Mojdeh S.
Yelp
How I heard of this place: Friends of ours introduced us on a recent visit to Vashon. With so many (all?) vegetarian and vegan options, they have something to satisfy most diets.
Type of cuisine: Texas sized portions of baked goods and savory meals served with baked goods, all made in house. Cuisines from all over the globe are adapted here and made into meals to serve their customers - East Indian, Mediterranean, American and more.
Ambiance: From the outside, a strip mall adjacent to a gas station, the place is unassuming and perhaps less than enticing. Inside, the quaint and cozy space is a perfect hippy haven, with rustic furnishings, mismatched tables and chairs, and dark wooden interiors. Several picnic tables are also available outside for seating - and dog-friendly. Walk up to the order counter just inside and place your orders - making sure to take a look at the baking tray displays of oversized croissants, cinnamon rolls, etc. to the left. Take your seat and return to pick up orders when your name is called (sometimes they bring food out to your table). No frills, yet cozy and welcoming.
What I ordered: We had a party of seven, so we ordered several items off of the menu. For me, the Baked Egg Fritatta ($18.50) with roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, ricotta, sage and tomato, served with a side of cabbage slaw and house-made focaccia toast. For my husband, the Bahn Mi ($18.50) with marinated tofu, shredded green and red cabbage, carrots, cilantro and jalapeno on house made bread. For my teenaged cousin, the East Indian Stuffed Pancakes ($18.50) filled with peppers, potatoes, peas, carrots, cilantro and ginger topped with two fried eggs and a side of raita. For the 8-year old, a feta-tomato-olive flatbread pizza. For our local friends, one order of the Mid East Plate ($18.50) with a black bean hummus, stuffed grape leaves, feta, artichoke hearts and tomatoes plus a side of bread; and the Marinated Kale & Feta Sandwich ($18.00) with sundried tomato and olive tapanade, pickled red onion on housemade focaccia. Self-serve water, napkins, and silverware (wooden, too) is available to the right of the register - beyond the volleyball sized chocolate chip cookies piled high onto a baking sheet.
What I loved: The friendly, neighborhood, welcoming local service with smiles and sincere gratitude. The only food item/plate that was worth a second bite was the East Indian pancakes which were flavorful and novel. We may have caught them on an off day, perhaps a new cook was working, or a new oven was being tested out, but everything was dry and burnt (except the toast). The cinnamon roll was hard and black, the fritatta's burnt top difficult to cut into, the flatbread crisp and too hard to enjoy the crust, as well as the cookie's burnt edges which crumbled into the bag, opposite the cakey middle which was soft but beyond "golden". Flavors were lacking - as if seasoning was an issue on this visit, and the overabundance of cumin seeds on EVERYTHING made it difficult to enjoy the meals ordered. We would come back for another try, but would definitely be cautious about ordering the baked goods.
Why I loved it: We love local spots, especially when recommended by locals who frequent the establishment.
Cost: High, overpriced.
