The Original Caffe Boa - Mill Avenue

Came here on a Saturday for brunch with my mom for her birthday. The staff was really nice and made her feel special for her birthday. We got hot americanos, the Mediterranean omelette (asked for the sausage on the side) and the choice of three crepes. And an affogato for dessert. Everything was soooo good. Definitely have to come back and try dinner!

Amazing spot. While the rest of Mill Ave is getting turned over, this long-standing Italian spot should stay forever because of how good it is. The food was amazing, the drinks were top notch, and the service was personalized and friendly. We had the calamari, voodoo penne, and cioppino, and would order all of them again. Our espresso martinis, blackberry Negroni, and glasses of wine were all exceptional. Definitely stop here for your next meal.

Just a short walk from the Mill Ave. stop on the light rail, step inside CAFFE BOA (est. 1994) and be transported to a world of simple elegance: a spring of rosemary nestles in with your silverware, and fresh flowers look like they are posing for a still life in the restroom.Treat yourself to an elegant lunch with unique menu items like the butter lettuce salad or a pasta dish made with pasta made fresh daily. Here's an ex: Coniglio made with Nicky Farms free range and slow roasted rabbit, foraged mushrooms, thyme, and pecorino. Perfect. Just perfect.An attentive and informative server completed my mini vacation away from the ordinary so I left satisfied and refreshed. A chalkboard announced there is live jazz on Mondays from 6-9, but call to check for that and other possible performances.

Romantic, quiet, beautiful atmosphere! Perfect for a first date or 1000th! The staff is genuine and friendly. The cocktails and food are delightful! Went for brunch and excited to try on a Monday evening when they have live Jazz and to try out the dinner menu!

We had the best time at Caffe Boa! We ordered the charcuterie board to start. For my meal I ordered the clams in purgatory and it was phenomenal! My husband ordered the lasagna and was not disappointed. The vibe of the place was great and the wait staff was superb. Highly recommend!

Everything is delicious at Caffe Boa! I had the lasagna it was perfect. The staff is friendly and attentive. I’m definitely going to come back and try more of the dishes. I saw they serve rabbit and I’m intrigued. I recommend you stop by and try the food. It’s a perfect date night spot.

The Chianti Braised Beef was wonderful. The meat melted in your mouth as you chewed it. The Bruschetta was good as well but was missing cheese as I'm used to having, but good none the less. The waiter was very kind, attentive and informative. I will definitely return to further explored the menu.

Kyla was a joy. I still remember their name after a few days. That's how you know the service was great! I drank the Queen's Gambit. Delectable flavor. The chicken was moist, even the white meat. The tiramisu uses coffee liqueur. A TRUE tiramisu. The cost per person for drinks, appetizer, entrée, and shared dessert for us was ~$75, before tip.

Very well done dishes, very good flavors. Everything is cooked well, just right.

I was in town for business and made a reservation through Rezy. Dinner was on a Monday night so a reservation wasn’t necessary but it’s always nice to have just in case. Our server, Chris J (according to the receipt), was very friendly and attentive. There was live music! On a Monday! I was impressed. The band played laid-back jazz consisting of a piano player, upright bass and I couldn’t see what the other musician was playing from my vantage point. Anyways, the food… Calamari (4/5) - lightly battered and covered in garlic and parsley. It was a bit oily but still tasty. Served with a spicy aioli SoCal Salad (4/5) - light tasty dressing. I loved that the tomato slices were seasoned and not just thrown on the plate for garnish only. Chris knew we were sharing the salad and split it on separate plates for us. Sicilian Cioppino (4/5) - i don’t get this often so i don’t have much to compare it to but it was so tasty. Filled with seafood and ground Italian sausage.

We have been coming to Boa for the past 10 years since we live walking distance and I have never left a review am compelled to share the experience. I ordered the special, which was a whole branzino over a bed of spaghetti. It hands down is now my favorite fish dish I have ever had in my entire life. I was plenty for two people unless you are hungry because it was so light and flakey. A must!

Pleasant surprise for birthday dinner. Attentive, interactive service. Their wine selection is exciting and extensive. Butternut squash ravioli was simple and delicious. Finished with the tiramisu and fudge dessert…. Very memorable, very pleasant, thank you!

Had my very first taste of rabbit here. It was phenomenal. Tender and juicy, a symphony of flavor and presented beautifully! Very good coffee and wine. Don't forget to make room for dessert, too.

Cafe Boa has to be on of the best Italian places I have eaten at. The menu is pretty large so there is plenty to choose from. The restaurant was clean and the staff was friendly. Kimberly was our waitress and she was excellent and extremely helpful. She knew the menu perfectly and helped us decide what to order. Most the names of the food I can't remember but the food we ordered was: Flatbread Fries Mushroom Ravioli Lasagna Crepes All the food was amazing, I highly recommend the French fries dipped in the sauce that the lasagna is smothered with. Kimberly always made sure our water glasses were filled and catered to our needs. We will always request Kimberly as our waitress since she is the best we have ever had anywhere.

