The location of Cafe Celeste in Sherwood Park is an odd one. It is in a semi-industrial area among small strip malls and across from the bus station; it doesn’t seem like an ideal location for a sit down restaurant. Cafe Celeste, however, seems to have overcome this location hurdle. The restaurant has been opened since 2017, and judging by the crowd when I was there, it looks like a busy little place.

The atmosphere of Cafe Celeste is best described as charming. The tables are adorned with red and white checkered table cloths and wine is on open display in wall wine racks. The restaurant itself is small, but this adds to the charm and coziness of the atmosphere.

Cafe Celeste offers a decent wine list. While I would have expected somewhat of a larger wine list at an Italian Restaurant, I was satisfied with the options they provided. There is something for every wine taste here; from full bodied reds to light and crisp whites. I enjoyed a white wine with my meal and while I do not remember what it was called (bad Kelsey!) the waitress made an excellent recommendation which I thoroughly enjoyed.

While the wine list was smaller than I expected, the food menu completely made up for it. The appetizer list was extensive as were the selections of entrees. There is even a section dedicated completely to gnocchi!

For my meal, I went with the Maiale Lemone; a dish featuring pork tenderloin, dusted with flour, and sautéed with mushrooms in a lemon white wine sauce. The lemon white wine sauce intrigued me, I had never thought of what lemon would be like with pork. It did not disappoint. While pork is generally a stronger flavor, the lemon complimented this strong taste beautifully. The mushrooms were done perfectly; soft and tender.

Each entree comes with your choice of a classic pasta. While the pasta selections on this menu are simpler than those on their Special and Signature Pasta menus, they each offered a great compliment to an entree. Being a fan of pesto, I enjoyed the Penno Pesto Cream as an accompaniment to my entree. The penne noodles were done to an excellent al dente and the pesto was incredible. It offered a great balance of the delicacy of basil but still packed a punch with a healthy dose of garlic.

When you’re in the mood for comforting Italian food, head to Cafe Celeste. I know I will be!