Caro Amico Italian Cafe Reviews

We enjoy this restaurant so much that we took a out-of-state friend here for dinner when she visited us! My husband and our friend both ordered the canneloni and I had the shrimp scampi. Both were quite good! Caro Amico's is a place that we can always count on as we are served great food and we have gotten to know several of the staff which makes it more fun.

This is a nice, casual restaurant with reasonable prices and good Italian food. We go there often. The owner will almost always come by your table. The pizza is great.

Glad to see Caro Amico reopened!! The food was very nicely served, but has gone up significantly in price which we were disappointed to see as we had been looking forward to coming here again as we have done so many times in the past 30 years! For example, my scampi dish in the past was in the low $20.00's and is now $32.00 for simply some shrimp and pasta, and not even an over amount of that! Husband got the mushroom ravioli, and we split a salad, but he went home and had a PB&J sandwich as the serving portion was delicious, but somewhat small. I actually wrote a note to Elsie, the owner, and she wrote back a lovely note. It's possible we will return sometime in the future, but it's going to be when we feel like parting with a lot of money for the amount of food received!

My wife and I's favorite dish is the penne pasta bowl + Alfredo sauce: + choices of Prawn, Sausage, etc. Very tasty when coupled with a glass of wine and their great bread! Solid line up of Italian offerings and good listing of wine selections without breaking the bank. Not a large facility, but lots of booths and outdoor seating; weather permitting, which it was on my last visit in August. Nice view of Aerial Tram and freeway noise not really noticeable.

Love to stop here as i live across the street. great food. very nice people.

I love this place. We prefer to eat in the bar and its like you stepped into a slice of the past--low light, couples visiting, stiff drinks---yea, just like we like it. Pizza is super tasty. Good crust, not too thick, just right on the sauce and nice amount of toppings. I get the mani/canni combo. You will figure it out. Service is attentive, but not hovering. Fun staff....nice wine list too. Go, enjoy--

We actually decided to go here due to an entertainment book coupon and also have passed by this place numerous times without stopping. Arriving at Caro Amico's right at opening time (4:00PM) we were promptly seating by the window on the second level. It appears that there are three levels of dining and the upper level is opened around 5:30-6:00PM when there are more customers. We started out with an antipasto dish filled with great meat and cheeses. I ordered the traditional spaghetti with meatballs dish and she ordered Ravioli al Forno w/ Prawns & Sausage. Both dishes were well seasoned and very tasty not to mention filling. There was also a basket of fresh COMO bread and butter to add to the meal. We finished off the meal with a great chocolate cake with ice cream which we had to take home along with the main courses we did not finish. This was a great meal along with great service and we will be back soon.

Love it! we regularly dine here

We have been passing Caro Amico since we moved to Portland finally decided to stop by for dinner. The place was not very crowded and we were seated upstairs with a nice view towards the river. We were pleased by the drinks menu and opted for drinks over wine. We decided on a pizza and salad. The salad was a pretty generic dinner salad with only a few dressing choices and was okay. the pizza came out huge and square. We ordered prosciutto and mushrooms. It had a lot of both on it as well as a lot of dry crust. It wasn't bad, but just not much to it flavor wise. It was dominated by the crust and mushrooms. It looks to be a throw back place that likely hasn't changed much in decades. I really really wanted to like it here and may try again with something besides pizza, but there are too many places in Portland to settle

Notable more for its history than any groundbreaking cuisine, Caro Amico was one of the (if not THE) first restaurants to bring pizza to Portland in the late 1940's, and it's still some of the best in town. Served up oval-shaped and cut into squares, this is pizza, old-time style. I can't speak to much of their other cuisine, but what I've had over the years is utterly average American version Italian. My biggest gripe has to be Caro's pricing-- it's surprisingly high for what you're getting-- $22 for a pizza with standard toppings is a bit dear, no matter how good or uniquely shaped it is. That being said, I still find myself coming here several times a year due to (1.) That pizza-- it's good! and (2.) the tiny lounge has to be one of Portland's better kept hideaways, an absolute throwback and a whole lot of fun. Forget about the outdoor seating (which is glorious in nice weather) or the main room-- make a beeline to the lounge, grab an old school cocktail and soak it in.

