at 9:30PM. Â But they were very quick to respond, so don't plan to wait long to know whether you got in or not.
Wow! Â What a great place. Â Cozy for sure. Â Food was absolutely great. Â We had a party of 6, including two committed "Cork Dorks" and an over-the-top vegetarian and EVERYONE was totally raving about their meals. Â Meat, seafood, pasta all outstanding. Â And, they won't kill your wallet either. Â Every trip I make to Tahoe now will include dinner at Cafe Fiore.
Review Source:Cozy place, good food, overpriced ! Â I had the veal oso buco $38.00. Â it was good but the side dishes were lacking, 3 bites of zucchini , couple bites of plain pasta and a lil pile of stringy squash. Â 1/4 of red potato. I would of preferred more zucchini . The garlic bread was very good, could of ate another basket. Â White chocolate ice cream was good also. Â The check was over $100.00
Review Source:A MUST GO TO!
For New Years 2013 I was in South Lake Tahoe skiing at Heavenly. I booked a reservation for 2 here a month in advance...and was so happy I did so!
The service is very friendly and warm! The total dinning area seats about 30 people or less and it felt like i was sitting at home. Very romanitc
The garlic bread was fresh out of the oven and arrived at the table about 5 mins after being seated.
I ordered the calamari for an appetizer which was lightly fried and spread on top of a delicious marinara.
For Dinner I ordered the Aragosta  Melodia....buttered lobster on top of fettuccine tossed with mushrooms, tomatoes and a lemon tarragon sauce. It was absolutely to die for! (paired with a bottle of Riesling)
My wife and I discovered this local spot when referred there by...a local. Just starting to explore South Lake Tahoe in the last couple of years we decided to try Cafe Fiore one night last summer. After eating there we programed it into our phone and decided this was our favorite place in Tahoe, definitely top 5 for anywhere. Wednesday night we went back for dinner. Never having eaten on the inside with just 7 tables it did not disappoint. The service was 5 stars and the food was 5 stars. The server paired wine by the glass for each of our courses and Nick the owner was there to say hi, welcome us and help with the wine. Â It was a wonderful evening. We highly recommend "Cafe Fiore"
Review Source:This was our 2nd trip but this one was special. I booked early for my wife's birthday knowing the restaurant is small. Received confirmation and talked a bit about our trip. The gentleman noted the birthday and promised a nice table (there aren't many and they are all nice). When we arrived, she was wished a happy birthday and we were seated in the corner with wonderful views and close to the heater (nice since it was a cool night - but the heater gets VERY hot).
We went with all the specials recommended - garlic bread, crab stuffed artichoke (off the menu), wife had a seafood pasta special and I had the osso bucco. For desert we shared the homemade white chocolate ice cream and the flourless cake. We have eaten at many restaurants and I can say this food here was AMAZING and matches any I have had.
Overall, this was one of our most satisfying romantic/special occasion outings ever and  we can't think the staff and chef enough.
Rarely do I rave about a restaurant. Then again, rarely does a restaurant move my soul to the point of pure epicurean ecstasy as does Cafe Fiore -
I discovered this gem 15 years ago during my 1st trip to Lake Tahoe, and I've been coming back yearly since then.
What makes Cafe Fiore so remarkable? 3 things - Ambiance, Service & Exceptional Food.
Starting with ambiance: Cafe Fiore is an 8 table ( yes.. 8 tables only ) bungalow at the base of Heavenly mountain that just oozes warmth. It's like dining at a friends ski house in the Alps...
Service: From the second you enter.. you are family. There is a genuine warmth exuded by everyone here. You truly feel like it's all about you.. from start to finish. Gracious, but not overbearing... and never rushed. Here, they want you to immerse yourself in the experience.
Food: Where do I begin? What is truly interesting about their wine list is that they offer by the glass, the bottle and by the half bottle. So between our exceptional Pinot Noir and piping hot bread, we forgot about the 9 degree weather... quickly.
Appetizers: While most of you would think bruschetta is a pedestrian appetizer that can be found in the most basic of restaurants... this version is a MUST try. it is anything but ordinary. Feather soft bread sliced with a chewy exterior... topped with diced tomatos, capers & other assorted goodies lightly tossed in a balsamic glaze that was just amazing. Best part was the flash fried onion strands that topped the dish. Another must try is the eggplant crepes...Thinly sliced eggplant stuffed with smoked salmon, grilled and served with a sherry cream and sun dried tomato sauce. Amazing.
