We are meeting a friend for lunch up in Cypress. Since we are not familiar with the neighborhood, we relied upon our friend to choose a spot to eat at. Aroma Italiano Café is nestled between a handful of other little eateries in a non-descript strip mall. I am surprised to see that the restaurant attracts a decent lunch crowd and take out orders as well.
A basket of warm focaccia arrives at the table with two bottles – flavored olive oil and balsamic vinegar – for us to munch on while perusing the menu.
We pick a few appetizers to start. Stuffed Meatballs ($6.50) is a solid offering of two meatballs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, but are surprisingly light and flavorful.
The marinara sauce is delightful, so fresh and bright we want more of it.
My friends order Parmesan Truffle Fries ($8) and I pinch a few of them. The fries are nice and crispy and the truffle oil is not overwhelmingly pungent.
Rollatini de Melanzane ($8) are eggplant roll-ups smothered in marinara sauce. It is VERY good. The eggplant is tender with hints of char from the grill. I would order this again without hesitation.
For entrées, Chicken Marsala ($14) is a stellar choice. A juicy sautéed chicken breast, in marsala wine sauce is dotted with shallots, fresh mushrooms and accompanied by penne pasta. I would have liked a little more marsala sauce, but overall, a tasty plate that will appeal to adults and children alike.
From the lunch menu, we select Farfalle Funghi ($9) an extremely generous portion of farfalle (bowtie pasta) tossed in a tomato cream sauce with strips of sautéed grilled chicken, mushrooms, fresh basil, and herbs. I am very surprised at how much you get for $9 and it is tastes even better the next day.
The only disappointing item is the Margherita Pizza ($10). The crust is soft and bready, while the use of fresh tomato slices resulted in a wet, soggy pizza.
If you’re in the Cypress area and looking for a good Italian meal, give Aroma Italiano Café a try. You’ll find that the food will satisfy without breaking the bank!
Aroma Italiano Cafe
4959 Katella Ave
Ste A
Cypress, CA 90720
Tel: 714-816-3070
This place looks amazing! Going to check it out next month. Thanks!! You always have the best recommendations.
Those fries look sooooo good! *drool*
You have great taste in food.