We love Italian food but really judge a restaurant by their Alfredo sauce. We like it thick, rich and made from quality Parmesan. Sadly this restraints Alfredo was more like a white sauce. Lovely atmosphere and nice service but not a repeat for us.

We went here to celebrate a birthday for guests who love Italian. Reservations for 7 are hard to get in Portland for last minute plans with additional guests. Super easy to book on Open Table. Fettuccine Alfredo had to be in the menu. This restaurant had parking a which as you know is a plus in Portland and you could tell it was locally owned and operated. Food was excellent and ambiance was perfect for casual dinner conversation. Would definitely go again!

great- fresh and home style liked the food don't want to keep writing to get fifty characters= hate computer bureaucracy

The waiter acted quickly when I told him my husband's blood sugar was low. He was very attentive. The food choices are so yummy! Nice view and outside seating too. Prices are very reasonable. Wait staff so friendly, just like old friends! You just can't go wrong eating here. Next time we want to try the pizza, You can choose everything and anything you want on it!! Highly recommend to everyone, anytime!!

The first time we tried Caro Amico I did not enjoy the visit. I don't remember why, other than thinking perhaps it was because we were in our 20s and this is not a lively spot. So we waited a few decades and returned to realize we've been missing out on a fantastic restaurant for years! Caro Amico has become a go-to restaurant for us and we visit once or twice a month. Nestled in the Southwest outskirts of Portland, it sits on the side of the hill looking out over the Willamette river with a view of the OHSU gondolas sliding up and down the mountain. The building looks old because it is. It has also gained a lot of life experience on the inside. There are two levels of dining. The parking lot is behind the building and a flight of stairs delivers you to the first level where a nice dining room lies on the left and a bar with counter seating as well as about five booths lie to the right. The same food is served in either location; the bar is very dimly lit while the dining room is better lit. The booths in the dining area are just a hair too small and I find the seats too close to the table for comfort, but the view from the window booths is stunning. There are additional tables in the middle of the room which are often combined for large parties. The second floor is laid out similar to the first floor, but the second floor is opened only when the first floor is full, or so it seems. In addition, when weather allows there is outdoor deck seating outside the first floor and it is very nice with all tables looking over the Willamette river. The food is wonderful. Pizza is often our choice and the house blends are excellent; obviously guests are given the option of their own toppings and we've often gone this route. They deliver one of the finest house salads I can think of, and their bread is a treat. Meals too are fabulous, as are the many appetizers. They always offer a wine special and its never failed to deliver. The beer on tap change, there are always great offerings. Pricing is about $20; $20 for a meal or $20 for a pizza. Apps, $7-$15; salad $8. Not cheap, but also not too expensive; and if you are feeding a family pizza is in line with just about any. The service is wonderful too. The manager is typically greeting and welcoming guests as well as checking in and wishing them good-nights. Many of the servers are long time employees and turnover seems low here; people change over here, but it is not frequent which is a good sign. If you are looking for something new in Portland, or something old in Portland, you might consider checking out Caro Amico!

Caro Amico's is a very cozy little restaurant. We enjoy the ambiance of the bar over the restaurant. Service in the bar is consistently prompt & friendly. The seared scallops are absolutely excellent. If you are not in the mood for pasta, the chef will happily substitute it for a bed of lightly cooked spinach. It's been a winner every time ... in fact, I have yet to order a different dish! Caro Amico's pizza is my fella's favorite.

We go here a lot mostly because its close and we like the atmosphere. It is expensive and the pasta dishes are fine. The thin crust pizza is good. the blue cheese dressing on the dinner salad is something I crave. We like the make your own pasta choices of mix and match. Lately if we don't sit in the bar-which has a really good bartender who makes our meal service perfect- the service has been below average. I don't know if the yoiung women are just not well trained or if it is a dining room attitude problem, but this recent visit and one a few months ago were below average in service. They are standing around talking loudly and don't pay good attention to the diners. It's too bad. Eat in the bar when you go!

This restaurant is a Portland landmark. The setting gives wonderful views of the city. The food matches the view. Fresh and tasty. Generous portions. Friendly waitstaff. Seek this place out when visiting Portland.

Saturday night they were extremely busy and we didn't have reservations but they made us feel very welcome We received great service and the food was excellent!!