Main Course: I had the Aragosta Melodia - Â Fresh lobster served over fettuccini, tossed with mushrooms and tomatoes; finished in a lemon tarragon sauce. I rarely finish the pasta in these dishes...but the home made pasta was so tender, so perfect, it almost outshined the lobster. Other winners at our table were a saffron infused fettuccini with a variety of seafood on top.
Dessert: Cafe Fiore is famous for their "White Chocolate Ice Cream" - made fresh daily... accented with fresh berries... truly remarkable. I opted for a poached pear perfectly seasoned, and highlighted with a pomegranate reduction. One of my all time favorite desserts... ever.
If you are going to Tahoe... you MUST check Cafe Fiore out! But be warned... because there are only 8 tables, Â you should make reservations at least a month in advance.... 2 months if you are planning on being there Christmas / New Years!
Bon Apatite!
We love this small intimate Italian  restaurant in South Lake Tahoe.  They have an amazing wine list without a huge mark up.  The service is spot on but not over bearing.  Most importantly the food is amazing.  This was our 2nd visit and we will be back for sure the next time we are in town.  Don't miss the garlic break and white chocolate ice cream.
Review Source:4.5 Stars really? I so wish I had read the -ve reviews about this place because they are true.
I was in Tahoe for Thanksgiving, I had read about this place but thought that it would be impossible to get a reservation, WHAT with only 7 tables.. Well we did and were very happy (i wish we hadn't :|)
How is this place cute? It looks like half a garage in someone's house has been converted to a restaurant. Cute- I don't think so. View- No Ambience- I have seem MUCH better and i didn't have to pay $100 either
Let's come to the food part!
I ordered the chicken fettucini pasta and my friend got the swordfish.
My pasta was HORRIBLE. So bland, the chicken was rubbery, the pasta was stiff. and there was so much of it- large portions  esp of white pasta is never a sign of a fancy restaurant
well i had a bite. wanted to return it. but didn't have the courage to try something else which was as horrible and passed on dinner.
my friend got the swordfish which was breaded and he said it was okish, not worth $40
The tiramisu was very good, but it better be
we paid $120 for a bad bad bad bad meal. Worst expense in Tahoe
Of course never going again and making sure none of my friends go either
Just spent a week over the 4th of July in  South Lake Tahoe and wanted to try different local restaurants instead of casino restaurants.  Cafe Fiore received excellent ratings on yelp.  So we decided to give it a try.  It was described as cozy and personal, and it promised to be a great dining experience.  Cozy is definitely an understatement.  A tight fit would be a better description.  Overall, seating was definitely cramped.  The service was excellent but a bit pretentious.  My husband had one of the specials, halibut, and I had the fillet mignon served on toast with a garlic peppercorn sauce.  Both were very good but overpriced.
The dining ambiance took away from the overall experience. Â All seats were full, and the noise level was so loud it was impossible to speak to each other across the table. Â Additionally, we were seated in front of the restroom. Â I was forced to gaze into the "water closet" every time it was used, which was frequently. Â Also, most of the users didn't even close the door when they came out. Â The waiter, thankfully, kept coming by and repeatedly closing the often left-open door. Â
For an upscale restaurant, Â they should remove this table from in front of the restroom. Â When I called to make reservations, since I'd never been there before, Â I asked about a booth. Â The person who took my reservation said they had no booths but "Trust me, ma'am. Â You won't be disappointed."
Well, I certainly was. Â Sitting in front of a toilet was not what I expected from a fine dining experience. Â When my husband mentioned our displeasure at the proximity of the bathroom, the waiter said, well, my friend, next time request a different table.
1 * for ambiance
3-4 * for food
I agree with another reviewer. Â Their white chocolate ice cream was to die for and the best part of the meal.
I can't say enough about this wonderful restaurant! Not the least of which would be the incredible service we receive every single time. I wouldn't be a regular or give five stars if the food and service weren't excellent.
