Bernie, who is Jamie's dad and who has a part-time office in our suite (a crackerjack federal tax lawyer), is usually in the office and game for lunching on Mondays and Fridays. This past Monday, there were just three of us - and Anna proclaimed that we should try someplace "new." I remembered the lovely Italian inspired bakery and small restaurant called Casa Dolce, that had been originally opened by a Little Italy Chef-Owner, but sold some time ago to Mayfield Heights locals. We hadn't been there in a couple of years, so that qualified as "new," right?
We wound up having two delightful lunches at the "new" Casa Dolce this week - we returned on Wednesday because Anna just had to have the Tuna Pomodoro sandwich again!
Monday, I started by taking a bunch of photos of the savory foods in the case - these are sold "by the pound", but a lunch composed from these freshly prepared goodies is reasonaby priced and the counter folk have a good sense of portion.
The first thing I saw - and ultimately my lunch selection.
Ratatouille - No Rats Here!
One of my absolute favorites - mac n cheese!
Lunch!
Baked pasta with Ricotta and Grilled Vegetables - magnifico! The beet salad that I chose to accompany it was likewise delicious - real (not canned) beets, perfectly cooked and dressed to impress! The whole plate came to about $7.
Fresh Brewed Unsweetened Ice Tea with Lemon Ice
More yums - a perfect way to sweeten tea! I understand that they give coffee a similar treatment - but I'm not terribly interested in that.
After we finished, I shot a little of the "bakery" side of the place:
As I was shooting desserts (thank goodness I don't have much of a sweet tooth, or this place would be deadly), this plate came out - and I was determined to try it on my next visit!
Cafe Dolce had a few different dishes out on Wednesday. In case you are wondering, I failed to get a shot of Anna's Tuna Pomodoro sandwich (which looked positively delicious) on either visit. Guess that means I need to make another visit.
Last time, Anna had gotten a half Tuna Pomodoro and salad ($7.50) and upgraded to the Beet Salad for a $1 upcharge. This time, she did the other $7.50 option of her half sandwich with soup.
Cauliflower Soup
One of the people who served us (shame on me for not getting names) had made this soup, from scratch. I had a taste - it was just creamy enough to be a treat, without overdoing it. It was simple, fresh and tasty. And the half sandwich was as generous a portion as the soup.
Italian Wedding Soup
My partner James is a little weirded out by the food photography, so I snapped this shot of his soup while he was distacted with something else. It sure looked homemade and edible, and James, whose last name ends in a vowel, pronounced it delicious. His sandwich - a turkey, cheese and hummus wrap with lettuce (just the description of that didn't sound like a good combination to me) did not garner as hearty a review, but there was nothing not to like, other than the odd combination.
Eggplant Rollatini and Sauteed Cauliflower
This plate, derived mostly from plants, was most delicious - and again, around $7. I am so sold on having another locally owned lunch place, making tasty food from scratch - I don't know why it took us over a year to get to Margie Axelrod's lovely place. But we will return to play with her food much sooner than that, I assure you!
We wound up having two delightful lunches at the "new" Casa Dolce this week - we returned on Wednesday because Anna just had to have the Tuna Pomodoro sandwich again!
Monday, I started by taking a bunch of photos of the savory foods in the case - these are sold "by the pound", but a lunch composed from these freshly prepared goodies is reasonaby priced and the counter folk have a good sense of portion.
The first thing I saw - and ultimately my lunch selection.
Ratatouille - No Rats Here!
One of my absolute favorites - mac n cheese!
Lunch!
Baked pasta with Ricotta and Grilled Vegetables - magnifico! The beet salad that I chose to accompany it was likewise delicious - real (not canned) beets, perfectly cooked and dressed to impress! The whole plate came to about $7.
Fresh Brewed Unsweetened Ice Tea with Lemon Ice
More yums - a perfect way to sweeten tea! I understand that they give coffee a similar treatment - but I'm not terribly interested in that.
After we finished, I shot a little of the "bakery" side of the place:
As I was shooting desserts (thank goodness I don't have much of a sweet tooth, or this place would be deadly), this plate came out - and I was determined to try it on my next visit!
Cafe Dolce had a few different dishes out on Wednesday. In case you are wondering, I failed to get a shot of Anna's Tuna Pomodoro sandwich (which looked positively delicious) on either visit. Guess that means I need to make another visit.
Last time, Anna had gotten a half Tuna Pomodoro and salad ($7.50) and upgraded to the Beet Salad for a $1 upcharge. This time, she did the other $7.50 option of her half sandwich with soup.
Cauliflower Soup
One of the people who served us (shame on me for not getting names) had made this soup, from scratch. I had a taste - it was just creamy enough to be a treat, without overdoing it. It was simple, fresh and tasty. And the half sandwich was as generous a portion as the soup.
Italian Wedding Soup
My partner James is a little weirded out by the food photography, so I snapped this shot of his soup while he was distacted with something else. It sure looked homemade and edible, and James, whose last name ends in a vowel, pronounced it delicious. His sandwich - a turkey, cheese and hummus wrap with lettuce (just the description of that didn't sound like a good combination to me) did not garner as hearty a review, but there was nothing not to like, other than the odd combination.
Eggplant Rollatini and Sauteed Cauliflower
This plate, derived mostly from plants, was most delicious - and again, around $7. I am so sold on having another locally owned lunch place, making tasty food from scratch - I don't know why it took us over a year to get to Margie Axelrod's lovely place. But we will return to play with her food much sooner than that, I assure you!
I can't believe I've driven past this place so many times and not known the delights inside! The pics are droolworthy. I'll have to stop by soon!
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