Date Night at Cafe Mingo

Italian food is not what you find at the Olive Garden. If real Italians actually ate like that, they'd be the most obese nation in the world and not us. For real simple Italian food, head over to Cafe Mingo on NW 21st (there's also a location in Beaverton). There is something very sexy about great rustic food that tastes authentic, like it was grown from your land and prepared for you by somebody very nice to look at! There's something even more sexy and fun about the "la dolce vita" lifestyle of Italy.

Cafe Mingo is the kind of place where the owners know the devil is in the details, which is what makes a great place. They won me over a few summers ago when I was eating at a cafe table and it got chilly. But there were blankets thrown over the backs of the chairs. One of my favorite things to order is the antipasti platter. It's not your typical deli meats and cheeses with some olives thrown in like other run of the mill "Italian" places. It's always different, featuring Northwest seasonal and local fare. Like real antipasti should be. Below is a picture of my ravioli, handmade pasta sheets stuffed with decadent filling and a perfect sauce over the top.