A restaurant planned as a speakeasy ended up serving pizza instead. That twist happened in 1949, and I still can’t get over it.
A mayoral crackdown changed the plan before opening day. The owners pivoted to Italian food, and the city got some of its earliest pizza. I believe that counts as the luckiest detour in Oregon dining history.
The story kept going through two serious fires. One flattened the original Victorian house in 1963. Another in 2020 closed the doors for nearly three years. Each time, the family rebuilt on the same hillside spot.
Today you can sit on a back patio with views of the Willamette River. Old photos still line the walls inside.
A Speakeasy Plan Turned Into Portland’s Oldest Italian Kitchen
Plans change, and sometimes they change for the better. Caro Amico Italian Cafe opened in the fall of 1949 as an Italian cafe instead of the speakeasy its founders first imagined.
Co-owners Fred Baker and Joe Fracasso had to rethink things after a mayoral crackdown. Their backup plan became Portland’s oldest operating Italian restaurant.
That alone makes it worth knowing about. The cafe is also credited with introducing authentic pizza to Portland, which feels wild in a city now packed with pizza spots.
Think about how many restaurants come and go in a single decade. Lasting more than seventy years takes grit, good food, and a loyal community.
The history isn’t just a fun fact printed on a menu. Pictures from the early days still hang on the walls, so the past stays right where you can see it.
I love that this place started with one idea and landed on a better one. It’s a reminder that a forced detour can lead somewhere delicious.
So when you sit down here, you’re joining a story that started before most Portland neighborhoods looked anything like they do now. Not bad for a backup plan.
Thin-Crust Pizza With a Legacy Behind Every Slice
Pepperoni, pepperoncini, and cheese on a basil base sauce. That combo alone could justify the drive across town.
Thin-crust pizza has always been part of this cafe’s identity. After all, it’s the place credited with bringing authentic pizza to Portland back in 1949.
The current menu keeps things classic. You can go simple with pepperoni or cheese, choosing Milano or Neapolitan sauce for your base.
The basil-sauce pie stands out because it skips the usual red sauce route. It’s a fun pick if you want something a little different without getting fussy.
Here’s a practical tip. Bring a friend and split a pizza plus a pasta, so you get a taste of both sides of the menu.
Thin crust also makes it easier to save room for other dishes. That matters here, because the pasta list deserves attention too.
Ordering pizza at the restaurant that helped start Portland’s pizza story feels a bit like eating history. Tasty, edible history.
So when the menu lands in front of you, don’t overthink it. Pizza is practically the house handshake at this hillside cafe.
Your Pasta Craving Has Found Its Happy Place
Comfort food rarely gets more honest than a bowl of spaghetti. At Caro Amico Italian Cafe, the pasta section reads like a greatest-hits list.
Classic Spaghetti comes with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. It’s the kind of dish that never needs a fancy explanation.
During happy hour, Angel Hair Pasta is available with olive oil and garlic sauce. That pick works well if you want flavor without a heavy sauce.
The happy hour menu also features Baked Mac and Cheese. It uses penne in a creamy cheese sauce, finished with a breadcrumb topping.
That one might be the sneaky star for picky eaters. Kids who balk at anything new usually recognize mac and cheese immediately.
A smart move is ordering one red-sauce dish and one creamy dish for the table. Sharing lets everyone sample more without needing a second dinner.
Old-school menus like this one aren’t chasing trends. They stick with recipes people already know and want on a chilly Oregon evening.
Honestly, there’s comfort in that. Sometimes you don’t want surprises, you just want a plate of noodles that feels like a warm sweater.
Two Fires Couldn’t Put Out This Family’s Spark
Most businesses would call it quits after one fire. This one survived two, and it kept coming back on the very same ground.
The original Victorian house burned down in 1963. A new restaurant rose on the same foundation, built with a warm, classic mid-century look that largely remains today.
Then came September 2020. Another serious fire hit during the pandemic, and the doors stayed closed for nearly three years of renovations.
Caro Amico Italian Cafe reopened in early August 2023. The rebuild kept many original dining room characteristics, so the room still feels like itself.
Family is the thread holding all of this together. Fred Baker’s daughter, Elsie McFarland, managed the cafe in the 1980s and helped oversee the reopening.
Her grandson, Sebastian Price, worked alongside her on that comeback. That’s multiple generations pulling in the same direction, which is rare in the restaurant world.
I can’t imagine the patience it takes to rebuild twice. Yet here it stands on Barbur Boulevard, ready for dinner again.
When a place fights this hard to stay open, it earns a little extra love. Your plate of pasta comes with a comeback story baked right in.