I had high expectations for our dinner but was VERY disappointed in the quality of the food and the COST. We shared some bruschetta pomodoro with our cocktail. My French 75 was served warm ... not a good start. Then the veal parmigiana for my main course. 50% breading with limited marinara sauce. I scrapped the breading off and the veal was overcooked. The seasonal veggies were mushy. Penne pasta was served al dente but the sauce could have come out of a can and there wasn't enough for the amount of pasta on the plate. Not the high quality I was expecting from such a long-standing establishment. My sister had a caesar salad with chicken. Chicken was moist but VERY SALTY. A shared bottle of wine brought the oost, with tip, to $100. Pretty expensive for what we got. Wait staff is what saved this review from a 2-star. She was attentive and friendly and managed the timing of the dishes well. Finally, their email is never responded to (info@caroamicoitaliancafe.com). I had to call -- only during their open hours, to make the reservation. I emailed TWICE to confirm and never heard back from them. And then they didn't have our reservation. They really need to invest in a better way for people to make reservations and get confirmations. I don't have cellular coverage where I live, so every phone call to them is long-distance. All this makes for an unpleasant experience.

We made a reservation for dinner for Thursday evening after a neighborhood meeting that started later than anticipated, cancelled the reservation due to the timing, then ended up leaving the meeting early, and went anyway to Caro Amico's and told the owner, a woman we have talked to several times, about our cancelling and now coming for dinner. Our server turned out to be the young man I had cancelled with on the phone, and he knew our situation! We were seated immediately and ended up having another great meal at this family favorite Italian restaurant! The scampi as well as the canneloni were both good, and we split the large salad. The only disappointing downside that we will have to remember in the future is that they've gone off the Passport card, a bonus incentive to coming here so often in the past.

Looking for a good Italian dinner that evening, we found this small warm little restaurant in south Portland. Good choices with good prices for Italian eating. The salad mista was great for sharing. Our entrees were good size and good taste. This is some place I would return for another dinner. The Italian sauce on both of our entrees was so o o tasty. It is in an out of the way location But, on a major street that makes it easy to return to downtown Portland. Worthy of trying!

Coming down the Terwilliger curves in heavy traffic I got off onto Barbur. Caro Amico? I'd been there once 25 years ago to get a takeout pizza. It was happy hour on a hot day so I sat out on the deck with a glass of house red and excellent grilled sausage topped with cheese. The only bad part was getting back on I5 2 hours later...still gridlocked...

Enjoyed happy hour here. The bar and the cafe are available for happy hour. Small plates and reduced price wine. We had the Canneloni and the Manicotti. Our friend had the meat ball hero. He took home 1/2 of it. Our portions were delicate and really quite tasty. The owner touched every table. Great little old fashioned neighborhood spot. highly recommend.

We've been going to Caro Amico for about 20 years. There's never been a bad meal there. All the entrees are excellent and the pizzas are great! They have an Italian/Greek pasta salad that is wonderful and the "create-your-own" pastas can't be beat. The bar is extremely cozy and the overall atmosphere is warm and friendly. There are NO negatives about this place!

Several years ago, we went to Caro Amico to use a coupon we received in the mail. It was good enough to encourage us to go even without the discount, and for the past few years it has been one of our regular places for dinner out. We generally order pasta dishes rather than pizza. One favorite is the combination manicotti and cannelloni. But the best dishes are often the specials. In late February I ordered the seafood ravioli, which was one of the best meals I have ever had. Another time, the seafood cannelloni, also excellent. However, don't expect to find specials, at least the ones to which you have become attached, every time. The chefs use fresh available ingredients and experiments. The salads are excellent too, though they cost extra and end up making dinner a bit on the pricey side. Don't be put off by the retro décor. It's part of the charm. You feel like you are entering a restaurant that was decorated in the 1950's and never updated. The service is adequate, though wait staff always seems rushed. Sometimes they give you a $10 discount card for your next visit, but don't count on it.

Fresh ingredients makes this a standout Italian restaurant. The view from the second story dining room is very nice, looks out toward the Willamette River and a view of the OHSU a tram. We enjoyed the specials butternut squash ravioli and shrimp and pasta. The pizza is very popular there also. We saw several fine in orders as well as pizza to go. Might try that next time.

