Caffe Amante

11÷2÷2012 — «Passione d’italia»
One of the great benefits of venturing just outside the CBD is stumbling upon beguiling places like Caffe Amante, on 466 Boundary Street Spring Hill. Its a small italian Café, with the typical alfresco option, complete with red & white checkered table cloths. Inside, Roberto is your friendly host (and owner), who is more than happy to let you know what specials they have for the day. I ordered the Pollo Panini and long-​black coffee, all for under $ 10, and took a seat at the inviting lounge chairs (resembling something out of Antiques Roadshow).
The framed pictures of various sizes depicting life in Italy which adorn the wall, fits perfectly with the homely feeling of this establishment, along with its wooden floorboards, chairs and tables. The pictures appear to be Roberto’s personal collection, of his time in Italy. Caffe Amante, was recommended to me by a friend who works in the area, and they lovingly refer to this café as «the italian». Apparently, when someone in their group mentions «let’s have italian», it is widely understood that its time to go to Caffe Amante. As I sit on the comfortable lounge chair, my foot tapping rhythmically to the uptempo italian music playing in the background (with Roberto singing some parts), I immediately understand the fondness that my friend has for this place. Caffe Amante exudes warmth, and familiarity, like that of an old friend, and feeling like you can just be yourself. The small bookshelf behind me holding several books is a reminder that one can also just sit here, relax, and read.
The coffee arrives, and it is bold, not bitter, just at the right temperature. Something that not many cafes (when I order a long black) can get right. The biscotti on the side is a nice inclusion, sweet, and just perfect. Little touches like this make me appreciate Caffe Amante even more. Roberto tells me their coffee is «Supreme Roasters» from Yatala, a «Golden Bean» winner with 9 medals in total and counting! He says they’re a little more expensive, but he likes their coffee. I’d have to agree.
My Pollo Panini is made fresh, is not too thick, making the fillings taste even better. The only regret I had was that in a moment of weakness much earlier in the day, I’d snacked on a supermarket meatpie, and I couldn’t finish my Panini. Robert was more than happy to pack it in a paper bag so I could enjoy it later.
Caffe Amante is a great little italian Café in Spring Hill, open 7 days a week, serving great coffee, a selectionof good italian pasta, paninis, salads, and breakfast. With Roberto conveying the Passione d’Italia (Passion of Italy), his infectious personality, its hard not to want to come back to «the italian».

Great Italian food and coffee.