Italian food epitomizes the finest culinary heritage of the Mediterranean -- (I may lose my Greek citizenship for making such a statement but I believe it's true). Capriccio brings this epitome to the tiny island-nation of Bonaire, with the distinction that one would expect from a fine establishment in a metropolis. Bonaire is cosmopolitan, in that it attracts tourists from all over the world. But it's a small and specialized tourist destination and not the ideal place for a creative cook to write his ticket.

There are things that I liked at Capriccio and things that I didn't like. When it comes to the actual food, Capriccio offered me and my companions one of the best Italian meals I've ever had.

There is a simple, elemental test for an Italian restaurant: the ragu Bolognese, the canonical meat sauce for fresh pasta. A restaurant that fails to produce a good ragu is not worth your time and money. Making ragu is easy but it takes hours of slow simmering to perfect the sauce. Most cooks avoid the long simmering because it ties up the kitchen and does not yield substantial quantities of sauce.

Discovering a restaurant that makes a good ragu is a rare pleasure and an unmistakable sign of quality cooking. Naturally, I tried the ragu at Capriccio. It was excellent, simmered to perfection. And from there on, anything we tried was superb. My wife's brodetto was bursting with flavor. Our deserts were exquisite -- the semifreddo di miele is reason enough to return to Bonaire!

Little things that I did not like at Capriccio:

Smoking is allowed in the outside dinning area. In spite of the ceiling fans, cigarette smoke may blow to your table. It was annoying. Inside seating has limited capacity and requires advance reservation.

The bread brought to the table comes with butter. You can ask for olive oil but I think that it should be the other way around. Why compromise?

The foccacia looks more like thin crust pizza. Both pizza and focaccia are based on the same dough; focaccia however is usually a thicker layer than pizza. Perhaps Capriccio serves a regional variety of focaccia that I am not aware of.

These are details, perhaps. They don't really matter. When it comes to actual food, Capriccio is an outstanding restaurant. Probably Bonaire's finest restaurant and definitely one of the top 5 Italian restaurants I've been to.

I know that when we return to Capriccio next year, I'll enjoy a great ragu again. I only hope that the semifreddo di miele will still be on the menu.

Capriccio was always a favourite of ours.

I told you....We went there Sat evening & Nina had the pumpkin ravioli & I had the pasta & shrimp as entree, both excellent. Smoked wahoo & the large shrimp for appetizers were also both outstanding.
Glad you enjoyed it!

Woman like it, but men love it. It's very hard to find better. Cooking at that level day in and day out is no easy task, and they make it look easy.

Ok folks, you have convinced me. I have avoided Capriccio because I spent 6 lovely weeks in Italy and since then have NEVER found a restaurant to match up. I usually leave every place wishing I was back in Trastevere and dreaming of a return trip - just for the food. When I return to Bon in May, I will give Capriccio a try.

Hey RA, he said SAUCE!!! LOL

Cooking italian is an art. If you order the basic stuff and it tastes good it may well be a good restaurant. Basic stuff is ragu but also fresh made pasta, pizza with different variations,risotto etc.
The Capriccio cook is a nice guy. He enjoys Bonaire very much, it is too bad he doesn't visit Italy too much anymore, cause new recipes on the menu are a must for the connaisseur.

Vincent, I think Mauro goes to Italy every Fall if I am not mistaken? Lola's wine list is incredible.

Vincent I understand what you mean by "basic stuff" and I agree. But in my experience with Italian restaurants at least in the US, it's the basic stuff they often fail at -- and you can imagine how well they do on the rest.

A cook who puts care in the basic stuff, who doesn't cut corners with the basic stuff, is a conscientious cook. I'll eat that cook's food, any day.

Vince thanks for encouraging us to try Capriccio. Tribs you won't be disappointed but if you don't wait too long for some good ragu, there is a decent place in Oak Brook and of course there is my kitchen in Oak Park.

Leo are you talking about Maggianos with the Ragu ?

