Cafeteria Italiana

Sol · 01-11-2007

Last week, I was in Caracol, a store that carries high quality clothing and handcrafts from all over Mexico and Guatemala. While I was paying for a small painting that I purchased, a young woman brought in a plate of spaghetti for the clerk (he is very cute and nice). I asked him which restaurant had delivered his meal so I could go over and have dinner. The restaurant is Cafeteria Italiana which is located next door to Cafe Mediterrean. It is a mom and pop place which serves delicious no frill Italian food. I ordered spaghetti bolognese. With this, I was served a nice bread appetizer which consisted of a small slice of bread with sliced cherrie tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil and another slice that had some greens with cheese. I recieved a generous helping of spaghetti with meat sauce and a basket with fresh bread. All of this plus a Sprite for 70 pesos. It is a tiny restaurant with excellent food and a very friendly waitstaff. The chef comes out and serves the appetizers and then he'll check back with you to see if you enjoyed your meal.
I can't wait to go back!!!

cmsitaly · 01-11-2007

Thanks Sol! I will add it to our list of places to eat. Sounds simple and delish

Sol · 01-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmsitaly

Thanks Sol! I will add it to our list of places to eat. Sounds simple and delish

Oh the food is great. I really enjoyed the service. Everyone is so nice at this restaurant.

cmsitaly · 01-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol

Oh the food is great. I really enjoyed the service. Everyone is so nice at this restaurant.

So you'll be at Peepstock now I see...YAY!!! Woohoo!!

Sol · 01-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmsitaly

So you'll be at Peepstock now I see...YAY!!! Woohoo!!

Now for sure!!! It was such a crazy day and it all worked out. I am so psyched!!!! It will be great to meet you!!!!

cmsitaly · 01-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol

Now for sure!!! It was such a crazy day and it all worked out. I am so psyched!!!! It will be great to meet you!!!!

Can't wait!!!

Anna Tortuga · 01-13-2007

is it the small new italian restaurant in the Italian Barrio, end of fith???? Is the owner Gianfranco, and his Mexican wife? If this is the place, GO THERE! the food is DELICIOUS, he has been opening and closing many restaurants in Playa and Mexico city ( and in the end came back to playa...hehe everybody does!). the food is great, and they are very nice people. I've know them for years, and know their hard work....

. He is from Tuscany....and also a wine expert....

Doogie · 01-13-2007

Thanks for the info on this restaurant Sol. I'm adding it to my restaurant list.

StewartG · 01-13-2007

Sol - thanks for the tip - sounds like a must try! Good find!

Sol and cmsitaly - its so nice having "foodie" RFFs!!!

I just can't WAIT to meet both of you guys at Peep Stock!!!

angelhouston819 · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewartG

Sol - thanks for the tip - sounds like a must try! Good find!

Sol and cmsitaly - its so nice having "foodie" RFFs!!!

I just can't WAIT to meet both of you guys at Peep Stock!!!

you will love them both. i have had the honor of hanging out with these lovely chicas.

A'

cmsitaly · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewartG

Sol - thanks for the tip - sounds like a must try! Good find!

Sol and cmsitaly - its so nice having "foodie" RFFs!!!

I just can't WAIT to meet both of you guys at Peep Stock!!!

Okay, just got off the football threads...Colts ROCK!!

Can't wait to meet you Stewart. We are gonna do some eatin!

cmsitaly · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelhouston819

you will love them both. i have had the honor of hanging out with these lovely chicas.

A'

Why thank you sweetie!

Back atcha

Coccinelle · 02-03-2007

Sol, thanks for the info. I would love to try it out! Can you be a little more specific as to where it is located? Thanks.

CaroleLB · 02-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coccinelle

Sol, thanks for the info. I would love to try it out! Can you be a little more specific as to where it is located? Thanks.

Louise -if it's near Casa Mediterranea it's down a very cute little alley/courtyard on the east side of Quinta - between 4th and 6th. It's easy to pass by.

