Arte Cafe Leap Year Dinner

Monday. February 29, 2016

Arte Cafe in Cerritos , www.artecamellia.com,  held a dinner for $29. The menu that was sent out by e-mail had 1 appetizer 1 main course and 1 dessert listed along with 2 wines . The menu at the table was different, Two selections for each course but the wines was the same.

Choice of Ahi Nachos or a Smoked Salmon Bruschetta. I opted for the nachos which were quite good. The people that had the salmon were happy also. Wine was a 2014 Oberon Chardonnay. A tad oaky, but a very mediocre wine.

Main course was a choice of scallops or tri tip. I opted for the tri tip which had good flavor and was very tender and cooked the way I liked it. The wine was a substitution. Originally it was a Tre Leoni red and they replaced it with a 2013 Hess, Shirttail Ranches, Lake County, Cabernet. Why would you want a cabernet with scallops ? The Hess according to the label is made for restaurants only. Another mediocre wine.

I had ordered a glass off the menu of a Meomi Pinot Noir so I would have something drinkable.

Dessert was a choice of green tea ice cream or a Green Tea Tiramisu. Opted for the Triamisu. Decent dessert.

For $29 you could not beat the deal even if the wines were so so.  Upon receiving the bill the waitress rang up the dinner at $53. When pointed out she had no explanation. I know she was rushed as she was the only waitstaff besides two busboys for that section of the restaurant.  Service has always been a short coming of Arte Cafe.