Did Leo just invite us for diner?

Do you think he'll have the stolen plate there?

Ever try there Pasta del Amore?

Check out the menu.
http://www.emporiocapriccio.com/

PARTY AT LEO'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll bring the SPAM!

Mara, 5K

I love the pumpkin ravioli. I hope they're open when we go in Sept.

D&B, the restaurant I recommend in Oak Brook is Antico Posto. It's located in the mall (I know, I know... a mall restaurant?). They make a respectable ragu bolognese and in general it's a very good place for basic Italian food.

Cucina Paradiso in Oak Park is not bad either.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry ... why do you want to get me in trouble?

(Message edited by lgreco on August 25, 2009)

Leo...when did you say you were cooking? We all need the date and time! I need plenty of lead time to get time off from work

I'll bring something other than SPAM if you like!

Cooking? Is that a remote Chinese province, somewhere?

(Cooking right now, stuffing red bell peppers with rice, dill, parsley, onions, and pureed tomatoes, sauteed in olive oil, then roasted for an hour).

Leo, been to that place ..Work in Downers Grove..It's a good place and yes I know mall ?
Much better place than Maggianos. Maggianos is like a fast food italian place to us

Okay, okay...put on the chef's hat and do whatever you want to call it...we do expect fine dining however! Warm dinner rolls and cloth napkins are a must!

D&B, if you work at DG, then you should know my other favorite culinary temple: Fuddruckers? I stop by that fine establishment for a quarter-pounder every time I worship at Fry's.

Ruth, if you want cloth napkins you'll have to wait. I can only sneak two at a time each time I visit a restaurant...

I'll bring the wine, Wal~Mart red.

In a box, too, Jerry.

Nothing but the best. Comes out to about $1.32 a bottle, good stuff.

It's okay Leo, I'm hard at work sewing enough for everyone

Ruth - just use press a seam - it's a HECK of a lot easier than sewing....

Mara---I'm so bored at work, that I brought my hand-held sewing machine in with me and am just whipstitching away in between calls! No problem!

Ruth, I had a dispatcher -- years ago -- who actually knitted during calls! We could hear her needles clacking sometimes over the radio in the amb.

Leo, If we did that here,the bosses would have our heads! Dispatch #1 priority! Now winter months are a different story...

Well, the boss of said dispatcher was the FD chief and her husband, so... we enjoyed the needles activating her VOX occasionally.

(Message edited by lgreco on August 25, 2009)

Leo, fuddruckers is right out the window and Fry's geeezzzz. You crack me up

Where do you work? Sara Lee?

No we are in one of the other huge blue buildings. don't really want to say on the board
but I am right by frys and fuddruckers ... Finley grille also

Fair enough. Drop me a PM if you wish and next time I am at Fry's and you're up for lunch I'd be delighted to meet you in person.

That would be great... I will pm you , or if you are going to be in the area, you can pm me and we can meet. But ... going to Bonaire in 68 more days yehahahahahahahaahahahaha wish it was sooner

Ok...I had opening week meetings, so I just got back on line. We are having a party at Leo's. Cool! When????

I will have to try Antico Posto. Thanks for the recommendation.

I was very disappointed with Maggiano's. Sorry.

Gee, this sounds like old home week. I'm a Naperville girl.

Tribs, those dogs in your profile photo, are they yours? I am asking because I think one of them french kissed me last week as I was gearing up to dive Invisibles.

That's ok Leo. as long as you don't kiss back!

(Message edited by lgreco on August 26, 2009)

Not on the first date Jerry. Please!

Leo...they are my step-fur kids. I'm sure you were kissed by one. They are very special to me.

I thought I recognized them! They are great pups.

Luci has a crush on Leo. I told her he and Britta are my new fav clients so treat them extra special..haaaaaaaaaaaaa

Oh Oh Meryl and Steve took me to dinner at Capriccios. We had a lovely Barolo wine and of course, great pasta. After they left I had a few grappas with some friends..never again.