Our family of six enjoyed a delicious and beautifully prepared dinner at Cafe Campli recently. Every dish was intentional and on-point - created and presented with a lot of love, care, and attention to detail - and, looking appetizing and ready-to-eat rather than over-stylized. The flavors impressed! In every meal, the ingredients were fresh and high quality, and the flavors superb. The house-made pastas and sauces were exceptional - creatively prepared and perfectly approachable. I particularly enjoyed the chickpea fritters appetizer; but the burrata was equally impressive. The accompaniments to the meal - roasted carrots, broccolini, and salads - were at the peak of freshness and flavor - served at absolutely the right temperature and doneness and dressed masterfully to accentuate the quality of the vegetables. And, the desserts! I will be back! My affogato was served exactly as it should be - a rich, aromatic double espresso poured over a generous serving of salted caramel gelato in a clear glass cup. The aromas and tastes of both the espresso and gelato, as well as the integrity of the scoops of gelato, "held" until the very last sip of this very special dessert drink. One of the best, if not the best, espressos I have enjoyed at a restaurant. The other desserts were just as remarkable. Serving the cannoli on an extra "little pillow" of cannoli cream was absolutely the right touch - luxurious and special. The limoncello cake and the bomboloni were equally impressive. Our server made us feel immediately at home and took very good care of us throughout the meal. Thank you, thank you! I loved the laid back vibe and intimacy of the cafe, which allowed for an amazing dining experience without fussiness and unnecessary fanfare. Some truly lovely wines, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and 0-proof creations, as well. Thank you, Cafe Campli, for putting people first and preparing all your dishes with such love! A+++. 100%. I can't wait to come back! NancyVegetarian options: Three of the six main dishes ordered by my family were vegetarian and fabulous. Homemade pastas and sauces; risotto; vegetables at the peak of freshness; salads; fresh breads; excellent vegetarian appetizers; and, creatively prepared vegetarian accompaniments.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jenna Guglielmini
My partner and I are huge foodies and were really excited to try Cafe Campli! We love Italian food and regularly seek out more authentic cuisine. I believe they just switched to their spring menu. We got one glass of wine and one cocktail, both were delicious. For the antipasti, we got the meat and cheese board, and it was great! For the primi, we got the pappardelle, which was also fantastic. Loved the fava bean puree, it added a really wonderful savory flavor. Then we got the secondi. I got the cotalletta di pollo, and my partner got the porchetta complese. Unfortunately, these dishes soured the dinner a bit. The porchetta was underwhelming. The pollo was lukewarm and the breading was mushy. It’s described as crispy on the menu, so it was not a pleasant texture. I’m not sure if it was sitting out for a period of time, but it completely lost any crisp that may have been on it and was kind of gross. The meal was over $145 without tip for both of us. I think that price absolutely matches the quality of the drinks, antipasti, and primi. But the secondi was not appetizing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Betsy Eagleston
We LOOOVE this restaurant! Not only delicious, but oh so much staff personality. Get Nico to create one of his over-the-top boozy concoctions for you. Then indulge in the Italian-crafted meat and cheese board (Salumi Misti). And do not miss the rosemary-marinated steak or the slow-roasted pork. Oh yeah, you’ll feel the LOOOVE, too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melanie Transparenti
Homemade pasta is amazing. Great prices and a nice wine list. Service is always great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurie Boucher
I enjoyed my first meal at Cafe Campli last evening. The intimate space is beautifully appointed. We were greeted promptly when we arrived and our table was ready. The service was wonderful, attentive and prompt and all our questions about menu items were explained. Our foursome enjoyed some of the specials as well as seasonal menu items. We started with the polenta with candied root vegetables which consisted of a shareable polenta cake, candied parsnips & carrots, herb goat cheese & ricotta cream, thyme olive oil, and toasted pepitas. We also tried the house made focaccia which was crispy and pillowy at the same time, it was delicious. Two of us tried the rigatoni with Sunday gravy (an oxtail and sausage ragu) and there no leftovers. One member of our party tried the Raviolone, an enormous, almost plate sized ravioli filled with roasted mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, and topped with salsa pomodoro. She had to take 1/2 of it home. My husband tried the porchetta Camplese and it was delicious and so well seasoned. The side dishes are perfectly portioned to accompany the entrees. We enjoyed the roasted potatoes, arugula salad and the Brussel sprouts. The entree portion sizes are great but we still managed to make some room for dessert, a large softball sized bamboloni filled with a hazelnut cream and dusted with confectionary sugar. Think of it as an extra fancy donut! Our overall experience was amazing, the place was bustling and busy but everyone seemed to be accommodated quickly. Diners waiting for a table seemed to enjoy being in the intimate bar space socializing with other folks. One thing that stood out was the cocktail menu. There were so many tempting offerings and they did not miss out on crafting beautiful mocktails. I would highly recommend Cafe Campli!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roniere Máximo Parreira
Everything was divine. We’re Brazilians and we love Italian food. We’ve found here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Annie L.
