Caffe Boa

Tempe Location:

398 S. Mill Ave. Tempe, Arizona 85281
Hours

Sun Noon-10pm   

Mon-Weds 11am-10pm

Thursday-Saturday 11am-11pm

Wine bar open later

the food

Caffe Boa’s menu contains many organic ingredients including produce and cheese.  In addition their wine list has several organic and biodynamic wines.  What is biodynamic?  Biodynamic agriculture focuses on maintaining balanced soil with natural plant and animal products.  If you would like more information check out biodynamics.com.  Watch our discussion of wine and sustainability with owner Jay Wisniewski.

The menu is well balanced with many vegetarian options.  Portions are appropriately sized and many are of lighter fare.  The entrees are based on rustic Italian traditions with homemade sauces and pastas where no two pasta pieces look alike. 

We also appreciated the fact that the menu and the dishes are fairly simple, with relatively few ingredients.  It’s the quality of the ingredients and the attention to detail in the way they are prepared that result in the extraordinary taste of the food.

the location

Caffe Boa is located in the heart of downtown Tempe on Mill Avenue, one block from the light rail station.  It’s a quick train ride from Phoenix and an easy walk from ASU.  There’s also lots of space to lock your bike nearby.

the dining experience

The restaurant has a great outdoor patio which is comfortable and shaded even in the summer months.

The interior is a nice combination of old and new with exposed brick walls and a contemporary wine bar.

The ambience is quiet comforting but you still feel visually connected to Mill Avenue.  One of our favorite details which plays up the rustic Italian feel is the rosemary tied with natural woven string around your napkin.

We both had the Monday night dinner special which included an appetizer, salad, pasta and glass of wine all for around $20.  This is a great deal and a great way to try several menu items in one sitting.  The food has amazing flavor and freshness and the dishes really showcase the ingredients well.

building/operations

The owners used much of the existing building in the renovation process which we love to see.  It’s a great way to save money and conserve resources.  The management has also implemented creative recycling initiatives including donating their used wine bottles to a local artist who makes them into glassware.  We really commend Caffe Boa for thinking outside of the box.  We also commend Caffe Boa for their efforts in seeking out local state farms to buy their cheeses, meat, and vegetables.  Not only is this good for the local economy, it’s also good for the quality of the food.

One area of improvement in operations is the to-go packaging.  We feel that the typical foam container is not only bad for the environment because it won’t break down in the landfill, but it also doesn’t match the otherwise elegant and sophisticated Caffe Boa experience.  A suggestion is using coated cardboard containers that may not be recyclable due to the coating, but at least will fare much better in the landfill than the foam containter. 

community impact

The management of Caffe Boa is working with other Mill Avenue businesses to increase recycling around the entire community.  They saw a void in how the local restaurant industry was dealing with food waste and took action in a collaboration with ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability. 

We commend Caffe Boa for being a stable and contributing anchor on the ever-changing streetscape of Mill Avenue.  Some of you may remember when Caffe Boa was further south on Mill Avenue where The Stockyard currently is.  But as the restaurant grew, they decided to look for a bigger place.  Jay’s decision to stay on Mill Avenue when other more upscale options were available shows his commitment to the local Tempe community.  

affordability

We feel that the value of a meal at Caffe Boa is well worth the price with the high quality of ingredients and ample portion sizes.  Lunch time is more affordable if you’re looking to save a few bucks.

We at Sustainable Sustenance give Caffe Boa a high Green Rating.  It is definitely a place to watch in the coming years as a sustainability leader in the local restaurant industry.  Congratulations!