Nick (the owner) sets a high standard and the rest of the staff live up to it every minute. Gilbert (the chef) has perfected each dish to ensure a wonderful meal every time. Â The ambiance is intimate, romantic and cozy.
The food...where to start...my current favorite is the swordfish, a generous thick steak lightly breaded and sauteed, finished in the oven in a white wine, butter, lemon, caper sauce--incredible! My second favorite would have to be the Bisteca Fiorentina. Another generous serving of filet mignon in a delicious wine sauce. With these entrees you get soup (homemade minestrone) or a selection of salads, a "boat" of penne pasta, seasonal vegetables and roasted potatoes for two or more to share. You MUST have the garlic bread--the most decadent I've ever tasted. Â There are many more satisfying, delicious dishes on the menu, and a couple of specials that never fail to please. Â The homemade tiramisu and white chocolate ice cream are just a couple desserts that will have you groaning with delight.
Nick keeps a very good wine selection and is great at suggesting something new that will compliment your meal at a very fair price.
Cafe Fiore is small, seven tables in winter, 13 in summer when the deck is open. You always need a reservation, as word has gotten around: Â this is the best place to eat in Lake Tahoe!!
A need to know review.
To the spendthrifts, don't let the name fool you, this is NOT a "CAFE" nor does it boast cafe prices. The most affordable entree was the pasta at $18/plate.
The staff and service, as others have suggested, are 5 stars! They were excellent....I thought they were going to bring me a change of underwear next!
Myself and my girl were also the youngest in there by about 15-20 years. It's a "high dining' style experience, so definitely a good date place. I had the pasta, as did she, and I am going to echo the other SF Bay area folk here in saying that we are REALLY spoiled! Coming from a plethora of great neighborhood eateries, we were not terribly impressed at the Primavera or Fettucini. Could have used more flavor for sure, and definitely some fresh herbs (you would think at $18 a plate, it would be the case, alas.
Sadly, I am still suffering from my Primavera as I went away that night with intense stomach aches that have lasted 2 days. My date was fine, I was not as lucky. Some of the other dishes might be worth a try, though.
About 8 tables, 2 of which are right next to the only 3x3 unisex bathroom there, which they call the 'water closet.' ...it IS that size, so be prepared.
IN summary: 'High society' dining - a bit overpriced for the dishes we had, needed more flavor, AMAZING service - really, this is what you are paying for, not so much the food (in our experience.) Â Go with a fat wallet.
When on vacation, I always try to save the "best" dinner on the last evening of our trip, and I wisely chose to make reservations at Cafe Fiore to cap off our week in S Lake Tahoe on May 10. They knew who I was as they greeted me at the door, that's how cozy and personal this restaurant is! I was impressed.
We ordered the crab stuffed artichoke for an appetizer. Â YUM. I ordered the filet mignon with green peppercorn sauce on toast points, which was out of this world delicious. Husband ordered the venison medallions with port wine reduction and he said it was his best dinner in Tahoe, and I have to agree with him.
Highly recommended!!!
This was a very good hidden hot spot in Lake Tahoe. The atmosphere is very cozy, yet very small. Make sure to make a
reservation or you won't get a table!
Our meal was great, starting off with garlic bread and a fresh salad along with a generous portion of wine.
Main entrees came, the ratio of sauce to pasta was pure perfection. The light and spicy sausage was a perfect compliment to the entire dish. My pasta came with chicken as well, which was the one and only reason that I am giving 4 stars, was a bit overcooked and dry which was a bit of a disappointment. However, we ended the meal with the famous white chocolate ice cream (which is definitely worth a try) and a piece of the tiramisu. Leaving in a sweet coma. The service was great and will be back again.
Stopped in for dinner based on a recommendation from a local Lake Tahoean that I met during my weekend stay there. Â This place is great, certainly a nice way to get away from the crowds at the casinos and ski resorts. This restaurant is very small, but what it lacks in size it makes up in many other facets.
The service is unparalleled. Â There are only a handful of tables in this tiny restaurant, but there are three knowledgeable servers that are constantly at your service, but not overly attentive. Â The restaurant is a little more on the expensive side but a very good date spot
Their wine selection is very expansive. Â We had some great glasses of wine with our dinner. Â The food was excellent, traditional Italian food yet with quite a bit more flavor than I am used to with very traditional Italian food, which suited my tongue more than other Italian joints.