It's one of those hidden gems I discovered the first time I wandered Playa. There's a great art gallery (I think he's on the deal card) where there's a little shrine set up - I want to say his name is San Simeon or St. Simon (or at least I call him "el tio" because he looks like one of my uncles) - one pays respect to him by leaving a drink, a smoke and a couple of pesos - what I was told is that the saint protects you and ensures that you will have a good time.

Whatever the story is I still go pay my respects to him when I get into town.

Coccinelle · 02-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaroleLB

Louise -if it's near Casa Mediterranea it's down a very cute little alley/courtyard on the east side of Quinta - between 4th and 6th. It's easy to pass by.

It's one of those hidden gems I discovered the first time I wandered Playa. There's a great art gallery (I think he's on the deal card) where there's a little shrine set up - I want to say his name is San Simeon or St. Simon (or at least I call him "el tio" because he looks like one of my uncles) - one pays respect to him by leaving a drink, a smoke and a couple of pesos - what I was told is that the saint protects you and ensures that you will have a good time.

Whatever the story is I still go pay my respects to him when I get into town.

Oh ok...I know where it is then.

We always eat at Casa Mediterranea at least twice while in Playa. I love their calamari and the little bruscheta that they bring you before your meal. The owners are so sweet too and Mauricio's wife (cant remember her name right now

) is sooo gorgeous. What a classy lady.
I absolutely love that little courtyard! I guess we'll just have to scoot by very quickly past Casa Mediterranea to go to next door hoping that Mauricio will not notice us.

Aahh...San Simeon.

I did pay my respect to him and offered him some cigarettes in the hopes that he would help me quit. That what I was told by the lady there anyway. Hubby kept asking me during the rest of our trip if it was working, he's a non-smoker.

I'm still smoking today.

San Simeon was quite the lush from what I heard, bet he would have been fun to party with.

Funny, I couldn't find him the last time we were there, wonder what happened to him.

Thanks Carole!

01-11-2007	#1 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 10,459	Cafeteria Italiana Last week, I was in Caracol, a store that carries high quality clothing and handcrafts from all over Mexico and Guatemala. While I was paying for a small painting that I purchased, a young woman brought in a plate of spaghetti for the clerk (he is very cute and nice). I asked him which restaurant had delivered his meal so I could go over and have dinner. The restaurant is Cafeteria Italiana which is located next door to Cafe Mediterrean. It is a mom and pop place which serves delicious no frill Italian food. I ordered spaghetti bolognese. With this, I was served a nice bread appetizer which consisted of a small slice of bread with sliced cherrie tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil and another slice that had some greens with cheese. I recieved a generous helping of spaghetti with meat sauce and a basket with fresh bread. All of this plus a Sprite for 70 pesos. It is a tiny restaurant with excellent food and a very friendly waitstaff. The chef comes out and serves the appetizers and then he'll check back with you to see if you enjoyed your meal. I can't wait to go back!!!

01-11-2007	#2 (permalink)
cmsitaly añejo Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,105	Thanks Sol! I will add it to our list of places to eat. Sounds simple and delish

01-13-2007	#7 (permalink)
Anna Tortuga añejo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: playa del carmen...urgh Posts: 4,203	is it the small new italian restaurant in the Italian Barrio, end of fith???? Is the owner Gianfranco, and his Mexican wife? If this is the place, GO THERE! the food is DELICIOUS, he has been opening and closing many restaurants in Playa and Mexico city ( and in the end came back to playa...hehe everybody does!). the food is great, and they are very nice people. I've know them for years, and know their hard work.... . He is from Tuscany....and also a wine expert....

01-13-2007	#8 (permalink)
Doogie lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22	Thanks for the info on this restaurant Sol. I'm adding it to my restaurant list.

01-13-2007	#9 (permalink)
StewartG commie pinko Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Kremlin (when not at my dacha in Houston) Posts: 13,389	Sol - thanks for the tip - sounds like a must try! Good find! Sol and cmsitaly - its so nice having "foodie" RFFs!!! I just can't WAIT to meet both of you guys at Peep Stock!!!

02-03-2007	#13 (permalink)
Coccinelle añejo Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 2,729	Sol, thanks for the info. I would love to try it out! Can you be a little more specific as to where it is located? Thanks.

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