I've got to admit I love Fabio. I went to his cooking demo last month when his new book Fabio's Italian Kitchen came out. He made meatballs, breaded pork chops and tiramisu and all of them was out of this world. Who knew such simple dishes can be so delicious? I actually grew up as a vegetarian for family reasons (~16 years) and even though I trained myself to eat a bit of meat from time to time, I am still unable to ingest large amounts of it, especially red meat. However, the meatball he made was so good that I was already halfway done with it when he asked the crowd if anyone there was vegetarian. Wanting to finish the meatball and not come off as a hypocrite/fake vegetarian, I did not raise my hand, and boy am I glad I didn't, as I got to taste his amazing pork chop next. It was the bomb. I suggest everyone to make it at home (it's such a simple dish), I believe his recipe is online on Ciao Chow or in his new book.
Now, onto the restaurant, I must say I wasn't too blown away by the food my first time there. The food was definitely good, just not WOW. One thing that stood out was their heirloom tomato sauce on the ricotta spinach ravioli. That was my favorite of all the dishes there. Gosh, I really need to learn how to make that sauce.
My close second favorite was the pear and strawberry salad. Delicious! The salad had caramelized walnuts-YUMMYYY and poached pears. Enough said.
The truffle gnocchi was good, but the sauce was too heavy/oily. The gnocchi also didn't seem cooked thoroughly, so it wasn't even finished at our table. I brought the leftovers for lunch the next day and when it was heated, literally half the plate was oil. It was quite disgusting to see all that oil oozing out of my food. I could just see it clogging up my arteries.
I also got the mushroom risotto and it was a little disappointing too; the risotto wasn't cooked through and still a little raw/hard in the center, ruining the entire dish. I didn't want to send back the dish and make a fuss, but I know I would definitely not be getting it again.
I also got the lavender lychee martini and it was delicious! I am pretty sensitive to the taste of alcohol, and their concoction was not overly sweet, yet fruity. It was perfect. I also loved the fresh raspberries that was paired with it.
I went back to Cafe Firenze again to try something else after my first so-so experience, and I really wanted to give the gnocchi another try. I got the pesto one, and though the gnocchi itself was cooked great this time, it was again too oily. I was only able to eat half the plate since it was so heavy and when I heated up the leftovers the next day, surprise surprise, half the dish/volume was oil. I cook all the time and know they can make the gnocchi ten times better with a quarter of the amount of oil they currently use. Please make your dishes lighter so people can actually eat more!
I also must say customer service is excellent here. My water glass was always full, bread basket always filled, and had 5 different people ask how things are. My second time I sat at the kitchen bar and the young chef kept asking if everything was ok. I probably should have said something about how oily the food is, but I really didn't want to hurt the cutie's feelings.
5 stars for customer service and romantic ambiance. 3 stars for inconsistency and overall experience with their food.
Let me start by admitting my husband and I are both huge Ciao Chow fans, but if anything we feared that we would be disappointed with the reality since we'd built up "Fabio's restaurant" so much in our heads.  On the way there, dear hubby said "It'll probably suck".  But, no, Café Firenze exceeded our expectations in every way and even if this wasn't "Fabio's restaurant" it would have earned a solid five stars from us.
The appetizer of pancetta wrapped jumbo shrimp stuffed with gorgonzola was amazing - the best example of pork-wrapped shrimp we've ever had.  The pancetta works much better than regular bacon because it doesn't overpower the shrimp, and the little bit of gorgonzola gave it a delicious kick.  I would be tempted to request several orders as an entrée.  The appetizer comes with two shrimp over a nice garlicky spinach, but these were two of the largest shrimp I've ever had -- the jumbo was not an exaggeration as with some other restaurants.
For entrees, I had the butternut squash tortellacci and my husband had the short rib ravioli with taleggio cheese sauce which of course I had to sample. Â Both were superb. Â The tortellacci are very sweet, which I like, but if you aren't into sweet food you'll probably prefer the ravioli. Â I loved the taleggio cheese sauce on the ravioli, I've only had taleggio cheese one other time but I adore it. Â I would order either of these entrees again in a heartbeat. Â Stepson the Elder had the tomato and buffalo mozzarella flatbread which he enjoyed, Stepson the Younger had a hamburger which looked very good, however I didn't try either one. Â
For dessert, we sampled the flourless chocolate cake and the panna cotta with strawberries. Â Both were excellent. Â We also ordered an amarentini (sp.) which was a chocolate cherry martini, and as someone who is frequently disappointed by cocktails I have to say this is one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Â It was delicious. If it hadn't been lunch time and we hadn't had a 2 hour drive ahead of us, I'd have ordered another one. Â I just saw on their website that they have a pear martini, and I really wish I'd known to try that too as those are my absolute favorite. Â If the amarentini is anything to go by their pear would be amazing.