This restaurant has been in the same family since 1949 and seems to have lost none of the excellence along the way. The recipes and their preparation are definitely old school with nothing trendy about them - a welcome change in a world where each new chef seems bent on reinventing things that were perfected generations before they were even born. Caro Amico is highly recommended for Classic Italian fare.

We used to love Caro Amico, since we were kids 50 years ago, and over the last 10 years. Suddenly, owner/management has gone AWOL and the timeclock people are running the asylum. Got there a few minutes late (plane was late) and waiter at the bar not only refused to seat us, but lied saying they stopped serving a half hour ago, despite their posted hours. Caro Amico no longer gives a wet noodle about the customer experience.

The building is pretty weird but very nice and there is a nice atmosphere. We were greeted by a super nice older gentleman who seemed to know many of the patrons. It is one of those places that stays in business forever because they take good care of the customers and the food is great. It is a hidden gem.

Scallops, carbonara, tiger prawns, Greek salad and two bottles of Chianti. $124.00. Fabulous sauces, good bread, understated yet complex seasoning. Perfect pasta. They earned my 5 stars. We spoke to the chef who was very passionate and personable. Family owned. Seventy year old restaurant. Good service in an old converted house. This is 'old school' at its best. It even has its own parking lot in the back and is rumored to have a really nice happy hour.

Boring.

This was my first time dining here. I was in Portland to run the Hood to the Coast and my son add his girlfriend recommended it because they have enjoyed it and it is only miles from their home and I could carbo-load. The weather was warm and the natural option was to eat on the nice deck, but I saw the intimate booths in the lounge/bar area and that is where I wanted to eat. We there there for a later dinner and the bar had a few patrons with a few tables being used. The bartender was friendly and helpful. He was perceptive enough to know that we were in no hurry as we were talking and catching up. He timed every thing perfectly. We started with the antipasto which came with cheeses, olives and all the usual assortments. It was very good. We order a bottle of wine. Fairly priced and also very good. It paired nicely with the app and the conversation. We all ordered pasta dishes and they came out hot and delicious and plentiful. I had the Pasta Putenesca. It was flavorful and a little kick of heat to it. We also ordered a side of garlic bread and we loved it. Unfortuneately we were too full to try dessert. Maybe it was the company, maybe the food, maybe the service, maybe the wine or all of them that made my dining experience there wonderful.

We live within walking distance and tried Caro Amico some time back. One night we decided to try their pizza and now we return again and again for the Viking.

We had a big group visit for dinner and I can’t say enough about the the service we received! You can’t go wrong with the choices for the menu or the wine. We made reservations ahead of time and were treated with the best service!

A venerable place by Portland standards (in business since 1949), this was literally the first place to offer pizza in town. There was a time when pizza was new and avant garde. This place was “it,” in its day. Still good, family run, with pleasing and varied Italian food, located off the beaten track south of downtown, it survives because locals have loved it and kept it alive. Worth a drive to be a part of that history. Decent views of south downtown Portland and the Willamette Valley.

This review is for pizza only! If you are looking for pizza that is truly different and delicious you need look no further. I am a confessed pizza junkie. I have had pizza all over the world and in the so called pizza hubs, Italy, New York and Chicago. Caro Amico pizza ranks with the "authentic" best. The pizzas tend to be more New Yorkish then Chicago. That is, they are on the thin side. The sauce has a definite kick to it and the crust has a garlic flavor that is just right.

We went for happy hour and it was terrific! The owner, Elsie was ever present and very helpful. We will definitely be back. They have a wonderful balconey with a panoramic view. The Spumoni was excellent.

This quaint little restaurant is a comfortable place for great meals with an attentive staff. I really enjoyed the Scampi Fettuccini. It was so creamy and very full of shrimp. It was perfect. Looking forward to future visits.

Had dinner with a bigger group. Small tradition wine list. Full bar. Small menu-- basically all Italian- Pasta, Salads, Pizza with Chicken, Beef, Veal and some meet free options. Shrimps and Scallop dishes too. Garlic bread was nice starter. All dishes were adequate, nothing fancy, traditional presentations. Though prices were a bit high. Close to downtown, but not walking distance. Outdoor seating is nice. View of mountain on east side is great!

