Cuisines:
Italian
It would be easy to write off this streetside café as a low-hanging fruit for the masses who flock to the Northwest blocks on weekends. But Caffe Mingo—the first of the trio that includes the adjacent Bar Mingo and Beaverton’s Mingo—is far from a tacky tourist trap. Stop by unannounced on a Friday or Saturday night and expect a wait approaching the running time of Doctor Zhivago. Why? Well, the pasta dishes, for one. The penne al sugo di carne with tender beef braised in Chianti and espresso might be the closest thing you’ll find in this town to Nonna’s sauce. For dessert, try the classic chocolate torte with gelato. Soft lighting matches the tiny dining room’s warm atmosphere. Order a few glasses of wine from the short but smart list, but don’t get too carried away. The people waiting in sidewalk Siberia for your table are hungry, too.
Updated 04/18/2013
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