The service, from the hostess to the waitstaff to the owner was fabulous.  As I mentioned, hubby and I are huge Ciao Chow fans.  That said, we did not have any expectation of meeting the Chef at his restaurant; we went on a Sunday for lunch and we know he's got several restaurants and a cooking show so figured that Café Firenze probably didn't see a whole lot of him these days.  Imagine my surprise when we saw he was sitting at the bar having a meal when we walked in!  I played it cool and did not attempt to engage him, as I was not wanting to be obnoxious or annoying, but when the hostess asked where we were coming from and I said "Texas", explaining that although I grew up not far from Moorpark, we came a bit out of our way for the trip in order to visit Café Firenze, she got Fabio's attention and he came over to say hello.  He was really down to Earth and friendly and came by again during our meal and offered to take a picture with us.  He seemed genuinely happy to meet us and he went out of his way to be nice to us, which was really delightful. We didn't push ourselves at him at all, he volunteered.  Apparently he wasn't scheduled to be in the restaurant that day and he left to catch a plane before we left, and if we hadn't arrived at Café Firenze nearly an hour before our scheduled reservation time we would have missed meeting him.  Which wouldn't have affected our rating at all, as the restaurant was top notch regardless, but really was a treat for us.
I've seen other people complain about the prices, but I'm not sure why folks would find Café Firenze overpriced for high quality, authentic Italian food.  Five of us ate (and two of us drank) for under $30 a person.  We've had far more expensive meals that were nowhere near as good.  Chef Fabio, once you're settled into the Siena Tavern and start looking for another new location, might I suggest the DFW area?  We have a dearth of great Italian food and we'd love to be able to dine at one of your restaurants on a regular basis!
Off beat location but a local gem. Â Unexpected fancy decor. Â Came in on a Sunday evening and restaurant was not crowded at all. Â Good service. Â Enjoyed the short ribs and GFs ordered the pork chops and veal. Â It was very tasty and filling. Â This restaurant is something you would expect in Los Angeles or Beverly Hills. Â Highly recommend if you are in the Moorpark area.
Review Source:First of all, the food is better than most other Italian family restaurants. Â The service and atmosphere is above average. Â Only complaint I have is the price compared to other restaurants in the area. Â But I'm willing to pay as long as their food and service continue to impress me. Â I'm definitely going back there and recommend to anyone who loves Italian food.
Review Source:This place is beautiful and romantic. A great place for date night or even girls night. However, I have a problem when the menu doesn't accurately describe the entree.
I ordered the orecchiette with broccoli florets and sausage. One of my favorite dishes most places. I was disappointed when I was delivered what looked like orecchiette and pesto. Â The server sensed it and immediately offered "it's not pesto". Â Clearly I'm not the first to have an issue. I tried to enjoy the dish, but couldn't get over the poor presentation. I want to see the sausage pieces and FLORETS, not merely taste the essence of them. I regretted but sent it back. Â
They were gracious and deleted it from the Ticket. That was appreciated.
Chef, please change to preparation. Â I made it myself two nights ago and it was AMAZING!!!! Sorry, but far better than yours. Presentation is important. A good meal is a multi- sensory experience.
The wine was delicious, the service impeccable and of course my company- perfect. Â
I will go again, but I'll try something else.
Hands down my go to spot in Moorpark. Â You won't see much of Fabio and Jacapo anymore but who cares when you have Stacey and Connie serving up super good drinks at the bar. Â The food there is awesome and the gnocchi is none I have ever had before. Â If you like beef try the braised short rib with the creamy polenta, it's bomb. Â
The reason for only four stars because for Moorpark it's a wee bit pricey. Â Other than that, Â Buon appetito!
