Dining Out Review:
Caffe Piccolo
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Where: 400 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas.
Contact: 360-834-7044. Caffe Piccolo is also on Facebook.
Health score: Caffe Piccolo received a perfect score of zero on May 13. Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
Why: Caffe Piccolo recently opened in its new downtown Camas location, not too far from its original site. Owner Jodi Vaughn purchased the business in November 2010.
The new café has a beautiful view of Fourth Avenue, and customers may now enjoy European pastries from Marsee Baking in Portland, in addition to panini sandwiches.
Dining Out Review:
Caffe Piccolo
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Where: 400 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas.
Contact: 360-834-7044. Caffe Piccolo is also on Facebook.
Health score: Caffe Piccolo received a perfect score of zero on May 13. Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
What I tried: I decided on the veggie panini to enjoy with a latte, and I took home a few pastries: a lemon empanada, a blueberry fritter and a marionberry fazzoletti.
Though the latte did not have any art in the froth, is was every bit as satisfying as one that does. The panini had pesto made of marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers between two buttered and grilled slices of bread with a slice of provolone cheese to melt it all together. The resulting light sandwich was a bit difficult to pick up without it falling apart. I ate it with a fork and knife, which suited me just fine.
Of the pastries, my favorite was the marionberry fazzoletti. It was made with a square of flaky pasty dough. In the middle was a portion of sweet and tart marionberry filling. The four corners were folded up and joined in the middle — sort of like a pin-wheel. The filling near the outer edges became somewhat caramelized in the baking, which added another layer of flavor. The top was dusted with powdered sugar.
The blueberry fritter was delicious, not greasy, and packed with dehydrated blueberries. I popped it in the microwave for 20 seconds to bring out its flavors and textures.
The lemon empanada was a pocket of piecrust stuffed with lemon filling, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: A breakfast panini comes with either ham or sausage, cheese and egg. Lunch varieties include turkey and swiss, ham and cheddar, and Reuben. Pastries vary by the day. Seasonal beverages are Italian lemonade and iced tea. Italian frappes, hot chocolate and tea are available, along with all the espresso drinks you would expect.
Atmosphere: The café is petite but feels spacious because large windows wrap around the corner space, allowing a lot of natural light. Embossed tin ceiling tiles bring Victorian-era charm, and a mini-chandelier adds a touch of elegance. Next to the order counter, a case displays tempting pastries with refrigerated items below. A simple sideboard provides a help-yourself condiment station. Easy-to-read chalk menu boards are framed and hung above a shelf of flavored syrup and tea choices. Seating consists of both high and low bistro tables for two, in addition to a wall bench.
Other observations: The service was friendly and relaxed. After I left and started unlocking my vehicle, a couple of women stopped to ask if I knew of a doughnut shop nearby. Although Caffe Piccolo does not serve doughnuts (as I informed them), I was happy to send them to the café for a more refined experience.
Cost: Breakfast paninis are $4.50 and lunch varieties are $6. Pastries are mostly $1.75 and $2.25. Beverages come in 8-ounce, 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 20-ounce sizes and range from $1.75 to $4.50. Extra shots, syrup flavors, and dairy substitutes are all under 75 cents.