There was a very vocal group there that had clearly been regulars at the place, they highly recommended the white chocolate ice cream, which I really wanted to try but saved no room for. Â If I am back in Lake Tahoe I will come back and try this ice cream.
For the last twenty years we make an annual ski trip to South Lake Tahoe and have dined at Cafe Fiore on several occasions. This is truly a rare find in SLT. The proprietor Nick Ashmore, greeted us warmly and seated us at one of his seven tables. (Call for reservations because this place is small and fills up). Nick is the maitre d', sommelier, and waiter all wrapped into one. I'm sure if he weren't busy, he would've sit down with us to "talk story", too.
I had the mushroom appetizer which was three varieties of thick, tender slices sauteed in a rich dark sauce served over toast points. The veal marsala, scallopine di vitello and Filetto al Barolo are three excellent entrees, and comes with a generous house salad or cup of soup. Save room for the flour-less chocolate cake and/or White Chocolate Ice Cream with fresh berries.
Hard to believe that a restaurant of this quality exists among the pines of Lake Tahoe, but that would be naive, if not, ill informed. Â Of course, it does and in fact, it is a sparkling gem in the reflection of a spectacular natural wonder, that is Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe, to be exact. Â Situated on Ski Run...a direct course to Heavenly Tahoe, this culinary surprise is as tantalizing as it is mouth watering. Â The staples of fine, fresh cuisine and the atmosphere of intimacy and warmth, those that welcome you are among the best anywhere in the industry that keeps us coming back for more.
No occasion too special for this great Cafe de Resistance'! Â From anniversaries, birthdays and the all time favorite, Valentine's Day, we simply cannot come often enough.
A big thank you and huge hugs, to Nick, Andie and Marcus..who have given an all new definition to freshly ground pepper..."Course and strong..."...will keep me coming back for more and more...
Inside joke, perhaps...they know that they have a diamond in the rough with this wonderfully, intimately, secretively delectable and treasured place for any occasion. Â
And...especially, the memory maker that it is.
Thanks Nick, Andie and Marcus...as always.
A tiny restaurant tucked into a corner in the vacation destination, family-owned, but can feel upscale because you will be pampered there.
Thanks to Chad over at Alder Inn (which is a fabulous stay, btw), we decided to call for a reservation to have dinner here. They only have 7 tables inside, so make sure to call ahead to reserve a table.
Once you're inside, you'll find that the restaurant is stocked with wine. There are wine bottles stored *everywhere*. Their wine list didn't disappoint either, and our host was very knowledgeable with it.
We started with their french bread and the mushroom bruschetta. The bread was so perfectly warmed, and the mushrooms sauteed with a great sauce...we gobbled them up in no time.
I got the rainbow trout stuffed with blue crab, and the mister got the swordfish which was lightly breaded, pan fried, then baked. That's supposedly their specialty. Well, the mister really liked the swordfish even though he doesn't usually like steaky fish that much. While I liked the trout (which was served whole without a head), I think the star was the side dishes, which they serve in the middle of the table.
Creamy penne..excellent carrot puree...roasted zucchini and potatoes...all of which were fabulous.
We then ended the meal with their famous white chocolate ice cream and some dessert wine and port. I can't even begin to describe the white chocolate ice cream -- it's not like ice cream, more like molten white chocolate that is cold and melty at the same time...Definitely the best white chocolate ice cream I've had!
Fantastic wine, food, service, and on top of that, unforgettable dishes that you can't find elsewhere. What more can I say?
LOVE Cafe Fiore!
My family and I have been coming to Cafe Fiore since they opened. Â We reside in the bay area, but have a home less than a mile from here. Â We have eaten here too many times to count and have NEVER been disappointed.
Cafe Fiore is a very intimate setting and perfect for "date night". Â My husband and I were in a few weeks ago and left full and happy, once again. Â We started with a glass each of red wine and garlic bread. Â Skip the regular bread and go straight for the garlic bread...it is amazing! Â My husband had the Venison special which was excellent and I had the fettuccine pasta with lobster. Â For dessert we shared their decedent white chocolate ice cream! Â Everything on their menu is outstanding, you really can't go wrong with whatever you order. Â
I would recommend making a reservation because there are only about 8 tables inside and maybe 6 outside. Â The ambiance makes for a really unique dining experience! Â I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
And so it came to pass that Mencken and Bonaparte cruised into Cafe Fiore in beautiful South Lake Tahoe last Sunday for dinner. Actually, I was taken OUT to dinner which is quite hot.