Had lunch here yesterday. I have to admit. This restaurant put me in a fancy mood. The interior is a little garish for my liking but still nicely done, especially the detail in the vaulted ceilings. For me, it sucked when I walked out the door and realized that I was in a strip mall. Kinda unexpected. Aside from that, the menu was simple and well categorized and their prices weren't off the wall crazy. I was feeling like pasta so I ordered the seafood linguine. My waiter was very nice and highly recommended it so I took him up on his offer. It took a little while for my meal to get out but I was occupied by drinking my 6 dollar sparkling (never again!) and my bread. The bread was good, very flavorful, but the marinara dipping sauce served with it was completely cold. It was a turn off. The sauce was good but It was not satisfying to dip hot bread into cold sauce. I think it just came out of the fridge. When my pasta finally came I was quite impressed. The presentation was on point, plentiful with muscles and clams, shrimp, squid and it smelled great. But I was quickly disappointed once I took my first bite. The pasta was very under-cooked. Hard. Crispy inside. I let the waiter know immediately and he apologized and took it back to get cooked some more. He was back in 7 minutes. My pasta was piping hot, but even still, under-cooked just not as bad as before. I decided not to send it back again and ate the crunchy noodles instead. The pasta had a great flavor, it was just not cooked properly, I suspect rushed. Aside from that and the cold marinara sauce, it's a nice place. I'd go back and try something else and have a glass of wine on their back porch.
Review Source:My search for a great Italian restaurant is over...
On a drive out to some farm stands we did a Yelp search for a place to eat. Â Cafe Firenze came up with great reviews so we decided to give it a shot. Â
What a surprise to find this place, with it's somewhat grand decor and view into it's amazing kitchen.
The menu had both traditional and modern dishes. Â I had the tri-tip ravioli and my friend had the flat-bread pizza. Â Both were excellent. Â
A few minutes after we were served the manager came over to introduce herself and ask if everything was good and if we were happy.
I can't wait to go back and check out the rest of the menu!
I will admit, when I think of Moorpark, CA I don't think of either good food or fine dining... In fact I had heard about Cafe Firenze in the past and I put it on my list of places to go eat but wasn't DYING to try. I am not a fan of hype and with all of the top chef hoopla I was pretty sure there wasn't anyway this place could be that good. But being someone who can admit they are wrong (which doesn't happen often ;) ) I Â was wrong!
The space itself is beautiful, classy and warm. dark warm colors and lots of wood, candle light and intimate booths. One very cool touch that I LOVED and can't wait to try next time I go is they have a bar over looking the kitchen... They also offer a chefs table, which if your an adventurous can always be fun!
They have a pretty extensive list of cocktails, from simple to interesting. I tried the strawberry balsamic martini which was very sweet but also very good. They had a couple other good martini's I will try next time, but I had to drive.
Service was good, our server was friendly but could have been a little more attentive. Water glasses remained empty for the majority of the meal (finally got filled right as we were leaving), She didn't check back very often, my martini remained empty for a while and was never asked if I wanted another drink. When she finally did re emerge we ordered anther round and when she brought out my new drink, she left my old drink glass behind. It may seem as though I am picking out needles in a hay stack but it's the small things that set apart a good restaurant from a great restaurant.
food was killer - we ordered
*Fried Calamari with Tempura Zucchini - Arrabiata Sauce. Very good, not greasy at all
*Crostino Di Burrata: Parmesan Bread - Burrata - Grilled Pancetta - Brown Butter Sage. This was one of my favorite things all even. my only complaint was that the portion was almost too big and I had a hard time cutting it in half because the bread was a little too hard. but great flavors and I will gladly eat that any day.
*ORECCHIETTE: Broccoli Florets - Italian Sausage: good- sausage had a nice kick to it, but so not what I was expecting. It was in more of a broccoli pesto but good
And my girlfriend had the short rib ravioli and that was the real winner - I will get that next time I come back!
Came here on a Saturday night, curious about whether this OG location was any different from it's sister, Firenze Osteria, which  I really enjoyed a few months back.
I was so pleasantly surprised by Cafe Firenze! Â Same great menu but the layout and the atmosphere of the restaurant was what made it really special. Â It was cozy and warm, and you felt like you were in a wine cellar,having an intimate meal. Â I can't even remember any of the other patrons sitting around me, and I'm usually pretty observant. Â I don't necessarily want this review to be a comparison, BUT I would have to say that while Frenze Osteria is a bustling restaurant and pretty loud overall, Cafe Firenze was quiet and romantic. Â
The service was perfect. Â Our server was knowledgeable and came by in perfectly spaced out time increments. Â Our water was always filled and all unnecessary plates were removed immediately. Â
Now, for the food. Â We started off with the Crostino di Burrata. Brown butter sage is all I have to say. Â Yum. Â I then ordered the Orecchiette, which was perfectly prepared, and I also tasted some of my dining partner's pork chops, which came alongside truffle gnocchi. HEAVEN.
I have to say that my cocktail was one of the best I have had. Â I ordered the Meditation, which is a gin-based drink with fresh cucumbers, fresh mint, and fresh pineapple. Â It was SO GOOD. Â One word of advice: sip it. Â Don't gulp it or chug it down. Â Just saying. You'll thank me the next day.
