If you can ignore the decor, the food is fantastic. I had wanted to try the Kaleidescope cafe since I discovered it during Pittsburgh restaurant week. We made reservations and met two dining companions on a friday night. Upon arrival, we were immediately taken aback by the size and decor. This restaurant is tiny. I'd say it maxes out at about 40 people. The inside looks a little dull and old except for the bright colored glass everywhere. Maybe it's just me but I don't really get the kaleidescope theme. It's an odd choice for a resturant in my opinion.
We started our meals with the fried gnocchi and the crab dip appetizers. I wasn't overly impressed with the crab dip but the gnocchi were quite interesting. I enjoyed the smooth texture and slightly crunchy breading. For my main entree, I ordered the pork tenderloin but replaced the hash with the garlic mashed potatoes due to my love of anything with garlic in the name. The potatoes did not disappoint. They were smashed, slightly lumpy and rich with garlic, just how I like 'em. The pork loin was very tender, juice and cooked to the perfect temperature. My husband also thoroughly enjoyed his entree choice, the cow jumped over the blue moon which is a clever name for a fettuchine alfredo with gorgonzola and steak. We then finished our meal with the new dessert, which was not listed on the menu but caught my ear when our server mentioned apples. This new dessert reminds me of an apple pastry. It was tasty but did not compare to the main entree.
One issue I did have with my Kaleidescope cafe experience was the service. Our meals took forever! Largely due to a 20 top that must have been sat 15 minutes before us, it took almost 3 hours total for our meal! The waiter apologized and offered us free wine and extra pita bread with homemade butter but, that didn't help us much since we had a hard time finishing the 2 bottles we had brought ourselves. I can't help but wonder who thought it was a good idea to book reservations so close to seating a party that took up half the restaurant.