Wendy A.
Yelp
This dinky little corner cafe is a hidden gem in NOLA's Treme neighborhood, northwestish of the French Quarter. We stayed at the Treme Mansion and was delighted to find this place (and 'Lil Dizzy's) an easy block and a half away... Quite a relief after hoofing miles through the Quarter for days.
It's got an open-air feeling with the opened-shutter windows, cozy sidewalk seating, and an interesting history if you care to google. Let's just say this cozy corner has been a kept corner for a few different proprietors, and the remnants of such infidelity linger in the 50 year old peeling paint that once advertised the 45 Dixie beers sold by the original Ruth.
The menu is Turkish inspired, offering the Mediterranean breakfast of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, egg, and cheese (What?? Americans don't eat that for breakfast!), along with a couple egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches, and paninis. They also have a pastry case brimming with savory boreks, muffins, and sweet treats. They offer a full service coffee bar, complete with cold brew iced coffee, which, alas and alack, they'd already run out of by 9:30 am.
I had the spinach/cheese/egg breakfast sandwich, which was wonderfully situated atop a phenomenal hommade bisquit (true menu-board spelling, bless their hearts). The cooked spinach that usually repulses me on a sandwich (I much prefer fresh leaves) didn't taste like the frozen stuff that I hate. I honestly think Fatma cooked fresh spinach... and it was awesome. I also got the veggie borek (wonderful) and the veggie muffin (awesome concept!) to take back to the room for later. They were savory unlike the zucchini bread of my heritage, and I very much enjoyed them for lunch.
Hubby had the Turkey panini, which was so good that, as God is my witness, it resurrected the lighthearted disposition that had been crucified by the errant computer system mixup, which brought his meal out a good 15 or 20 minutes after mine. I thought the day was done until I saw the sparkle in the eye behind his aloof facade as he gobbled.
Fatma and cashier girl, you're doing a great job 11 days after opening this new location... Sooooo close to a five-star. But here's some tips:
1. The wait at the counter due to having one cashier who also works as barista is pretty tiresome. Anyone who has somewhere to be will go elsewhere.
2. A water station would be awesome! Throw a couple cucumber slices in there (I know you have em) and you're instantly two rungs higher-society. Just a suggestion.
3. Thanks for not charging me for the muffin, but don't do that computer system mixup thing again. It almost killed the mood.
4. For crying out loud, MAKE MORE COLD BREW! running out at 9:30 on a Monday morning?? That's just really bad market projection.