After all that food, there was no more room left for dessert :( Â Maybe next time. Â
All in all, had a wonderful time, and can't wait to try out more items on their menu.
I think I have officially found my new favorite restaurant ever...
We went here as a suggestion from our wedding coordinator and I am so glad we did! We ordered their special brunch quiche, a salmon salad, a seared sole, ahi tuna salad, short rib ravioli, and a panna cotta for dessert. Everything was so delicious! Even the red tea we had. My mother pretty much doesn't like any food other than Chinese food and even she said she wanted to come back again and again! Seriously, I don't think you could go wrong with anything here. The food was a very good value ($10-$15 a plate) and service was exceptional. The ambiance was also really nice. Definitely one of my favorite places now, and I'm comparing that to all the places I've ever been to!
Food was pretty good, but poor service. Felt like the pretentious server judged us from the beginning because we had a toddler with us. She came to the table and asked if we wanted something to drink. We said just water to start. She didn't describe specials, offer appetizers or give any hint of warmth. She just walked away annoyed that we didn't order drinks. She took a long time to come back and take our order. We ordered an appetizer and she walked away without asking if we were ready to order dinner (which we were). We heard that this place was known for their hospitality, but it is not from this girl.
I waited until I ordered my entree to decide on my wine. I ordered a big Italian red. She said to me, "You know that is a bold wine". I told her, "Yes, I am aware of that". She then said, "Maybe you would like a white wine instead". I said "No, I know wines and I would like this one".
We ordered our entrees and then asked if they had a side or small salad. They do not, so we ordered a Caesar to share. She asked if we wanted the kitchen to split it and we said okay. She then said, it is a slight up charge of $2.50 for that. We said, no thanks just bring us the salad and we'll split it here. The salad took forever and was delivered without an extra plate. She had already taken our bread plates, so we had nothing to share it on.
When a party of 8 came in, she was so nice and attentive with them. She explained the specials and offered appetizers. The only reason that we knew they had specials was because we over heard her at the other tables and we would have ordered it because it sounded delicious.
Note to server: Don't judge a book by its cover. We never tip less than 20%, we have worked in and owned restaurants for over 20 years and we appreciate servers because it can be a rough job. Tonight you earned more than what you deserved. I can tolerate slow service or server mistakes, but not pretentious attitudes.
I was not very impressed. Â I've been here a few other times and really liked it. Â This time the food was just OK, the service spotty and really loud. Â We requested a booth and were seated in an extra-wide wooden table in the center of the room. Â I was sitting in front of the server's computer station and had to keep bending down to give them room. Â We were told that there were not any booths available but there were 2 empty ones across from us the whole time. Â They were not very accommodating and had a very arrogant attitude about it.
Conversation was difficult with my friends as the extra wide table made it seem like they were their own separate party. Â One of us had the special of the day pasta dish that turned out to be some kind of soup with 8 little (and I mean little) pasta Hors D'oeuvres floating about. Â They tasted OK but hardly a meal. Â When we got back home she made a sandwich as she was still hungry. Â They remind me of little versions of Chinese Shumais
I doubt that I will be coming back as the place seems to have deteriorated in just a few months. Its a shame, we used to really like
One of my favorite finds since I moved to Ventura county. Â Like everything in this county, it's located in a strip mall but the interior is surprisingly elegant. Â As far as starters go, I'm partial to their burrata (make sure you ask for the cheese and not the salad as the former was recently taken off the menu), the pear and strawberry salad, the beef carpaccio, and a mozarella-stuffed pepper that occasionally creeps up as a special.
For my main course, I almost always select one of their pastas. Â Their seafood linguini probably gets the most love from me and is cooked perfectly al dente and loaded with clams, mussels, squid, and shrimp. Â Their ricotta and heirloom tomato ravioli, sausage and roasted mushroom risotto, and truffle gnocchi are also strong contenders. Â Their ossobuco is quite good as well. Â Personally, I found the butternut squash tortellacci that everyone else raves about to be a bit too sweet for my taste.
The desserts leave something to be desired. Â The panna cotta, mixed berry meringue, and limoncello ricotta cheesecake are acceptable but fall very short of being excellent.
For the quality, I think the price is a little steeper than it should be but Cafe Firenze is very generous about their portion sizes so I'll let that one slide.
Pros....great parking, Â very nice staff, Â attentive waitress, Â beautiful setting, Â great food.