Caro Amicos is a family owned café which has been in business in the same location since 1949 and I started frequenting this establishment in the mid 1960s with my college friends. Back then a Pizza could be had for $4.25. From then until now I have yet to be disappointed by this business. Not only do they serve the best Pizza to be found but excellent Italian dishes and special weekend dishes to die for. A very courteous friendly staff from the owner Elsie, Butch the manager, to all the serving staff.

I have reviewed Caro Amico's often because we go there pretty regularly! We both have our favorites, but somehow, my angel hair with two sausages (extra cost of $5.00 each, but worth it!) and meat sauce was even better than in the past! My husband had the scallops this time, and he said they were also quite good. This is one of the best neighborhood restaurants that we often eat at, and we enjoy both the food as well as the staff and servers.

Met family members here for a dinner one night to catch up after not seeing them for a few years! Good food, service and great for being able to hear each other talk, unlike so many other restaurants these days!! When you are driving to it pay close attention as we missed it and you can't just turn around at the next intersection. Took us quite a while to get back to it, then parking was limited.

We went to Caro Amico's again this past Wednesday evening, and it was packed! Only one floor was being used, and every table was full. We were seated by our reservation time of 6:45, however, with no problem, and once again, we enjoyed some of our favorites. I like many entrees there, but really love the pasta and meat sauce with TWO flavored sausages cut up and added to the pasta and sauce. It always gives me enough to have again the next day at work for lunch, and it makes a great meal when a sandwich just won't cut it!

We hosted friends from Ashland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois on a Saturday night. We planned ahead and had a reservation. This vintage italian restaurant is popular with the surrounding neighborhood, so reservations are recommended. Plenty of appetizers and adult beverages to enjoy and entrees served pipping hot. We had a good time, enjoyed the back ground music and would recommend this friendly restaurant for anyone wanting a good Italian event.

Annual visit with family and they came through again. Good meats and pasta, wine, dessert and all the trimmings. Very attentive waitress and owner

This is an out of the way Italian eatery that is obviously a local favorite. We went for a family dinner and 7 of us were seated immediately, served very quickly and efficiently and I would say it is now one of my favorites in Portland. The menu is varied and has traditional Italian pastas, but the sauces or clearly homemade and the food tastes as if you are in someone's kitchen. I don't make food recommendations since my tastes are all over the map, but all 7 of us were thrilled with the food and that is saying something. Fish dishes, meat dishes, pasta dishes and great wine selection.

Have been going to Caro Amico since I was in high school. A long time ago. Just had dinner tonight with my wife and both meals were outstanding. basic spaghetti and meat balls and linquine with shrimp. Service by Jasmine was very very good. If you want real old time Italian, this is the place to go!

Caro Amico is our to-go Italian restaurant not far from our home, and we have several favorite entrees that we frequently order in addition to the large house salad that we split. My husband got the cannelloni and I had one of my favorites, the pasta with meat sauce and two cut up Italian spicy sausages added. The amount of my entree always provides my lunch for the next day as there is more than enough for two meals! We love seeing the same wait staff as well as the owner each time we go and it feels like a second home when we arrive each time and are greeted! We'll be back!!

This was our first time a Amici's and i'm not sure i'd do it again. For apetizers, the Tiger Prawns turned out to be just ordinary shrimp. Not sure why they advertized the larger Tigers, but that's what the menu said. The main courses were a mix of good and slightly below average. The small pizza's were pretty good, the spaghetti carbonara was not and definately not like any carbonara i've ever had before. On the service and atmosphere side of things, much better. The wait staff seemed pretty good, and the interior and view from the 2nd floor we pretty good too although you only get a partial view of OSHU and the cable car by looking over I-5 and the restaurant parking lot. Inside, the 2nd floor restaurant is very comfortable, the 1st floor restaurant more like a diner, a small bar and a small outside patio with 3 table. So maybe just didn;t order the right items, not quite sure yet, but a less then great dinner overall.

Having lived in the Portland area for many years, we enjoyed Caro Amico for the first time last night. What a treat we have been missing out on!!! Locals have raved about it for years, but we never ventured out to try it as we have our favorite Italian spot in West Linn....until last night. There is a very nice menu, with what I would say has an old school feel. If you want pasta carbonara, spagetti with a fabulous marinara sauce or fettuccine alfredo that will delight you, this is the place. The appetizer menu offers an excellent bruschetta, some of the best I have had. The house wine is generously poured, and prices were quite reasonable. Caro Amico is a great place to unwind, enjoy the summer breeze on the patio and have a very good meal. It's a great place to go with family or a group, for a celebration or perhaps just a night out with the husband or wife. The servers are friendly, food is quickly prepared and delivered, and again: it's is VERY good. We will be back soon! I am hoping next week. Yum!