Tucked away just off Harford Road, Cafe Campli is bringing Abruzzo-focused cuisine to the neighborhood with a dash of elegance and flair. We booked a table for restaurant week dinner--the perfect avenue for checking out this new buzz worthy spot. The restaurant itself is a welcoming lot cozy and intimate setting, with a small number of tables tucked away from the bar entrance. A delightful atmosphere for date night and small group meals alike. Service was a bit inconsistent throughout the evening, with gaps in attentiveness to our table. That being said, the restaurant was fully booked and bustling, so I imagine the team is just getting their flow under their feet. Service when present was inviting, friendly and professional. As the vegetarian at the table, my decision on three plates was an easy one! I started with the Polpette di Verdure--fried vegetable croquettes with a tomato based side sauce. The croquettes were cooked to perfection with that delicious melt in your mouth soft interior but crispy exterior. With interwoven Parmesan Reggiano, they achieved a creamy texture with a pop of salt to elevate the flavorful vegetable base. Next up, Mezze maniche con vincotto e noci (Le Marche)--a truncated penne like pasta with walnut pesto. Talk about al dente perfection! An ideal pasta shape to deliver hidden corridors of sauce sneaking inside. I loved that the dish wasn't over-sauced. The ratio allowed each element to shine, with the red wine adding a next level flavor profile to the pesto. Last of the evening was Capesante del Sottobosco--trumpet mushrooms meant to mimic scallops, over kale. Unfortunately, this dish was a bit of a flop for me. Compared to the flavor punch of the first two courses, this one lacked "umf". The mushrooms were cooked beautifully but had little flavor beyond subtle earthiness. The kale tasted a bit heavy handed on the salt, and the leeks just felt out of place. The bite just didn't seem to come together, and I didn't find the plating as strong visually as other dishes on the menu. At the end of the evening, we were certainly convinced to make a return trip though! Thank you for a nice evening Cafe Campli team and look forward to trying more of the menu.
Brooke S.
I was impressed by the food, but not as much by the service. My party of three had a reservation for restaurant week. The restaurant is tiny. When we first arrived, we walked up to the counter and were ignored by several workers. We were standing right it front of them and no one said anything. After standing there for a few minutes, I grabbed someone's attention. We had to wait an additional 20 minutes for our table, which was fine. Everything I tried (baccala mantecato, polpette di verdure, speck crostini, uscita ascoli piceno, uscita ortona and uscita gargano) had good flavor, with my favorite dishes being the roasted lamb shoulder and the walnut pesto pasta. Everything was well balanced. The service once we sat down was fine, but the initial entrance into the restaurant left a bad taste in all of our mouths. Service: 3/5, Food: 4/5.
Thom Price
Very authentic food from recent immigrants. Highly recommend.
Amazing food, great atmosphere. Friendly and attentive staff. Great place overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan D.
On 12/27/23 My sister had reservations at Cafe Campli. We started with a board of meat and cheeses which was fine, but the bread that came with it was sort of anemic looking. Two of us ordered the pasta dish with a Ragu of wild boar and mushrooms. The restaurant is known for its homemade pasta and they should have down precisely the time to cook it to get it to a perfect Al Dente, but unfortunately it was under cooked. But an even greater problem was the over salting of the ragu. A proper level of salt brings out all of the flavors of a dish, but over salting does just the opposite. Another dish ordered was a butternut squash risotto, which not only looked unappetizing but indeed was. The last dish ordered was a salad with chicken an walnuts with way too much chicken and walnuts but little arugula, and flavor wise left much to be desired. Given the good reviews perhaps it was a bad night in the kitchen, but some of these issues were inexcusable for an experienced kitchen.
Julia S.
Absolutely loved my experience at Cafe Campli! The food was amazing, they had multiple vegatarian options, which was a huge plus! The service was great and the staff was very knowledgeable and welcoming. .Will definitely be back!
Dylan Johnson
Had an exceptional experience at Cafe Campli last night. Great cocktail menu with combinations of familiar spirits and unique amari. The pasta was delicious. Finished the meal with a pistachio cannoli and espresso. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sean Hall
Can’t say enough great things about this restaurant! From pre-dinner drink to desserts, it’s all wonderful. A terrific addition to our neighborhood! I think our favorites are the ravioli (or any other filled pasta dishes). Worth checking out the happy hour specials as well!Vegetarian options: Lots of (delicious) vegetarian options!
