Brick Oven Cafe

Brick Oven Cafe Restaurant Review:

Brick Oven Café offers Italian cooking in Kenner. It’s quite a journey from New Orleans, but dining at this suburban outpost is worth the drive. Owner-chef Steven Bruno produces a simple, flavorful marinara that is thoroughly satisfying. Pastas are definitive, in both taste and execution. Eggplant shows up frequently and to especially good effect in the rolatine appetizer. Traditional pizzas have golden brown, thin crusts. Try the veal piccata, spaghetti carbonara and vegetarian minestrone, and the hand-made cannoli for dessert, although the tiramisu is a formidable rival. California and Italian labels form the wine list, which proposes several hearty reds that would go nicely with the aforementioned marinara. The atmosphere is clean and bright, but not necessarily memorable. Tins, jars, garlic braids and pictures scattered around could easily decorate another restaurant or two, but clutter just adds to the charm.