Caro Amico: A pie worth the price?
Hey, Reed Foodies! My name is Reid Gardner, and I am your local Reed College gourmand. Or, at least, a Reed College gourmand. Regardless, I’d like to review a little Italian establishment I found across the river: Caro Amico. Now, I found out about this place from a gift that I was given when I first went off to college. The title is Eat Like a Local - Portland, Oregon by Makayla Weaver, if you’d like to go looking for it. There are some interesting places in there along with some fan favorites like Ate-Oh-Ate. What drew me to Caro Amico is that I was just looking for some pizza to finish off for my birthday and a video date with my girlfriend. The place claims to be “the first pizza place in Portland,” so I decided to see if they live up to the hype. First, I’ll go over the food itself, then the vibes (which you may take with a grain of salt since I did end up eating at home and only caught a glimpse of the restaurant), and finally pricing in terms of how much it was worth it, all on a scale of one to five stars.
Food: ★★★★
I chose to eat a pizza titled “Stevie’s Wonder.” It was a delicious pepperoni, pepperoncini, and cheese pizza with olive oil over a basil base sauce. There were actual basil leaves under the cheese! The bread was a decadent, layered, almost croissant-like crust that ended up being very buttery. The combination of the dough and the way it was cooked led the pie to be moist but not wet, crispy but not burnt, and soft without being too doughy all at once. Though the pickier among you may not agree with my topping choice, the bread will certainly take you for a ride. My only gripe is that it ended up being a little too much after a while and I ended up leaving the remaining slices for later. The flavors were bold and buttery, instead of the oily or greasy taste that I’m used to with pizza. Weirdly, the butteriness of the bread became overpowering after too long. Overall, I’d give it a good 4 stars!
Vibes: ★★★★★
This place was adorable from the moment I walked in. Like any good Portland restaurant, it’s built on a teensy plot of land but makes maximum use out of it. The building itself is also built on an incredibly steep hill that you might have dared your friends to bike down when you were younger. When walking inside, you climb a set of stairs to get to the restaurant. Inside, you feel a cozy mix of “mom and pop” combined with the swankiness of a nice restaurant. There are pictures on the walls from their early days, including the shop in the city from the ‘50s. Walking up the next set of stairs, you are greeted by more pictures and some seating, along with some outdoor seating on a balcony. The lights are dim and the windows are big, making the perfect vibe for a date night. It’s only a shame I wasn’t there long enough to enjoy it. Easy 5 stars.
Price: ★★
Now here’s the kicker: the price. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, the cheapest non-pizza entrée is a whopping $20— it’s plain spaghetti. On top of that (I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this) a mini cheese pizza with nothing else on it is $17. What I got, which, mind you, is one meal, was $22 on its own. I’m hesitant to give this place any more than 2 stars for price. The only reason I originally had it at 3 is because the vibes connote an upscale establishment, so no wonder they have upscale pricing. The place is tiny and in the Portland hills next to the hospital, no less. It’s unfortunate that they have to have such high prices, and yet they do. I’ve been to tastier establishments that charged more, but I felt satisfied with my purchase in those cases. Here, I ended my meal thinking I was scammed out of at least $5.
Final Thoughts: ★★★★ (rounded up)
This place is amazing—if you can afford its high pricing. It goes without saying that I ordered one thing and was mildly disappointed in the cost-flavor ratio, so obviously I’ll have a different experience than your friend who opted instead for the Manicotti. My recommendation? If you and your partner both got paid today and are celebrating something, give it a shot! Going for the vibes alone is honestly worth it, which I am again very disappointed I did not experience. I’ll have to come back down here with my partner. If you’re looking for a cute date night that isn’t too on the nose, and isn’t any pricier than any of the food carts that are definitely not as good as their prices, this place is perfect!
If you would like to let me know which restaurant I should review next, shoot me an email at reidgardner@reed.edu and I’d be happy to take your request!