If you are in the area and looking to have a pleasant dinning experience, you have come to the right spot. We were greeted by Shay (so hope I spelt her name right), she made us felt welcome and was very accommodating. Food was lovely and Rachel was also attentive to our needs and requests. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Parking is shared, since there are plenty of other venues in the area, so plan in advance. X1. Hope you enjoy as we did.

Our recent visit for a birthday celebration was thoroughly enjoyable, highlighted by exceptional cuisine. This establishment is truly a hidden gem within downtown Tempe and comes highly recommended. Both the pasta and pizza selections were outstanding.

OMG! Amazing food! Anthony at the bar was fantastic! Spectacular Serbian wine, who knew? Ravioli! Skirt steak! Hot wings! To die for! With so many restaurants we like to try different ones, but we will be back! Oh and wow Sean!!! Another spectacular bartender!!! WE WILL BE BACK!

My wife and I had our first date at the old location down the street over 20 years ago. We decided to revisit the new location recently. We both loved our pasta. If pressed, my only complaint would be the pricing. It's kind of takes the fun away from going out. $8-10 for a single beer? $26 for a plate of pasta that has $6 worth of ingredients? That being said, I had a great time and if it were more affordable, I'd be there more often.

Visiting from out of town and a relative recommended this place. He and I had a great small bites dinner with the ceviche, calamari, street corn and salad. All had great flavors and were well apportioned! Outdoor seating was really nice for the fresh air, but also under a heating lamp for a comfortable dining temperature. First introduction to Rakija and I loved it! Had a flight of three and the server made an excellent recommendation. If I lived in Phoenix or Tempe, would definitely be a regular.

Amazing and unique dishes that were full of flavor. Exquisite craft cocktails that were beautiful and tasty, and great wine choices. We were there on the night when they had a very nice jazz band. We had a wonderful dinner there!

I had the pleasure of visiting Cafe Boa tonight, such a great atmosphere! It was really cool learning about the history of the restaurant and the space. The owner even stopped by our table to share the story behind it all, which made the experience feel extra special. Beautiful space and an even better experience!

Tonight, our team visited Cafe Boa, and the restaurant provided a solid dining experience. Alex, who recently joined the team, demonstrated exceptional service and a strong commitment to her role. We appreciate her efforts and encourage her to continue delivering great work.

First things first: food is phenomenal. Highly highly HIGHLY recommend the gnocchi, the lasagna, and the tiramisu!!! Second: Nathan E was just so swag. We came in on Monday night jazz night by coincidence, and we sat outside. I asked if there was any way to turn off the outdoor music so we can hear the jazz, and he did us one better by turning off the music AND opening the door so we could hear it better. Fantastic stuff

Portion sizes are huge! Hubby and I split a chopped salad which was delicious and their lasagna (also delicious)and were quite full at the end of our evening!! Great spot to go just before the show at ASU Gammage!! If you have American Express Platinum, you can make a dinner reservation through Resy!

Popped in on our way to the airport. Good selection of brunch menu items. Atmosphere was casual yet elegant. Kudos to our server Griffin. Helped with food selection, was prompt and attentive to our table of four. Always there with coffee and water refills. Food servings were plentiful and prices acceptable for the time and area of the restaurant venue.

I’m not sure how we didn’t find out about this place until AFTER moving away. On a recent business trip back to Tempe a small group of us went to Caffe Boa for dinner, and I’ll be back for sure. Service was solid, cocktails were top-notch, and the menu was interesting and easy to navigate. I had the fettuccine bianca to take advantage of fresh-made pasta. The patio was airy, felt private, and (at least at 7pm on a Wednesday) did not feel as loud as Mill Ave can sometimes be. Loved it!

I had a fantastic experience at Caffe Boa - Tempe. The atmosphere was inviting, and everything from the appetizers to the entrées and desserts was absolutely delicious. Our waitress, Alex, was outstanding—friendly, attentive, and full of great recommendations that truly elevated our meal. She was spot on with the Tiramisu recommendation--10/10. One of the highlights was getting a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour from the owner, Zach. Seeing where the magic happens was impressive—every staff member was moving with purpose, no idle hands anywhere. Zach also shared the history of the business and what he believes makes the restaurant successful: the people—both employees and customers. You can genuinely feel his pride in the place throughout the entire establishment. Highly recommend for both the food and the experience!

Service and the ambience is excellent. We really enjoyed the Voodoo Pasta and Crème Caramel. I highly recommend trying these two dishes at Caffe Boa for dinner. We liked the other two dishes too, The Polenta in the tiger prawn dish was great and the Italian ‘Scrippelle quantity is a bit less but tastes good. They even got our pet a bowl of water and she really had a good time.

Came here for brunch but got side tracked with the pasta section. The lasagna was great, nice and warm with a good sauce. The meatballs pasta was nothing special. Our server was great, very attentive. Will return to try different dishes.

Came in the afternoon so we didn’t have much of a wait time. I really loved the salad and the dressing they used.

Excellent dinner choice before a show at Tempe Center for the Arts. The voodoo chicken penny was tasty as was the spaghetti and old-school meatballs. The parm grated on demand was a nice topper. Service was outstanding, even though we were on the patio. Highly recommend - and nice to know that it’s still solid after being a Mill Avenue staple for so long. Easy parking a block away for $4.