Cons....the drinks and happy hour food are expensive for what you get. Â
We had drinks at the bar & then dinner.  Even though they don't have any mocktails, they  tried very much to accommodate.  I had a "Connie juice", not on the menu but you can ask for it.  There was a band, but it wasn't too loud at all.  We had dinner in the patio area.  It was beautiful & very comfortable.  The dinner was amazing.  The best risotto I have ever had.  Quick service on a busy Friday night, but we never felt rushed.  We already have plans to go back.
Yum! My boyfriend and I love Cafe Firenze. We both chose this restaurant for our birthday celebrations.
Love the butternut squash ravioli, the short rib ravioli, the poached pear salad, the filet with blueberry reduction, the beef tartar, calamari, ahi salad, and on and on.. Love their food, oo and can't forget the bread and amazing tapenade.
I made a res on open table asking for a nice quiet booth in the back because it was my bf's birthday. They not only accommodated that, but also brought a bday dessert which was awesome since I didn't even mention it after arriving at the restaurant. They even called me two days after we dined there, to ask how our experience was. Really amazing service.
 Only two downfalls. Although their martinis are delicious(love the balsamic), I feel like they're very weak. I have to drink like 4 to get a buzz. And their wine prices are through the roof. We always bring a bottle and pay corkage.
The one other issue.. We bought a gift card for my boyfriend's brother and sister in law. We raved and raved about how amazing this restaurant was. We watched their kids and they were excited to have a night out, so when they returned from their date we were anxious to hear about the experience. Unfortunately, he ordered a ribeye, med rare, and it came out med well. When you're ordering one of the most expensive items on the menu, you want it to come out perfect. On the second try it came out medium well again. I was pretty disappointed to hear about their experience, who the heck wants a med well ribeye, eww..
Aside from those issues, we love this restaurant. Ambiance, food, and service!
I planned a last minute party for 17 people at Cafe Firenze last weekend and they exceeded all expectations on every level. The food was excellent, the service superb, the cocktails were awesome and the ambiance energetic and fun! They did a truly fantastic job. Lindsay was our server and she was fantastic; friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. All of our guests raved about the place, those that had never been were all saying how they would definitely come again. It's a great atmosphere for a romantic couples evening out to a larger party like ours.
Food our group tried and loved was the Ciopinno ("best we've ever had") the chicken scallopini (again - "best we've ever had"), the prime rib was cooked perfectly and the crab cakes were wonderful. Cocktails, the big winner was the balsamic, which was reminiscent of butterscotch and strawberries, the tranquility, a peartini only better and the espresso martini was the perfect dessert, not too sweet!
If you are ever planning an event I give Cafe Firenze my unequivocal recommendation. I've been to many great restaurants around the world and I have never written a review before but I wanted to take the time to do so for Cafe Firenze because it was such a great experience for me and all my guests. Thanks to Adam the event planner for getting us in at the last minute!
Thanks for such a memorable evening Cafe Firenze, we'll be seeing you again soon!!!!
A mixed bag of experiences. Â When we arrived, we had a great table on the patio right next to the roaring fire pit. Â Problem was, our backs were to the fire and we were looking onto the back parking lot. Â A little table shifting resulted in what the manager described as "the best table." Â I have to agree with him, but why did I have to ask?
The drinks were great. Â The Monk, which I felt tasted like a gin margarita, but a little less sweet was a standout. Â Service was very friendly and speedy (maybe a bit too rushed as there wasn't enough to a gap between courses, but it was a Saturday night).
The food was tasty and creative with one exception. Â The special tomato pepper soup had an awesome kick and the lobster bisque had a beautiful flavor and rich texture. Â The beet and goat cheese pasta was very unique, but could have used a bit more sauce because by the end of the meal it was a big glop. Â The special pasta-less spinach and ricotta ravioli with a brown butter sauce is something Fabio has been presenting on his TV segments for a while. Â I've made them at home with good results and wished the special would have been, well, more special (I misunderstood the description when the waiter explained it, so it's partially my fault).
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeta.abc.go.com%2Fshows%2Fthe-chew%2Frecipes%2FFabio-Vivianis-Naked-Ravioli-With-Brown-Butter-Sage-Sauce&s=5891a69e2fa473ddbbd3f8472ba691c7b3365a3d3503d9d789dd34378f009b68" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://beta.abc.go.com/s…</a>
I will likely return because the ambiance is warm and lively, though I'll try other dishes.
