Café of Love

Café Amore, a restaurant that will make your dreams come true. If you dream of food, that is. This Mediterranean restaurant was established in 1995 by a lovely couple who wanted to share their passion for food with the world. Located in an adorable nook in St. Catharines, Ontario where all are welcomed.

If you want to support a local, family-run business, then this restaurant is definitely at the top of list. As soon as you walk through the door, the relaxing, romantic, yet family friendly ambiance will sweep you off your feet. The smell of garlic, stone oven pizza and love are in the air. Dim lighting, stone walls, a cozy fireplace and the feeling of adoration and joy, all captivated in one room. The waiters are friendly, the chef and kitchen staff are marvellously skilled, and once your eyes take their first gaze at the menu the possibilities are endless.

All meals are delectable, satisfying and filled with love. There are so many scrumptious options to choose from, you most certainly cannot just pick one. And if you caught a glimpse of the glorious cake display on your way in, there is no doubt you will need to leave room for dessert.

Whenever I want to go out with friends or family to a lavish but affordable restaurant, I always bring them here. I’ve had group outings, birthdays, celebrations and just a casual dinner all at this same location. You can dress formal, you can dress business casual, it does not matter. This is a judge free zone. And every time I have brought someone here to this location, we both walk away filled with full and happy bellies, while excitedly planning for our return.

All of these memories are cherished, conversing with others around a delectable plate of food. However, the fondest memory I have is of a romantic date with my boyfriend (now husband) once on a beautiful spring night. We both had finished work late so had to make reservations for around 8:30pm. We knew that even though we were exhausted from our busy days, we wanted to make this evening really special. So, we got all dressed up, him in his suit, me in a floor length dress. All ready to go stuff our faces. What made this marvellous evening even more magical was how we had the restaurant almost all to ourselves. It was amazing ending our evening in peace and quiet, when normally the restaurant is bustling with customers. You could hear the smooth jazz playing in the background as we sat, holding hands, planning our meal. An experience I will never forget. And the quality of not only the food but also the service was divine. We felt like the honoured guests, being cared for so kindly.

“What about the food?” you may ask me. Oh don’t worry. I saved the best descriptions for last. As I mentioned before, this is a Mediterranean restaurant. This means huge, artworks of pasta, pizza, seafood, meats, desserts, you name it. My mouth is watering as I type this out. The appetizers themselves could be a meal, such healthy portions, all so creative and packed full of flavour. It is almost impossible to name what my top preferences are.

If I had to decide on only one appetizer, I would pick the spinach artichoke dip. It is creamy, rich, gooey and sinfully exquisite. You may have had a good spinach artichoke dip before, but nothing compares to Café Amore’s superior recipe. One bite of that dip, sitting delicately on a perfectly warm and fluffy slice of flat bread, will cause fireworks to go off in your mouth!

And it doesn’t stop there! Next is the salad. If you choose a pasta dish from this astounding restaurant, you will have the choice between a garden salad or a Caesar salad. I ALWAYS pick the Caesar salad. This salad, is the true, ultimate Caesar salad. Which as many foodies would know is actually quite difficult to come by. The indulgent dressing made from anchovy paste, egg yolk, pepper, etc. is incredible. It is tangy, velvety, zesty and complimented so perfectly with the slight kick from the pepper. I insist on ordering this salad every time I come to Café Amore, otherwise my evening is incomplete. Paired with their fresh, homemade garlic bread, ladies and gentlemen, you have a match made in heaven.

And now we have reached my most beloved part of the dining experience. The main course. I try to choose something different to eat every once in a while when I come to Café Amore. But my heart always goes back to my absolute favourite dish. That, my friends, is the “Black and Blue Pasta.” If you are looking for umami, for a harmony, NO! A symphony of flavours. A meal that will awaken your senses! This dish has it all! Perfectly cooked blackened chicken, silky gorgonzola cheese sauce, a kick from the added spice or oil (some kind of secret ingredient I presume) along with the tender, juicy shrimp all sitting overtop a mountain of pasta. It is rich, pleasurable, sensational and so breathtaking, you are never going to want that bowl to be empty! Still, with how generous the portions are, you most certainly will need a doggy bag to enjoy later at home. Perhaps as a midnight snack?

Overall, the experience one can have at Café Amore will leave them in awe. The impeccable service from the staff, the love and care put into every meal created by the chef, along with the welcoming, romantic atmosphere, all is a dream come true. Bite by bite of any dish will leave you tingling with joy. I promise, you cannot have a bad meal at this restaurant. This is the local place to support. You will walk out full, satisfied and planning when you will come again. Truly, this is the café of love.