Just east of the UGA campus on Broad Street sat DePalma’s Café, a small Italian restaurant with an inviting menu, beckoning us inside. Towards the end of the usual lunch hour, the restaurant was nearly empty and the hostess immediately led us to a roomy booth across from the grandiose wine racks and bar.
The sides of the wooden booth nearly met the ceiling providing a high degree of privacy for our dining – perfect for an intimate date! My wife even felt comfortable taking an emergency cell phone call from home without leaving the table as the booth contained our conversation without impacting other restaurant patrons.
Another dining room opened off the far side of the bar. Based on the group of people exiting from this room, I speculated that it could be reserved for private parties and gatherings. I did not wander around the restaurant, but believe there is also an adjoining section behind the bar. Each dining area is designed for comfort and privacy.
When I asked about the beer selection, the young server replied that a plethora of bottled beer was available and would I like a list. "Absolutely," I replied, wanting to find a good brew to accompany the Italian cuisine. My wife ordered a Pinot Noir from the extensive wine list and her glass was nearly full when served. The young lady apologized for the excessive wine as the bartender accidentally overfilled the glass. My wife carefully sipped the delicious white wine.
The lunch menu offered a variety of pastas and different sauces for $5.50. My wife debated between several choices and finally our server made a suggestion of her favorite. "Do you like tomatoes?" she asked. When my wife affirmatively replied, she suggested having the pasta topped with a fresh diced tomato. I ordered a sandwich, which came with a fresh salad. My wife also ordered a salad, although hers was extra and not included with the pasta lunch special.
The bread basket arrived with our salads and I opened the napkin to find soft square rolls, warmed all the way through. Individual pats of real butter sat in the basket, softening perfectly for spreading. The large, fresh salads began to fill us up and my wife only ate half of hers so she could eat her pasta.
Our server made excellent recommendations. The large tomato topping enhanced the pasta and tomato vodka sauce with superb flavor. My sandwich was perfectly prepared and extremely filling. My wife maybe ate half of the pasta in the bowl and I only ate half of the sandwich. We walked out with sufficient leftovers for that night’s dinner.