Truffle Gnocchi..... this will be my last meal on earth, I have decided.  ;)  Gnocchi is my favorite thing to eat and when my favorite little Italian place in the Valley closed it's doors I was on a quest to find a gnocchi that would blow me away and I have found it.  This gnocchi was buttery soft and the sauce was creamy white in 4 different type of cheeses the truffle took this dish over and beyond and the tiny bits of sausages in it added a beautiful flavor to this dish without overpowering it. We did the 5 course meal tasting- that's $50 a person and I highly recommend it,  they change up the dishes each time so you don't know what your getting, sampling a variety is my favorite.  The bread they brought out  was so soft and warm with a nice rosemary garlic flavor on top and the tomato- garlic spread for it was addicting I'm pretty sure I got full quickly because I kept eating that. Â
The 1st course was Crostini topped with Burrata cheese drizzled in aged Balsamic Vin topped with crispy Pancetta. (loved it)
The 2nd Course was the 4 Cheese Truffle gnocchi (my new addiction.) Â
The 3rd course was Cold Fish with Muscles, potato and Shishito Peppers and the broth....holy mother of all broths...what in the world was in that? Yes I will be back bothering the waiters for this dish again. Â
The 4th Course was Chianti braised Osso Bucco , I've never had Osso Bucco before and wow....does the meat fall off the bone like that everywhere else too? Â The nice thick sauce base was perfect pairing with that Malbec Wine I was drinking and truffled mash potatoes along side was a great combination. Â These Small dishes really filled me up quick, small is an understatement..you get lots. Â
Final course was dessert- fantastic Panna Cotta along side some drizzled raspberry sauce and a pistachio cream cheese Cannoli. Â Oh man....
A phenomenal meal!
There wasn't anything I didn't like.  The service impeccable, different waiters will come to your table and describe these dishes with every ingredient they use,  they have a very knowledgeable working staff here.  We met  Chef John Paolone and he is such a pleasant person we got into a conversation about Italy.  We got a very warm and family feel to this restaurant.  I loved the inside decor, very classy and very roomy,  this restaurant is very large inside separated by walls for larger groups to a bar area and more open seating behind the bar in a separate room.  The place was packed. They have drink tastings in here too.  Do make a reservation, we missed our reservation time but they made room for us so we didn't have to wait which was awesome.
It is not a restaurant you would think to find in Moorpark of all places but definitely a type of restaurant you would find out on the Westside. Â
So....to sum it up.....this restaurant is in my top 3! :)
I took my boyfriend out to dinner for his birthday. He's extremely fussy so I was concerned that the meal would be to fru-fru for him. Â I was also afraid that the hype would exceed the experience and we'd come away disappointed. Â
Cafe Firenze hit the nail on the head on all accounts. Â He had the chioppino and I had the short ribs special. Â We also split an order of pesto gnocci as an appetizer. Â The gnocci was the best I've ever had - pillow soft. Â The pesto sauce was not over powering. Â Both our main dishes were wonderful!
The only "ding" I would give it is that I felt that the service was a little rushed. Â I would have preferred to have lingered a little more.
But, all in all, it was wonderful and we will definitely be back.
If I could, I'd give them 0 stars.
Overpriced, overhyped, not really friendly, very small portions!
You should've seen the owners eyes open up when I told him I'm a friend of Merril Shindler !
Let me say, the appetizer was excellent (and very salty), but how can you mess up pancetta wrapped shrimp?
When I asked our server what the best salad on the menu is, she told us the burrata salad was the way to go... it was not... sorry to say... the salad chef must've been sleep walking when he prepared our salad. It was terrible... no flavor, a few pine nuts, 25 cents worth of lettuce, and some flavorless burrata cheese... VERY DISAPPOINTING!
The special ravioli with the ricotta and truffle was really good, but 4 ravioli for $32.00 c'mon... Are you kidding???
We also had 2 glasses of nice imported Italian wine... now, I think $16 for 1 glass of wine is a lot, but if its good... I don't mind... But the pour was really small... I believe it was about 4 oz.
That my friends, is a rip-off!
The owner really didn't seem to care... he gave me the usual line... "Oh sir... We want you to come back, you came on the busiest day of the year"
I doubt I will go back, I felt like I did not get my money's worth!
With a tip, $120.... I felt robbed!!!
On our first trip to Firenze it was absolutely fantastic. This time around, wow just average.
Issues:
I had been ordering all night items without cheese. I even stated to make sure there was no cream, no dairy. Each time no problem. So, with the main course it shows up with cheese. Although they solved it by cooking a new one, it was nevertheless a pain.
My wife had the same dish as last time, with steak fillets sliced around an arugula salad. This time the salad was salty and despite inquiring to the waiter, what medium was at Firenze, he told her "pink throughout the inside", it showed up well done.
