When it comes to coffeehouses or coffee shops in the Fresno area, there might not be a place as luxurious and high class as Il Caffè.
Located inside Enzo’s Table at the southeast corner of Willow and Shepherd avenues, Il Caffè strives to provide an upscale coffee atmosphere that someone would experience in Italy — where the “caffe” culture is serious and often takes place inside elegant historical coffee houses.
“When you walk through the doors, we want you to say ‘Oh my gosh, this place is beautiful,’” said Vincent Ricchiuti, one of the managing partners of Enzo’s Table and Il Caffè.
“The attention to detail, we’re very proud of it. The thought was to really design something that all of us could be proud of — the entire community. You want that wow factor and experience.”
A large bar area gives an Italian feel unlike most local coffee shops at Il Caffè inside Enzo’s Table in The Avenue complex in northwest Clovis. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Ricchiuti — part of a family that’s long played a role in both farming, and commercial and residential development in the Fresno area — was inspired to bring a high-class coffee experience here locally from his vacation trips to Italy.
But his visits to other bigger cities and entering various stores that offered high-end experience also was an influencing factor.
So it’s no surprise that Il Caffè has a similar look and feel as one might find at a Louis Vuitton or a Gucci store — where the shops are well lit, the products inside all seem to shine, and the flooring to the ceiling to the cabinetry and walls are all aesthetically pleasing.
An atrium cafe space is available to sip traditional Italian espresso drinks, coffees and to enjoy the baked goods at Il Caffè inside Enzo’s Table in The Avenue complex in northwest Clovis. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
“The upscale feel is really (based on) the hospitality,” Ricchiuti said.
“We want to feel like (customers) are in our home and being taken care of.”
Kylie Adanalian smiles after preparing an espresso drink at Il Caffè, a cafe within Enzo’s Table at Willow and Shepherd in northwest Clovis. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Il Caffè also is a venue for special events. Customers have reserved part of the “Tower Room,” where the ceiling is high and the area spacious with a large table positioned in the center of the room, for events such as a bridal or baby showers or sorority functions.
In all, there are three areas of seating, including a shaded patio area.
A patio space is available for customers to enjoy the traditional Italian espresso drinks, coffees and baked goods at Il Caffè inside Enzo’s Table in The Avenue complex in northwest Clovis. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Since Il Caffè strives to be more of a “serious coffee” place like in Italy, it does not offer a long list of sugary flavored drinks .
But it does have options like the honey latte, which is the place’s most popular drink. There’s also a mocha flavor. And the hot tea by Rishi is a blend of English breakfast, jade cloud, peppermint and chamomile medley. The coffee bar also serves a variety of Italian wines.
A latte is prepared with a piece of biscotti at Il Caffè, a cafe within Enzo’s Table at Willow and Shepherd in northwest Clovis serving traditional Italian espresso drinks, coffee and baked goods. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Il Caffè also offers some foods for breakfast and lunch, including a Fresno Chili avocado toast and an Enzo Farro Salad, with the foods made with ingredients from Ricchiuti’s longtime family farming business, PR Farms. The Ricchiuti farming business specializes in producing olives, almonds, grapes and tree fruit.
“A full farm-to-table experience,” Ricchiuti said.
Vincent Ricchiuti, one of the family owners of Il Caffè, a cafe within Enzo’s Table in northwest Clovis, sits in the cafe’s extensive bar area with a glass of their featured Italian wines. The cafe, located in The Avenue complex at Willow and Shepherd, serves traditional Italian espresso drinks, coffee, baked goods as well as wine. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Il Caffè is part of the redesign of Enzo’s Table, which for many years existed on its own as a standalone store, before the original building was demolished to build the commercial complex The Avenue.
For two years, Enzo’s Table operated inside a smaller store at The Row shopping center, which was catty corner to the original location.
But when The Avenue was built out, Enzo’s Table moved back close to its original location. And it was rebuilt, in part, to have a more luxurious feel inside to match the upscale exterior design of the mixed-used complex that’s a combination of offices, stores, restaurants and shops.
Il Caffè sits toward the back of Enzo’s Table, a shop that offers estate-grown organic olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and artisanal foods. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
“When we designed The Row and The Avenue, we wanted them to be a destination,” Ricchiuti said. “We wanted it to feel like a place that you’ve arrived.
“The original (Enzo’s Table) was more of a farm centric store. With this one, we really wanted to showcase our Italian heritage, our Italian architecture, our Italian design. And kind of bring it full circle and have something again for the community to come and enjoy.”
Kylie Adanalian prepares a latte at Il Caffè, a cafe within Enzo’s Table at Willow and Shepherd in northwest Clovis serving traditional Italian espresso drinks, coffee and baked goods. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
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Bryant-Jon Anteola is a multimedia reporter for The Fresno Bee, writing stories and producing videos about sports, news and random topics relatable to those in the Fresno area. He’s won a McClatchy President’s Award and received honorable mention by the Associated Press Sports Editors. He enjoys sports because of the competition, camaraderie and energy, and views sports as a microcosm of society.