Great lunch spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our family of six enjoyed a delicious and beautifully prepared dinner at Cafe Campli recently. Every dish was intentional and on-point - created and presented with a lot of love, care, and attention to detail - and, looking appetizing and ready-to-eat rather than over-stylized. The flavors impressed! In every meal, the ingredients were fresh and high quality, and the flavors superb. The house-made pastas and sauces were exceptional - creatively prepared and perfectly approachable. I particularly enjoyed the chickpea fritters appetizer; but the burrata was equally impressive. The accompaniments to the meal - roasted carrots, broccolini, and salads - were at the peak of freshness and flavor - served at absolutely the right temperature and doneness and dressed masterfully to accentuate the quality of the vegetables. And, the desserts! I will be back! My affogato was served exactly as it should be - a rich, aromatic double espresso poured over a generous serving of salted caramel gelato in a clear glass cup. The aromas and tastes of both the espresso and gelato, as well as the integrity of the scoops of gelato, "held" until the very last sip of this very special dessert drink. One of the best, if not the best, espressos I have enjoyed at a restaurant. The other desserts were just as remarkable. Serving the cannoli on an extra "little pillow" of cannoli cream was absolutely the right touch - luxurious and special. The limoncello cake and the bomboloni were equally impressive. Our server made us feel immediately at home and took very good care of us throughout the meal. Thank you, thank you! I loved the laid back vibe and intimacy of the cafe, which allowed for an amazing dining experience without fussiness and unnecessary fanfare. Some truly lovely wines, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and 0-proof creations, as well. Thank you, Cafe Campli, for putting people first and preparing all your dishes with such love! A+++. 100%. I can't wait to come back! NancyVegetarian options: Three of the six main dishes ordered by my family were vegetarian and fabulous. Homemade pastas and sauces; risotto; vegetables at the peak of freshness; salads; fresh breads; excellent vegetarian appetizers; and, creatively prepared vegetarian accompaniments.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My partner and I are huge foodies and were really excited to try Cafe Campli! We love Italian food and regularly seek out more authentic cuisine. I believe they just switched to their spring menu. We got one glass of wine and one cocktail, both were delicious. For the antipasti, we got the meat and cheese board, and it was great! For the primi, we got the pappardelle, which was also fantastic. Loved the fava bean puree, it added a really wonderful savory flavor. Then we got the secondi. I got the cotalletta di pollo, and my partner got the porchetta complese. Unfortunately, these dishes soured the dinner a bit. The porchetta was underwhelming. The pollo was lukewarm and the breading was mushy. It’s described as crispy on the menu, so it was not a pleasant texture. I’m not sure if it was sitting out for a period of time, but it completely lost any crisp that may have been on it and was kind of gross. The meal was over $145 without tip for both of us. I think that price absolutely matches the quality of the drinks, antipasti, and primi. But the secondi was not appetizing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
We LOOOVE this restaurant! Not only delicious, but oh so much staff personality. Get Nico to create one of his over-the-top boozy concoctions for you. Then indulge in the Italian-crafted meat and cheese board (Salumi Misti). And do not miss the rosemary-marinated steak or the slow-roasted pork. Oh yeah, you’ll feel the LOOOVE, too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Homemade pasta is amazing. Great prices and a nice wine list. Service is always great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I enjoyed my first meal at Cafe Campli last evening. The intimate space is beautifully appointed. We were greeted promptly when we arrived and our table was ready. The service was wonderful, attentive and prompt and all our questions about menu items were explained. Our foursome enjoyed some of the specials as well as seasonal menu items. We started with the polenta with candied root vegetables which consisted of a shareable polenta cake, candied parsnips & carrots, herb goat cheese & ricotta cream, thyme olive oil, and toasted pepitas. We also tried the house made focaccia which was crispy and pillowy at the same time, it was delicious. Two of us tried the rigatoni with Sunday gravy (an oxtail and sausage ragu) and there no leftovers. One member of our party tried the Raviolone, an enormous, almost plate sized ravioli filled with roasted mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, and topped with salsa pomodoro. She had to take 1/2 of it home. My husband tried the porchetta Camplese and it was delicious and so well seasoned. The side dishes are perfectly portioned to accompany the entrees. We enjoyed the roasted potatoes, arugula salad and the Brussel sprouts. The entree portion sizes are great but we still managed to make some room for dessert, a large softball sized bamboloni filled with a hazelnut cream and dusted with confectionary sugar. Think of it as an extra fancy donut! Our overall experience was amazing, the place was bustling and busy but everyone seemed to be accommodated quickly. Diners waiting for a table seemed to enjoy being in the intimate bar space socializing with other folks. One thing that stood out was the cocktail menu. There were so many tempting offerings and they did not miss out on crafting beautiful mocktails. I would highly recommend Cafe Campli!