When you walk into this caf?(c), your senses are awash with the smells of Italy. Pastries line the counter, pizzas are baking in the oven and fresh bread is neatly displayed on a wooden rack. There is a distinct smell of marinara in the air and a friendly and attentive waiter ready to take your order. One other thing: you're still in Buffalo.
With the ambiance of a traditional Italian style caf?(c) and appropriate mood lighting, Romeo and Juliet's Caf?(c) captures warm nuance that many other shops lack.
Those walking through the door of Romeo and Juliet's Bakery Caf?(c) for the first time may be uncertain of what to expect, but their warm and inviting atmosphere immediately wins their guests over. Tables by the window decorated with outdoors umbrellas give a touch of authentic sidewalk caf?(c) flare, and the joviality and attractive staff are more than accommodating.
From a first glance at the outside, the caf?(c) can be a bit deceiving, coming across as more of a take-out pizza place than a sit-down restaurant. Fortunately, for the lover of Italian food, the menu doesn't stop at pepperoni.
Romeo and Juliet's Caf?(c) offers the best of both worlds, featuring appetizing Italian fare and romantic ambiance for a bottled wine dinner in the restaurant.
The caf?(c) offers a variety of Italian foods such as bruschetta, panini, caesar salads, cappuccino, and tiramisu; and all those foods are available on the take-out menu.
The restaurant caters to a wide variety of customers, including local high school students, who can be found on any given day swinging by to grab a delicious thin crust pizza.
"A lot of the kids from Nichols High School come here," said Frank Dileo, manager of Romeo and Juliet's. "They usually order the personal pizza."
Off to the right of the pizzeria-style room is an entryway headed by a hostess stand. The entry leads into a quainter atmosphere much different from the pizzeria d?(c)cor first introduced.
At the end of the room is a doorway that leads to additional dining space used mostly for the spillover crowd.
"When it gets crowded in the main dining room we will seat our guests back here," Dileo said.
Although the room is used as a substitute for an overbooked evening, the d?(c)cor does not lack intimate appeal. Just as the front room, this dining space has a wine-cellar charm with romantic overtones.
Located in both dining rooms, is a bar showcasing a beautiful display of bottled wines on rack.
"We offer wine by the glass or bottle and many types of beer," said Dileo.
Guests may come for the drink selection, but they keep coming back for the delicious Italian meals.
"We have chicken Parmesan, pastas, soups as well as daily specials," Dennis Heske, head chef, said.
Thanks to owners Vito and Susan Semeraro, all the menu items are of traditional Italian flavor.
"I make everything fresh according to the Semeraro's recipe," Heske said, "straight from Italy."
Although the business thrives primarily from their regular crowd, sincerity isn't lacking when greeting a first-time patron.
"Our business is run primarily off of local customers," Dileo said, "although we do have some regulars that come from Orchard Park and Amherst."
Coming from far and wide, customers make their way to the Italian hot spot located on the corner of Hertel and Colvin Avenue. Romance is only the beginning when dining in this quaint corner caf?(c). Full of colorful attitudes, fun loving staff and delicious marinara, Romeo and Juliet's is just what the Italian appetite craves.
The food was amazing and you can't beat the price," said Kristen Howard, a senior biology major. "I'll definitely be going back."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
