By Eva Gubat
Photo by Mary Rose Peña

Trotting the globe is not always possible, what with our busy schedules. But with Capricciosa, you can enjoy the best of Italian cuisine while seated in comfortable and familiar surroundings. Capricciosa may hail from Japan, but it clearly embodies the best of Southern Italian flavors. Founder Masaaki Honda made use of his years as chef at the Italian Pavilion Cafe to set up Capricciosa in Shibuya, Tokyo in 1977. From there, Capricciosa began its global journey of expansion…and the rest is history. At present, there are about 150 Capricciosa branches located in Japan, Guam, Saipan, Taiwan, Hawaii, and now the Philippines.

Capricciosa opened its doors to the Filipino public in October 2006 at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City. Since then, the genuine Italian cuisine it offers has made Capricciosa a crowd-pleaser, with customers ranging from Japanese expats, business groups, and families to intimate dates. Upon entering its doors, you are warmly greeted by a smiling staff exclaiming, “Buon Giorno!” At one side is the open kitchen where diners see how every dish is made with the freshest ingredients and executed with the utmost skill. All the dishes, such as lasagnas and pizzas, are made entirely from scratch. Beside the kitchen counter is the dessert display housing heavenly sweets, along with the bar area where wines like Beringer Red Zinfandel and Luigi Leonardo Sangiovese can be found. The huge dining area seats 100 people, while the patio (a smoking area) welcomes 40 to 60 guests.

Capricciosa—Italian for spontaneity—makes sure that guests enjoy a comfortable and relaxing dining experience, without pretense. The place is about having fun, discarding a stressful day, and laughing off your worries. The menu gives you a glimpse of the Italian life—spirited, generous, and vibrant. Pastas, pizzas and the other dishes all come in hefty servings, to show that dining Italian-style is all about sharing and being together. A regular-sized dish serves one to two persons, while a large order serves three to four people.

And what an order! First on our A-list is Smoked Salmon Spring Rolls presented on a bed of lettuce and bell peppers accompanied by Caesar dressing, mozzarella cheese and vegetable strips. The rolls hide a delightful, creamy salmon filling, while the crispy wrapper adds a lively touch. The Fried Calamari Salad boasts huge squid rings that are so crunchy to the bite. A Capricciosa bestseller, Spaghetti Calamari and Onion in Squid Ink Sauce is definitely for the adventurous. The dish oozes with black squid ink sauce so intense that you’re given a plastic bib to protect your clothing. With its spicy yet sweet flavors, this is a dish worthy of your dark-stained smile. Penne in Hot Spicy Tomato Sauce is a simple yet satisfying dish of rich tomato sauce tossed with perfectly al dente pasta. Another notable dish is Seafood Linguine with a creamy, buttery sauce accompanied by generous servings of mussels and prawns. Making this writer’s day is a Capricciosa’s Chicken Cacciatore where fried chicken pieces are enrobed in tomato sauce and topped with parsley and cheese. Red bell peppers and roasted potatoes add tangy richness to the dish.

What better way to dine Italian than to go all out Italian with Quattro Formaggi, a traditional, thin-crusted pizza with four cheese flavors: cream cheese, mozzarella, blue cheese and parmesan. You can also add salmon toppings for an additional cost.

For dessert, try a big slice of Capricciosa’s Pumpkin Pie, probably the only place in town that serves a pumpkin-based dessert still unfamiliar to most Pinoys. It consists of a tasty pie crust and rich not-to-sweet pumpkin filling with generous amounts of whipped cream on top. A bestseller especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving, it has nonetheless won a following all year round.

Tested by time and different locales around the world, Capricciosa continues to give care and love in preparing hearty Italian fare. My advice? Dine at Capricciosa and have a fantastico experience. Buon Appetito!