GRAPE STREET CAFE
Restaurant Review
Review date: 2/20/98

Off the beaten path, this is great place for a different taste of pasta! The Grape Street Cafe opened it's doors in late 1997. The interior motif reminds you of a chateau wine cellar. Heavy wrought iron tables and chairs add to the image. Small tealight candles provide the intimate atmosphere. Everything on the menu is terrific.

Begin with the fried calamari served with a spicy marinara sauce or a bowl of the homemade soup of the day. The cream of broccoli soup is so good you'll forget the rest of your meal. A variety of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, pastas and dinner specials give you a wide choice of dining delights. My favorite, the "Penne Ala Vodka" is savory with it's fresh asparagus, asiago cheese and prosciutto. Potatoes are available as garlic mashed or potato gorgonzola ravioli.

But the best part of Grape Street Cafe is their wine bar. They offer one of the most extensive wine selections in town. If you're not sure which wine you'd like with dinner, have a sampling of a few different ones for a modest price. If you actually have room for dessert, try the "Dark Chocolate Fondue" served with ripe bananas, strawberries and pound cake. Service is impeccable.

A private dining room for parties of 8-10 is available, but be careful reserving it as they have a tendency to overbooked it and not let you know until the last minute. They also have a small retail store adjacent to the restaurant where you can purchase some great wine, imported and domestic cheeses, pates, caviars and homemade meals to go. Prices are low to moderate.