Start With Garlic Bread That Brings Its Own Basil
Good meals deserve a strong opening act. The starters here set the tone before the main dishes even leave the kitchen.
Pane Con Formaggio is toasted garlic bread topped with mozzarella and fresh basil. Melty, garlicky, and easy to share, it’s tough to resist.
Bruschetta al Pomodoro brings that classic tomato topping on bread. It’s a lighter way to begin if you’re saving room.
The Caprese Salad offers another fresh option. Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil make a clean, simple bite before the heartier courses.
For a bigger table, the traditional Antipasto platter is a smart call. It comes with cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and marinated olives.
That platter turns dinner into a slow, chatty experience. Everyone grabs a bit of something, and conversation picks up fast.
A tip for groups: order two starters and pass them around. You’ll cover more ground and still have space for pasta or pizza.
Appetizers often get treated like an afterthought. Here, they feel like the warm-up act that’s secretly good enough to headline.
Chicken Piccata and Veal Parmesan Keep the Classics Alive
Some dishes have been on Italian-American menus forever for a reason. The entrees here lean proudly into that tradition.
Chicken Piccata appears on the menu, bringing that bright, lemony style many diners love. It’s a good choice when pasta alone feels like too little.
Veal Parmesan is the other heavy hitter. It’s a classic plate that fits right in at a restaurant that’s been around since 1949.
These are the dishes you order when you want a proper dinner. They feel like the meal you’d pick for a birthday or a family night out.
Not sure which way to go? Think about the mood at your table.
Piccata suits someone who likes tangy flavors. The parmesan suits anyone who believes cheese makes most things better, which is most people.
Pairing an entree with a shared appetizer keeps the meal balanced. You get variety without ordering half the menu.
I believe classics last because they deliver what they promise. In a city full of food experiments, a reliable plate can feel downright refreshing.
Sometimes the best order is the one your grandparents would recognize.
That Back Patio View Might Steal Your Attention From Dinner
Few restaurants in Portland can claim a river view out back. Caro Amico Italian Cafe has a back patio overlooking the Willamette River.
The building sits on a steep hill, and that slope works in your favor. It gives the patio its view and makes the setting feel a little tucked away from the busy road.
You’ll find the cafe at 3606 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97239. From the street side, the building looks modest, so the patio comes as a nice reward.
A practical note: the hillside means stairs are part of the experience. Plan a little extra time if anyone in your group moves slowly.
Parking can be limited too. Arriving a bit early gives you breathing room to find a spot nearby.
Patio dining is especially fun on a mild Oregon evening. Good food tastes even better with a river in the background.
Inside works beautifully too, but the outdoor seating is the kind of thing worth requesting. A view like this turns a regular dinner into a small event.
Just try not to spend the whole meal staring at the water.
Cozy Booths and Old Photos Make the Past Feel Close
Mid-century charm never really went out of style here. The interior blends a cozy mom-and-pop feel with a touch of fine dining polish.
Cozy booths and intimate dining spaces set the mood. Bright, clean rooms keep things welcoming instead of dim and stuffy.
Look closely at the walls. Pictures from the cafe’s early days give you a peek into decades of Portland dinners.
After the 2023 renovation, many original dining room features stayed put. That choice keeps the place feeling familiar rather than brand-new and generic.
For a private gathering, there’s an upstairs dining room too. It can host between 16 and 40 guests for events like birthdays and family get-togethers.
That room size hits a sweet spot. It’s big enough for a crowd yet small enough to feel personal.
Planning a celebration? Reaching out ahead of time is the smart way to lock it in.
I like how the space feels lived-in without feeling worn out. It respects its history while still being comfortable for a modern night out.
Honestly, few dining rooms carry this much story in Oregon. You can practically feel the decades in the booths.
Plan Around Happy Hour and Thank Yourself Later
Timing matters when dinner starts at 4 p.m. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 p.m., except on major holidays, with a selection of appetizers.
That window is a great way to try the cafe without committing to a full feast. Grab a couple of small plates and see what calls your name.
Hours are worth checking before you go. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and opens at 4 p.m. on the other days.
Friday and Saturday stay open until 9 p.m. Most other nights wrap up at 8 p.m., so late plans won’t work here.
Can’t make it in person? Caro Amico Italian Cafe also offers takeout and delivery, which is handy on rainy Oregon nights.
Spaghetti on your couch still counts as a treat. Nobody needs to know you’re wearing slippers.
An early visit pairs nicely with the patio, especially when evenings stay bright. You get daylight, a river view, and dinner all at once.
After more than seventy years, this hillside cafe has earned a spot on your calendar. Show up hungry, curious, and maybe a little early.
