VENUE INFO

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• Cafe Nora

An exterior view of Cafe Nora. (James Yee / The Star)

An interior view of Cafe Nora. (James Yee / The Star)

Sundried Tomato Ravioli, with house salad and tomato basil soup, made us feel rich at Cafe Nora. (James Yee / The Star)

Good enough to share Northside cafe is a bit pricey, but impresses the palate

I'm tired of midpriced cafes!

Assuming you're as poor as me, you're tired of them, too. Apparently, there's a rule against being able to eat anything but turkey sandwiches and Caesar salads on a small budget. I'm not going to accept that.

So I put my 'tude, my self and my boy Hayden in the car and drove north to Cafe Nora. I know, another "cafe." But at least it's open past 2 p.m.

From a patio table, the view is of a Target and a giant parking lot, but that's the only bad thing I can say.

The food

Cafe Nora serves southern European food and makes everything fresh every day. Appetizers can cost up to $9, and an entree of Sicilian fish stew or a duck breast with mushrooms would've sucked up our whole $20 budget.

So, Hayden and I decided to split a dish, and even that was hard.

We chose a petite portion of sundried tomato ravioli ($12.95 plus $2.50 split plate charge). I kept the accompanying salad with house balsamic vinaigrette, and he ordered a cup of tomato basil soup ($3.50).

We munched on fresh bread and olive oil as our sides arrived. My fresh, crisp salad was nothing extravagant, but delicious.

Hayden's soup was "damn good," and chunky with fresh tomatoes.

Good thing we split our main entree. It was rich!

Warm Swiss cheese ravioli bathed in a white wine cream broth with freshly sauteed onions, sweet sundried tomatoes, prosciutto and Asiago cheese. Hayden finished his and what I couldn't eat of mine.

Whew.

The drinks

The best free water money can buy. But, if you have the dough, get a $20 bottle of one of the house wines (or an un-house, if you have that kind of cash).

The damage: $20.65

I love leaving a place feeling I stuck it to the man, but still enjoyed a great meal, of course.

Cafe Nora

Address: 1300 E. 86th St.

Telephone: (317) 571-1000

Parking: Lot

Hours: Lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.