at last cafe

at last cafe
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on my 101 in 1001 list (24/143)
at last cafe is what a neighborhood cafe should be--fresh, delicious and affordable, and for now is my new favorite in the hood resto. it's a cute little place, and the emphasis is on "little", which means that if it continues to be popular, take heed and make reservations. we came for lunch on a saturday, and though it wasn't bustling, the majority of the tables were filled up from just two parties. if you're lucky enough to live in the hood, definitely ride your bike or walk as parking can be difficult at times.

everything on the menu looked good, but for our first visit, we opted to start off with some roasted artichokes from their specials board. it was done well, with a little red pepper sauce and sprinkled with parmesan. we also had the arugula salad, which tasted fresh from a garden. some of the stalks were a bit thick, but it was nice and peppery with some bitterness, shredded cheese & homemade croutons. i quite enjoyed it, although some people may not like bitter greens.

the mac and cheese is simple and delicious. a good balance of cheese and cream with some contrasting texture from the breadcrumbs, it is a comfort food done well. it's probably not the healthiest thing, but somehow it tastes like it's good for you!

for those who may be in a hurry, i warn that it can seem a little leisurely because the chef is cooking by himself, and there was only one waitperson when we were there, waiting on everyone, but we were fine. service was responsive and friendly. we're definitely going to return and try all the things on the menu.