Since we kind of stumbled upon it we did not have reservations but they were more than happy to accomdate us after a short wait. During that time, we were visited by no less than five (5) of the most clean-cut and fluffy raccoons I've ever seen. No lie. They just walked up, said hi, and yelled, "Calm down - we don't have rabies." Bonaparte was freaked out and scared them away, but I dug the little furry creatures.
The accomodating hostess was sweet and a joy to talk with both before and after dinner - mine consisted of Pollo in Porchetta, a tasty baked chicken breast served over capellini with pine nuts and garlic cloves, while Bonparte settled on the Spaghetti con Salsiccia consisting of sausage, garlic, spinach, and other surprises. Â Bonaparte's was tasty, but I thoroughly enjoyed my Porchetta.
So, why not four or five stars? Well, it seemed a little pricey considering the type of food preparation offered; I mean, we're talking spaghetti here (mine was $22.95, hers was $20.95). Also, I have to say that it's kind of an underhanded thing to ask if you'd like garlic bread as you're being seated and then charge you $4.00 for it. The garlic spread was tasty, but the bread resembled something that came out of Raley's bread aisle.
Oh, and speaking of underhanded, I can't remember the last time anyone in my party was charged a corkage fee for buying the RESTAURANT'S wine! Oh, and $15 at that. Am I in a different universe, or do corkage fees only apply when you bring your own? You'd have to wonder how much wine they'd sell if, on the wine menu, it said under each selection "please add $15 to the final price of the wine so that we have have the honour of opening it for you."
Since we were adequetly stuffed we did not partake in the dessert and the much-praised white chocolate ice cream. Would I return? Maybe, but this time I will observe all areas of fine print.
5 STARS!!
Such a small and quaint resturaunt. VERY romantic and intimate.
Service was GREAT! Our server, Sam was friendly, warm, and super nice. We were the only young ones there, but they didn't treat us like weren't important or werent as serious as the other patrons.
They have a nice outside patio and inside was really small, only like 7 or 8 tables but again the ambience was great.
Food was awesome, lots of choices and delicious. Got the gorgonzola cheese salad to start off with and the garlic bread? DELICIOUS!! The garlic bread is good! Especially if you love garlic. (WARNING: make sure you bring mints or gum because your breath will be very garlicky and warm and you don't want to cuddle or kiss your s/o like that haha)
For my entreé I got lobster fettucini with a lemon butter reduction sauce. =] Yummy!
The s/o got 2 bottles of white wine too =]
Wine is yummy, but it's a creeper! Gets you loose slowly haha. I think he planned that! =X
Great spot to take your s/o or to have a romantic dinner. It took my breath away and is something I'll always remember!
Make reservations ahead of time and dress casual. It's white table cloths. I wore jeans, heels, and a nice top. The s/o wore nice jeans, a dressy sweater, and vans. Haha, I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get in because of his grey jeans and vans, but we did! It was one of the most memorable nights I've had. Great place, great service, great food, great wine, great company.
Overall, 5 stars from me and that says a lot. WILL BE GOING BACK FOR SURE! One of Tahoes BEST hidden treasures.
WOW!! Â How do you write a 2 star review on a place with 4 1/2 stars?!?
Perhaps if YELP changed the definition of 3 stars to "so-so" versus "a-ok" then I would have given these guys a solid 3 instead.
Considering that I YELP from the heart, I'm gonna have to start by saying that we are all made with different palates and have our own ideas of quality. Â Some people confuse quantity and quality (think Vegas buffet). Â Some palates evolve over time and others just don't. Â
Some people think that all diamonds, gold, silver, leather, wine, cars, balsamic, prosciutto, cheese, etc., are the same but they most certainly are not. Â And some people just don't know any better. Â God bless'em all y'all.
