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Business & Tech

Restaurant Review: Teresa's Cafe

This week Patch reviews Teresa's Cafe in Wayne.

Restaurant:
Address: 124 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, PA 19087
Rating: (out of 5 stars): ★★★1/2
Style: Contemporary Italian-American
Food: Good, a bit more refined than other Italian restaurants
Atmosphere: Reminiscent of all the first dates on match.com TV commercials
Parking: Hard to find directly in front of the restaurant but easier in the back lot
Service: Excellent
Price Range: Moderate
Unique Feature: Extensive wine list in all price ranges, specials of the day and gluten-free pasta on request.

 

As a food writer, chef and former semi-pro competitive eater, I’ve spent considerable time in restaurants ranging from zero to five stars and regardless of where I am, I LOVE to play, “Spot the awkward first date” game. The title says it all, you simple scope out the tables and try to spot the duo on an “awkward first date”. If I’m feeling particularly bored and/or imaginative I might even supply my own dialogue or thought clouds for added amusement. in Wayne is an ideal first date destination, the lighting is dim (read: romantic), the food is good, the service is poised and professional and the prices are high enough to avoid looking cheap but not so high that they break the bank. It’s a killer spot to play my favorite game.

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My dining companion and I were seated immediately and I began with a nice glass of red wine. Be sure to check out the extensive wine list with bottles from all over the world and prices ranging from $30-$300. A hallmark of a restaurant with a serious wine list is the list of wines by the glass. If there is great choice of varietals and prices offered by the glass, the wine list itself is usually pretty stellar.

We started off with the insalata mista with marinated tomatoes, greens and balsamic vinaigrette and the fried artichokes with lemon caper aioli. The salad featured fresh ingredients and was plated beautifully but the dressing was completely dominated by the vinegar. I looked across the table and noticed that the salad was barely touched, when I asked why, she mouthed the word “sour.” The oil and vinegar was out of balance resulting in a sour/overly tart taste. I drizzled some of the delicious olive oil that was presented with our bread (hearty and tasty) over the salad, tossed the ingredients using both of our forks and the salad was inhaled over the next three minutes.

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The fried artichokes were fantastic. The torrential downpour and rapid drop in temperature had me hankering for some hot comfort food and these hit the spot. Slightly crisp along the edges of the delicate leaves and tender throughout the stem and heart, each artichoke offered a range of textures and flavors. Though the artichokes were wonderful on their own, the lemon caper aioli provided a bright and creamy compliment.

I had the salcissia pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, hot sausage, jalapenos, ricotta and red onion) and she had the pasta special with pappardelle, arctic char, asparagus and tomatoes. The pizza was pretty good. The tomato sauce was flavorful. The hot sausage was only mildly spicy and there was a ton of cheese. I had been hoping for a more delicate crust.

The pasta was excellent. The noodles were cooked well and not overly mushy. The vegetables were abundant and also nicely cooked. While I wasn’t a fan of the skin left on the arctic char and that it was slightly overcooked, I couldn’t argue with the skill that went into preparing the remaining elements of the dish. It was bursting with flavor and such a satisfying dish both that night and the following day.

We were too stuffed to have dessert although I’m sure they are excellent. The service was poised and professional while being quite friendly. Our food emerged from the kitchen promptly and dirty plates and silverware were cleared immediately. I could understand why the majority of tables around us were filled with duos on their first dates. While some couples looked happier than others, I’m sure everyone went home fully satisfied—in terms of their appetites.

 

Click here for the website.

Click here for the menu.

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