John Caffe - Menu

John Café is located in such an unlikely spot –tiny Folgaria, way up in the Dolomites above Rovereto it could go unrecognized, except for its brilliance. Run by... read more John Café is located in such an unlikely spot –tiny Folgaria, way up in the Dolomites above Rovereto it could go unrecognized, except for its brilliance. Run by a Michelin starred chef, an ace maître de, and smart as hell owners, John Café is a bit of a miracle in the sky. It’s a destination restaurant, but complete serendipity to most of us. The restaurant’s feel is pluperfect; windows over the mountains; plush, cushy leather settees, and a kind of cosmopolitan crispness utterly unexpected in an alpine village. The tasting menu of Chef Paolo Cappuccio’s design is knock out. Each bite, down to the morsel, is perfection. Dishes are microscopically designed and almost too pretty to eat. First is squid on puree of pea, served on a funny little art deco plate. (In fact, serving dishes are chosen according to the food. Such is the detail. I’ve never seen anything rivaling the detail of presentation. Next, a dish which opens with a poof of wood smoke, like a sorcerer made it, is beef tartare topped with parmesan, egg, anchovy and a perfect little pecan – Dijon and chocolate drawn across the plate. Then, salmon with tear drop of cream cheese, topped with caviar. Fungi, shrimp, prawns with risotto precede pork that melts in your mouth. The final dish – ‘Black and White’ – squid in ink topped with potato puree, is so deliciously rich, I don't have words to describe it. A visit to Café John is worth every bit of the travel and is an experience you’ll want to repeat. I’m just stunned by the whole evening.

We stopped here for lunch on our way up to Fonde Grande in Folgaria. The service was quick and the food was tasty. We didn't have any of the pastries or macaroo... read more We stopped here for lunch on our way up to Fonde Grande in Folgaria. The service was quick and the food was tasty. We didn't have any of the pastries or macaroons but they looked delicious.