The Review

Issue date: 5/20/08 Section: Mosaic

Media Credit: Melanie Hardy Caffé Gelato, a northern-Italian, Mediterreanean restaurant, is a popular date destination.

Spring is in the air - the birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing and college students are coupling off as school nears an end.

Luckily, Main Street restaurants like Caffé Gelato are perpetually ready to accommodate these starry-eyed couples.

Ryan German, owner of Caffé Gelato, is well aware of the sophistication needed to set the mood for a great date.

"There's an elegance associated with going on a nice date," German says. "We are one of the few restaurants on Main Street that doesn't have a bar scene also, so it's more of a dining restaurant."

Due to its recent renovations, Caffé Gelato has added new factors to enhance the date atmosphere, German says.

"We now have candlelight dinner, so there's a warm glow," he says. "Also, high-backed, curved booths are really good for dates and we used to have four, but with the renovation there are now eight total."

He has noticed an increase of people coming to Caffé Gelato with the renovations complete, including parties of two. There is now more room in the restaurant, which allows for more space between the tables and the porch now seats 13 tables, instead of eight or nine like last spring.

To further amp up the ambiance, Friday and Saturday night features a live violinist. Candlelight, high-backed booths and violinists - an overall recipe for romantic success.

"All that being said, it's not super fancy where you don't feel comfortable being casual," German says. "The setting still allows for good conversation."

In addition, Caffé Gelato's northern-Italian, Mediterranean-inspired menu matches the style of the restaurant.

Popular dishes on its regular menu include prosciutto-wrapped veal chop, roasted rack of lamb and pan-seared tuna. The recurring special, day-boat diver scallops, is also a hit, as well as the special preparation cut of meat, like strip steak or filet.

Reservations are recommended, but Caffé Gelato now has enough space for walk-ins.

"Sometime spontaneous is romantic," he says. "Like if you're walking down the street and say 'Hey, we should stop.' "

And to top off the night, couples can take delight in the restaurant's namesake dessert - gelato.

One bowl, two spoons, of course.

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