Went with a group from work on a Tuesday around 6 p.m. We walked there, and access is very easy if you’re in the area. The place was busy, but since we had a reservation, there was no wait. I had a Boulevardier, which was well made. For food, I ordered the scallops with rice. The scallops were delicious and cooked perfectly. The rice was good, though a bit too buttery for my taste. We initially sat near the bar and later moved to a more private area, which was a nice change. Great atmosphere overall. Very solid experience and a place I’d return to.

I'm glad I went, but the service had a lot to be desired. When the average cost of a plate is roughly $20, I expect my waiter to provide at least a pleasant experience. As for the food, it was excellent. The fresh squeezed lemonade was incredible, along with the clams and citrus wine sauce. Missing: No bread or snacks while waiting for your food. If you don't get out often, I'd recommend going somewhere else. If you are someone that eats out alot, I'd at least give it a shot if you're looking for different pasta dishes.

Went there with a group before our ghost tour because they offer a special menu discount, but there was all kinds of confusion about it. We were handed happy hour menus which were different than the ghost tour menu we were emailed. We were told any wine under $14 is half price, so I asked if champagne was included and was told it was. Then after my second glass I was told "oh, actually, that one isn't included, it's full price sorry!". Someone at the table ordered a drink and that same drink arrived 2 more times out of nowhere - no one ordered it. Food came out sporadically. No vegetarian or vegan options other than a sad looking hummus that was likely Sysco with a couple of carrot sticks. (Why can't chefs be more creative?) Our server was nice and he was trying but he seemed completely overwhelmed. It felt like there was no communication between the front and back of the house which added to his confusion. I won't be back.

I’m incredibly disappointed with this restaurant. I had high expectations due to its atmosphere and high rating, but the food was shockingly bad. The nearly $30 pasta tasted like they dumped an entire bottle of salt into it. I had to drink three glasses of water just to get through two-thirds of the plate. While the waitress was kind enough to offer a remake, the new dish was clearly just the original watered down—it ended up completely flavorless. Honestly, it felt like a waste of both money and time. Even a chain Italian restaurant could do better.

My husband and I went out for Valentine’s Day, spent $200 for a deposit, sat around for 45 minutes before we even got to ask for water and then put our whole order in. We watched multiple tables up and leave because of the wait. We never received our second course. Our waitress, once aware of our wait was great at trying to accommodate us. But this did sour our night, as we had plans and had to adjust due to spending over 2.5 hours at the restaurant.

Returned to Caffe Boa after a few years, recalling a great meal I had in 2022. I was pretty disappointed - the “ aged rib eye” was thin, poorly seasoned, maybe 10oz, and plated alone, adding to the effect of it being small. For $43, plus the cost of a side, I should be semi-impressed with the steak. The server was kind but did not come by nearly enough.our fist round of drinks took 15+ minutes to arrive. When we received our apps, we ordered another round of drinks (a beer and a glass of wine), and it took more than 20 min to receive them - in fact, my husband had to go to the bar himself to ask for them. The server did not come by that entire time. The ambiance was lovely outside. Overall, we spent more than $200 for a dinner that was mediocre. For a place with such great reviews, this was a frustrating meal. We will not return.

Had Valentine's reservation here and in 1.5 hours we got a glass of water and one glass of wine. No food was served even though placed out entire meal in right away. Water was never refilled and no more drinks were served. The waiter serving the patio looked so lost and had no idea what he was doing. Numerous people left and got a refund.

I booked Café Boa in Tempe for Valentine’s Day through the Amex Resy benefit, expecting something special. I’d enjoyed it in the past, so I prepaid $200 for their prefixed menu. Unfortunately, it was anything but special. We were seated early on the patio, but waited over 40 minutes without anyone even acknowledging us. I had to go to the host stand just to get a server. Even after ordering drinks and appetizers, we sat for another 20 minutes with nothing. I approached the staff again, and it wasn’t until we were about to leave that a defeated manager appeared. The apology felt hollow, and despite refunding the Resy charge, the entire experience was ruined. We ended up leaving and going elsewhere. If you’re considering Café Boa for a special occasion, I’d strongly recommend looking elsewhere

This place has potential with the atmosphere alone. Beautiful restaurant with amazing aesthetic. However, there’s major downsides beginning with the service. This might be the worst service for such a nice restaurant I’ve ever experienced. The server was completely absent the entire time. We were waiting around for service and eventually had to ask another server and the hostess for help. Our food also came out separately, with 45 minutes between the first and last dish. So my friend had to eat his dinner alone since everyone else was long done. The drinks are not great— the worst old fashioned I’ve ever had, but it’s also not on the menu so maybe that’s my fault. The food was good, but some of us got sick. Again, I’ll say this place has so much potential if they just fixed their service and quality of food/beverages. I feel like this type of restaurant is typical of Tempe though— well overrated but amazing atmosphere. If you want overall nice restaurants, you really have to go to Phoenix or Scottsdale. I wouldn’t recommend this place.