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Reviewer: Foodnut.com Caprinos 1000 6th Avenue (corner of Ralston) Belmont, CA 94002 650-591-4156 |
Why did we dine here? – Caprinos is a long-standing Italian restaurant in Belmont that in March, 2011 became home to chef Gator Thompson. (Gators Neo Soul, several unsuccessful short stints after that) We were passing by and decided to see how his influence was taking shape. We focused on ordering items that he had added to the menu or reformulated. He is focusing on using fresh seasonal ingredients and healthy cooking.
Summary – Work in Progress, hopefully they will iron out the kinks.
Insider Tip – A cheap way to test this place out is to take advantage of their Happy Hour at the bar, daily from 5-10PM. 15% off coupon in Great Values mailer.
Cuisine – Italian
Location – Near Belmont CalTrain
Opened – 1998
Service – Solid but not particularly inspired.
Verdict – Caprino’s is evolving to incorporate Chef Gator’s influences into the menu. Hopefully the food will continue to evolve in the future. Divino across the street is a better bet for now.
Picks:
Nice warm homemade bread and dipping sauce.
Soup of the Day Homemade Daily. ($5.95 bowl) Butternut squash soup with crawfish was on the salty side, but possessed a good strong crawfish flavor element.
Fresh crisp Caesar Romaine Hearts, tossed with a grilled Crouton & Creamy Caesar Dressing ($8) possessed a very creamy dressing on top of a very simple salad.
Special Cioppino ($22) included 3 types of fish, scallops, clams, mussels all in a tomatoey broth. The fish was fresh and looked great, but the dish could have been made better with a less salty broth.
OK: (Order if you like this dish)
Oven fried rosemary chicken ($21) 10 ounce all-natural boneless chicken breast soaked in buttermilk for 24 hours, coated with seasoned flour, pan seared and finished in the oven, includes with organic red potatoes and garlic green beans. The chicken had a nice crust but could have been juicer on the inside. We clearly see the intent to keep this thick batter and deep frying away from this version. The mashed potatoes were very good, but the green beans had a weird liquor glaze.
Pans: (We would not reorder these dishes)
None
Caprinos Overall Rating: 
(Good
Come Back? 
| Food Rating: |  (Average) |
| Service Rating: | (Good) |
| Atmosphere Rating: | (Good) |
| Value Rating: | (Good) |
Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary
| Alcohol: | Full Bar |
| Attire: | Casual |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 11:30 AM-2 PM, Daily 5-10 PM |
| Parking: | Street |
| Reservations: | Yes |
| Prices: | $15 - $26 |
1 Comment
Discounted $25 Restaurant Certificate from Restaurant.com, Restaurant Coupons | Foodnut.com
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