Around her plate they have a few drops of their balsamic vinegar. When she asked if she could have just a bit more, the waiter told her they would have to charge extra for it, because it is 25 years old. Â
I ended up talking to the manager, Lindsey (very nice and apologetic) regarding these issues, specifically the extra charge for a few drops of their 25 yr. old balsamic vinegar.
She informed me that it costs them $100 for a small bottle of it, so they have to charge folks extra if they want some more. Â I told her that was bogus, especially since the markups on the various meals can offset that. Â
I mean the bar - what you think they are giving those drinks and sodas at cost? Huge markups and profit. Â
So, when I hear "well we have to charge you extra for a few drops", I laugh. Â
My issue was we were not talking about a cup of this stuff, we were talking about six drops. Â If they have to charge extra, then perhaps they need to go back and explore their costs. Do you really need three people looking at where do sit you and then walk you over - especially on a Tuesday night?
It should be noted that they could have given her just regular balsamic at no charge, but our waiter failed to mention that.
Our Waiter
I tipped him 20%, because that is just standard at any place. But, he made major faux pas. He failed to mention that my meal came with cheese on top, you had to ask him for refills, even though he would be looking right at the - empty glasses, he failed to mention that the flatbread we had with the prosciutto on it, was cold - as in the prosciutto, even though the flat bread itself was toasted and hot and the caramelized onions were as well.
The prosciutto was just a couple of slices put on there. Not even cut up.
In the end, Lindsey told us that she would be talking to her partners about the balsamic issue - but I seriously doubt it. Â Rather she was being polite and listening to a customer who was having real issues at the place. Â
She did give us a $40 gift card, the next time we come - but after this experience that probably will be a long time.
As in when Hades freezes over.
I have been here for a couple small birthday dinners now, and I'm a fan. The food is very good, especially if you listen to the servers advice. We had some Gnocchi dishes both times and they were excellent. However they are pretty rich, so if you can share that's a good idea. Porkchop is great too.
Oh, and the handmade pasta special they had going, trofie, is probably one of the best dishes they have there. My dad got it both times and i was jealous. I'd recommend that if you're in the mood to try an awesome pasta dish.
Fabio came out and sang to us and danced.** All you have to do is ask! It's ridiculous, these Italians are real showmen!!
**not really
My family of seven went to Firenze last Friday night for the first time and it was a fantastic experience. Â The food was divine - so good that we had to taste every dish on the table. Â Our favorite was the truffles gnocchi - so yummy.
Aside from the food, the service was excellent. Â We had at least 5 people waiting on us in a very timely fashion.
Top of the cake was when Fabio walked by and we asked him for a picture. Â He not only posed for the picture, he sat down at the table and asked all about us. Â He was extremely personable and generous with his time.
We will definitely be going back to this fine restaurant.
I would highly recommend getting a reservation. Came without one, but decided it was worth waiting the 45 min to fit us in.
This place did not disappoint. The Gnocchi was amazing, but my favorite was the short rib ravioli. The white sauce that came with it was divine and creamy. The short rib packed an immense amount of flavor. I was slightly sad because for the price of the item (nearly $20), i only got 4 piece of ravioli. They were big, but I definitely wasn't full. However, I still want to come back and try more things on the menu. Amazed with the service and the fact that this place is in Moorpark!
I was slightly nervous and slightly excited about checking out this place. Â Part of me was nervous because of SIV's burning review in the LA Times when this place first opened. Â She gave it a half star out of a four! Â It was probably one of the worst professionally written reviews I've ever read. Â However, this guy does keep appearing on top chef and seems well liked by his fellow cohorts; so he cannot be that bad right?
Came here last Friday for lunch and while the scope of this meal is pretty limited to that; I have to nothing but good stuff to say. Â The service was warm and attentive. Â It's really well decorated considering that this place is in the middle of a big suburban plaza and was pretty easy to find as well. Â
Lunch consisted of the four cheese, truffle, and sausage gnocchi which was totally my style in terms of all the things I like being in one dish. Â The cheese was rich and just the right amount of cream, the truffle oil was thoroughly fragrant and the sausage had the right kick of herbs and spices. Â To top it off, yes, the gnocchi was nice and pillowy soft. Â It IS a very rich dish, and one might have done with an bit of brightness and acidity but I think that is a matter of personal preference and the right moment. Â Sometimes you want that balance, but sometimes you just want to enjoy the heck out of all that is good-- like Thanksgiving and turkey.
Looking forward to coming back here next time I'm this far up in the valley... can't say when that might be, but def on my radar.
The service and food was fantastic!
We came here for a celebratory family luncheon and Cafe Firenze exceeded our expectations! Portions are large and the price is just right.
