Jones’ Food Street Journal – Cafe Fiorello’s

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On a recent trip to West Chester, Lin and I decided to follow up on a recommendation of a friend who told us about Fiorello’s on East Gay Street in the Borough.

We got there about 5:30 and had no trouble being seated. The first thing you notice is the very attractive interior design. The false walls break up what would otherwise be a nondescript and big room. It feels very welcoming.

We were immediately taken to our seats and a nice young fellow came right away and gave us some water while we looked at the menu. They have a nice selection of beer and wine and as expected there is a heavy emphasis on Italian brands. I got a glass of house Shiraz ($8) that was typically fruit forward and easy to drink. Lin stayed with tap water.

Fiorello’s5I immediately saw that they offer sautéed calamari in a red sauce with penne pasta, so my mind was made up quickly on my dinner choice. It came with very nice bread and a house salad.

The house vinaigrette was not one of my favorites. It’s hard to explain, but it just wasn’t distinctive at all. The calamari was just okay. It was certainly worth the price, but it was a little chewy and just seemed more run-of-the-mill. The red sauce was very good and I would go so far as to say above average.

Lin went for the linguine and clam sauce. It was a nice portion size and looked very good on the plate, but she felt it was very salty. She commented that she would definitely not get this dish again.

Fiorello’s4Overall, we enjoyed our dinner even though it was not one of our top picks. I think of Fiorello’s as an everyday type of restaurant, but probably not one I would choose for a special occasion. It would also be fine for a big party. The service is good and you get a fair meal for a decent price.

Getting in and out is a little hairy though, given the location. Traffic comes around the turn very quickly when you are trying to get in the parking lot. We went east on Market and turned left on Westtown, which made entrance much easier and safer.

Our total cost was $60, including tax and a 20% tip. Our combined rating is 1 ½ stars.

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