So, I recently did a road trip from SF to Tahoe with friend. Â We stayed at a VERY LOVELY little boutique hotel down the street and inquired about good vittles within walking distance (friend just spent 5 hours in the saddle and her butt was tired) and so we were directed to Cafe Fiore (Flower Cafe in eyetalian).
Late dinner reservation set (we were told it was miraculous to get one on such short notice) and so, the evening was on.
We moseyed over to this absolutely darling little place tucked behind Nephele (definitely 5 stars for cuteness/romantic factor).
We were seated outside and ordered a nice bottle of bubbly to start the gourmet festivities (friend loves bubbly). Â We sat on that little balcony savoring the evening, stars, cool mountain air, ambiance and bubbly. Â Sooooo nice!!
Since it was already late and we didn't want to eat too much (late evening activities had yet to begin), we decided to share the following:
1- Garlic bread (friend loves garlic bread and this vampire is immune).
2- Fried calamari.
3- Fettuccine aragosta (that's eyetalian fer lobster y'all).
4- White chocolate ice cream.
5- Nice bottle of bubbly.
Sigh!! Â The garlic bread was good but nothing memorable. Â The fried calamari was TOTALLY disappointing. Â Bland, flavorless, rubbery and insipid were the 4 redundant adjectives that immediately came to my mind, along with the "poured right out of the can marinara sauce" that it festered on top of. Â
A lame appetizer is usually a clear indication of things to come.
The fettuccine (two t's and two c's please) was, oh goodness, how do I say this? Â It was a culinary disaster and should be immediately removed from the menu. Â When I think of lemon tarragon sauce, I think of a nice, light and THICKLY reduced sauce that will coat and complement my PROPERLY COOKED shellfish or veal Oscar. Â It should be bread dipping, lick your plate good.
Instead, what appeared before us was an enormous blob of pasta with a waaaaaay overcooked tough little lobster tail (think Safeway warm water special), all swimming in a lemon tarragon soup of some sort.
Although friend liked it, I couldn't consume more than 3 bites, as I was too busy biting my tongue instead, thinking "you just got had for $32 bucks sucker". Â I pictured Jesse James holding out his hand when I would be presented with the check.
Sigh!! Â I reminded myself that the ambiance sure is nice, friend is lots of fun and the service is STELLAR!! Â Wow, these bubbles are popping tonite!! Â Pour me another glass please!!
Okay, so on to dessert. Â
We were told at our lodge that we HAD TO HAVE the white chocolate ice cream. Â Since friend and I are equal opportunity ice cream devourers, we opted for it and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Â It had a certain very creamy/moussey gelato texture but yet not as cold as ice cream tends to be. Â It was truly EXCELLENT and I pay my compliments to the creator of this Decadently Delicious Delicacy. Â
I think it would pair well as a large dollop on top of a very chocolaty volcano cake or other type of chocolate cake, washed down with a nice port.
All in all, let me reiterate that this place is definitely romantic, cute, has great ambiance and stellar service but most of the items we had on this menu were disappointing. Â When you're dropping over $100.00 on a SHARED meal, you should be walking out of there very, very happy (as a customer and not the proprietor counting the money made serving up profitable pasta dishes).
Thank goodness our room at the lodge was totally dope and the perfect setting for the remainder of the evening. Â
The fact that Spain won the world cup the very next day was just icing on the proverbial pastel.
This is a quaint, warm, special little restaurant. A perfect place to start off a celebration weekend in Lake Tahoe with friends. When I say quaint, I mean like 7 tables. Very cozy with friendly, attentive service.
The food is solid & memorable. I have been having trouble finding an Italian restaurant of this quality in the bay area. All four in our party raved about our dishes. The presentation, the taste... all good, good & good!
My main course was:
V e a l  S a l t i m b o c c a Â
 Veal scaloppini wrapped around prosciutto and mozzarella; sautéed and finished with mushrooms in a Marsala wine sauce.
Don't you wish you could have it right now?? It was delightful.
Make room for the creamy, rich, white chocolate ice cream for dessert. WOW! I'm not a huge ice cream fan & I think I might have consumed a little more than my friends. I'm not apologizing. I would do the same again. Â
So glad to have experienced Cafe Fiore & will definitely be visiting next trip to Lake Tahoe.
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