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was divine. We’re Brazilians and we love Italian food. We’ve found here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tucked away just off Harford Road, Cafe Campli is bringing Abruzzo-focused cuisine to the neighborhood with a dash of elegance and flair. We booked a table for restaurant week dinner--the perfect avenue for checking out this new buzz worthy spot. The restaurant itself is a welcoming lot cozy and intimate setting, with a small number of tables tucked away from the bar entrance. A delightful atmosphere for date night and small group meals alike. Service was a bit inconsistent throughout the evening, with gaps in attentiveness to our table. That being said, the restaurant was fully booked and bustling, so I imagine the team is just getting their flow under their feet. Service when present was inviting, friendly and professional. As the vegetarian at the table, my decision on three plates was an easy one! I started with the Polpette di Verdure--fried vegetable croquettes with a tomato based side sauce. The croquettes were cooked to perfection with that delicious melt in your mouth soft interior but crispy exterior. With interwoven Parmesan Reggiano, they achieved a creamy texture with a pop of salt to elevate the flavorful vegetable base. Next up, Mezze maniche con vincotto e noci (Le Marche)--a truncated penne like pasta with walnut pesto. Talk about al dente perfection! An ideal pasta shape to deliver hidden corridors of sauce sneaking inside. I loved that the dish wasn't over-sauced. The ratio allowed each element to shine, with the red wine adding a next level flavor profile to the pesto. Last of the evening was Capesante del Sottobosco--trumpet mushrooms meant to mimic scallops, over kale. Unfortunately, this dish was a bit of a flop for me. Compared to the flavor punch of the first two courses, this one lacked "umf". The mushrooms were cooked beautifully but had little flavor beyond subtle earthiness. The kale tasted a bit heavy handed on the salt, and the leeks just felt out of place. The bite just didn't seem to come together, and I didn't find the plating as strong visually as other dishes on the menu. At the end of the evening, we were certainly convinced to make a return trip though! Thank you for a nice evening Cafe Campli team and look forward to trying more of the menu.
I was impressed by the food, but not as much by the service. My party of three had a reservation for restaurant week. The restaurant is tiny. When we first arrived, we walked up to the counter and were ignored by several workers. We were standing right it front of them and no one said anything. After standing there for a few minutes, I grabbed someone's attention. We had to wait an additional 20 minutes for our table, which was fine. Everything I tried (baccala mantecato, polpette di verdure, speck crostini, uscita ascoli piceno, uscita ortona and uscita gargano) had good flavor, with my favorite dishes being the roasted lamb shoulder and the walnut pesto pasta. Everything was well balanced. The service once we sat down was fine, but the initial entrance into the restaurant left a bad taste in all of our mouths. Service: 3/5, Food: 4/5.
Very authentic food from recent immigrants. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food, great atmosphere. Friendly and attentive staff. Great place overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
On 12/27/23 My sister had reservations at Cafe Campli. We started with a board of meat and cheeses which was fine, but the bread that came with it was sort of anemic looking. Two of us ordered the pasta dish with a Ragu of wild boar and mushrooms. The restaurant is known for its homemade pasta and they should have down precisely the time to cook it to get it to a perfect Al Dente, but unfortunately it was under cooked. But an even greater problem was the over salting of the ragu. A proper level of salt brings out all of the flavors of a dish, but over salting does just the opposite. Another dish ordered was a butternut squash risotto, which not only looked unappetizing but indeed was. The last dish ordered was a salad with chicken an walnuts with way too much chicken and walnuts but little arugula, and flavor wise left much to be desired. Given the good reviews perhaps it was a bad night in the kitchen, but some of these issues were inexcusable for an experienced kitchen.
Absolutely loved my experience at Cafe Campli! The food was amazing, they had multiple vegatarian options, which was a huge plus! The service was great and the staff was very knowledgeable and welcoming. .Will definitely be back!
Had an exceptional experience at Cafe Campli last night. Great cocktail menu with combinations of familiar spirits and unique amari. The pasta was delicious. Finished the meal with a pistachio cannoli and espresso. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can’t say enough great things about this restaurant! From pre-dinner drink to desserts, it’s all wonderful. A terrific addition to our neighborhood! I think our favorites are the ravioli (or any other filled pasta dishes). Worth checking out the happy hour specials as well!Vegetarian options: Lots of (delicious) vegetarian options!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5