The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, and had the food been as good as the staff, the meal would have been great. Unfortunately, not the case. The antipasto platter was pretty good. The chicken piccata was over-capered, and the pasta was clumpy. The sausage and shrimp with ravioli was over-cooked and over-sauced. The wine selections were limited but at least not terribly expensive. Our before dinner drinks were nicely done. The “tiramisu”, while light, did not have the espresso-soaked cake/lady fingers needed to achieve the correct flavor or balance. The establishment gets 3*/5 because of the service and staff, not the food...

My assessments for Italian restaurants depend upon Spaghetti Carabonara and homemade Gnocchi. For Carabonara, too many restaurants rely on a cream sauce. But Caro Amico's was all egg and cheese, and quite tasty. Also, the manicotti and cannelloni were handrolled! It's a bit of an old style Mom/Pop Italian restaurant. Service was friendly and efficient. Parking can be a challenge. But worth the effort.

Our 'dining out' group went to Cara Amicos last night for a special evening. We'd talked to Maria, our wait staff before the evening and she made extra efforts to decorate the table to keep with the theme of our group. She bent over backwards to make it a great night. We had 5 different entrees and each one was very good, fresh, full of flavor and noteworthy. Servings were large so lunch the next day for many of us. Highly recommend the old, Portland tradition for anyone looking for GREAT Italian food.

From my many reviews of Caro Amico, one would no doubt think we come here often! Well, we do because we really like the food here, so suggested to our out-of-state friends meeting us in Portland that we eat at Caro Amico. Both of the men and I came here years ago when I helped type up paper work for them while they attended OHSU dental school, and we "caught the bug" for this type of Italian food! I especially like the chicken picatta or the create your own pasta with sausage, but the lasagna and shrimp dishes are also good. We always split the salad as it is now large enough for two.

Kim and I went for dinner. I had the Chicken Parmigiana and Kim had the Chicken Picata. Both dishes were excellent. If you arrive, come in through the door off the lower parking lot as that is where the person doing the seating is. Also, this restaurant is on the Passport Card so we got one of the entrees frre (saving $21.50 off the bill).

This is an Italian Cafe that has been in Portland since the late 1940s. It is just outside the downtown area in Southwest Portland. It is family owned and the service shows it! Great service, friendly atmosphere, and of course very good food. I had the Canzano Calzone and it was quite tasty. It is not quite a budget spot, but not a budget-buster either. If you want cheap go to Little Caesars, but of course you will get what you pay for. Parking can be a little tough when they get busy, and they do get quite busy. For a romantic evening for two, it worked quite well, but I love the Italian family atmosphere as well. Made you feel like you were in a NYC Italian cafe (at least what I think they might be like). Clearly recommend this place.

We have liked this spot for a comfortable family meal with our son and his family, especially after downtown events like The Nutcracker. The food is always good, basic Italian fare at reasonable prices so the value is good considering price and quality, my major criterion for selecting restaurants. The reason I can't give it a higher rating is because the last time we made a reservation for a family dinner, they seemed not to have any record of it despite my wife's clear recollection. There was very little empathy exhibited nor any offer to try to squeeze us in in some way. Very disappointing and caused us to scramble to find another option on short notice during the Christmas season. They are now off our preferred list.

My first visit to Caro Amico and enjoyed every moment. Early dinner/happy hour on a Sunday with friends. They had the HH shrimp( very generous portion) and a pizza. I opted for the ravioli special which was Delish! The place filled up quickly,....lots of 'regulars'....you could tell that they all felt at home. I'd go back, for sure!

I used to get my all-time favorite, the chicken piccata, until I tried their sausage and sauce over various pasta shapes. THAT is now my go-to meal when we go there as those sausages are out of this world with just a bite of spicy heat and over-all general deliciousness! Their salads are also good. The servers have been there for awhile and it is nice to see them again when we eat there.