The old fashion gnocchi was hands down the best thing you could ever order! Will be back to try the Chef's Table 7 course meal.
I only have one problem with this restaurant, and it's that the first dish i ever ordered here (the pesto gnocchi) is so incredibly, unbelievably good that i can't order anything else when i eat here. the rest of the menu teases me with dishes that sound unreal, but i know how perfect that gnocchi is and i just can't risk it.
Follow the gnocchi with the vanilla creme brule and i'm in a good mood for days.
Awesome place. Food was great. Did the Chef's Menu; five course meal for $50 a person. The food was great.
I gave four instead of five stars because our waiter kept forgetting us. He would disappear for 15 minutes at a time. Also, his English was hard to understand so we had to ask twice about what we were eating and still was not exactly sure what he said. It was ultimately okay because the person (sometimes the Chef!) Â who brought the food would explain what the dish was.
The good part is that you didn't know what delicacy  was coming next, but whatever it was, it was great.  This is a place to check out.
I'll be honest, I've been wanting to dine at Fabio Vivani's restaurant for a few years now and I finally made the trip on my birthday. Â The food was... incredible. Â It was memorable, tasty, and creative. Â The decor and ambiance was breathtaking.
Now, I'm not a food critic, a food expert, or a food snob, so I can't sit and use adjectives like "pedestrian" or "unrelatable" to describe the dinner and expect anyone to take me seriously. Â I'm just an average person with a mildly creative palate and for me it was a beautiful experience. Â Plus, Signore Fabio himself came to wish me a happy birthday which made my year. Â Grazzie mile!
"Hey... did you know Fabio's restaurant is in Moor Park?!"
"Moor Park?! Niu my god that's far."
"Oh....."
"...You want to go?"
"...........?"
"Okay. Let's go. "
"YAYYY." ---- Top Chef fan girl scream.----
We arrived at this lovely suburban establishment one late Friday night after deciding very quickly and spontaneously to go, despite the hour trek.. Excited yet anxious like a school girl getting her vocabulary test back, I wanted to see what was behind all the fuss and at the same time afraid it would disappoint. Clearly, it did not disappoint (5 stars what what). $13 pesto gnocchi! Fancy decor for a suburban restaurant! Great service! Yummy comp bread + tomato dip. I would go again if it weren't so dang far. We didn't see Fabio, but it did allow me to cross a mini-fantasy off the list (to go to a Top Chef's actual restaurant).
I have to recommend Cafe Firenze. Â This is probably one of the best restaurants in the vicinity (including T.O., Simi, or Camarillo). Â The prices are really pretty reasonable considering the caliber of the food. Â The ricing is about the same if not less expensive than Cheesecake Factory for a pasta dish. Â But Cafe Firenze's pasta's a much better. Â Their Gnocchi is melt in your mouth (Love the Gnocchi ala Rustica), not the chewy pre manufactured gnocchi you've had at other restaurants. Â Also I love the Trofie Pasta with Duck Sausage & Fennel. Â The pasta is handmade and you can taste it. Â These italian dishes are pretty legit. Â
 After you eat there, check out Carrara Pastries across the street for some seriously good italian pastries.
On a recent pacific coast highway road trip from San Diego, myself and a few friends decided to make a detour to Moorpark and hit up Fabio V's Italian spot at Cafe Firenze. Â I personally enjoy Fabio's Yahoo's Chow Ciao cooking segments and have followed his career since Top Chef. Â Suffice to say that I have a very deep crush for the chef (but I digress).
The food was fantastic. Â Great pricing, I love the huge tables - plenty of elbow room. Â We had a mix of everything - from the classic gnocchi w/ sausage (yum!), the short rib ravioli (to die for), even the kobe meat loaf. Â The food goes precisely along with what Fabio preaches - great, simple food with a lot of true taste. Â It was a lunch affair and Fabio even came by our table to say hello and was kind enough to take pictures with all of us. Â All the staff were great, and if I lived closer (I'm from Texas), it would be a weekly visit.
Would have given this place 5 stars, if I was allowed to kiss the chef. ;)
We wanted to try a nice new spot for our anniversary. Â Upon being greeted by a friendly host and server, we decided on the Chef's Service, the five course meal with wine pairing. Molto bene! Chef John was great! Very friendly and informative.
The prosciutto with locally grown melon was a great starter. Very fresh! The gnocchi with sausage and fennel is heaven in your mouth! The duck leg was cooked perfectly! Â The food was fantastic and the plating was superb! Â The paired wines were perfect! Wonderful night! We are hooked on Cafe Firenze! Did I mention how the gnocchi melts in your mouth!!
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