Tiffany C.
Yelp
This is our second time here. We found it on our way home from Disneyland, hungry and needing a bathroom. It is 10 minutes "down the road" (highway 261) from the Anaheim Convention Center.
This sweet café is set in The District Shopping Center and seems to be quite a popular spot. Grab a menu and a table, then head to the counter to order. As you wait, enjoy the European café vibe. Small, beautiful, and lovely pastry display.
Don't be surprised if you make a second, "to go" order before you head out. From the pastries to the drinks and snacks to gifts, this little gem of a café is full of fun treats!
The service is wonderfully warm & inviting! The plating is a combination of simple elegance and fun. The drink tray is beautiful!
I like to know how things work and to learn about different cultures, so I have ALL the questions! I did hold back a little bit but asked quite a few questions. Not once, did I feel like a bother.
Macho was our server today and the couple of times my questions stumped him, Ellie, the General Manager, swooped in with the answers. Ellie took the time to explain what we needed for a Turkish coffee set up. She didn't pose it as a sales pitch and try to push us into something we didn't need. Even on her break, she made the time to give us a quick lesson on the cultural traditions with Turkish coffee and even shared a personal story about how her family enjoys the coffee. Though she suggested a small pot, I wanted a double and cute cup set, much to my wife's chagrin. LOL
To the drinks... Turkish Coffee, espresso drinks, teas, FRESHLY SQUEEZED lemonade & OJ, etc. We also grabbed a Ginger Beer to go, from the refrigerated section of bottled drinks. The Pomegranate drink (powder) can be used hot or cold, with tea or lemonade, and is a lovely balance to just about everything they serve. Take a peek at the loose leaf teas they offer. Next time, I'll try the lemon ginger tea to go (I prefer coffee with my food).
Alright Y'all! About the food... let's start with the hummus. The roasted garlic hummus, served with pita, is my wife's "favorite hummus EVER! The hummus was fresh, creamy and topped with a nice balance of freshly roasted garlic & olive oil. The pita is good, too, it isn't flimsy like some ot overly heavy. Note: it is also offered plain or with roasted red pepper."
She also chose the fried brussels. "Perfectly cooked, not mushy or over-fried. Lighly tossed in olive oil and parmesean cheese, it was perfectly balanced. Served with a lemon wedge and tzatziki sauce."
Today, I had the Mediterranean Breakfast Platter. Served with 2 eggs, 3 cheeses, beautiful rustic-y bread, sausage, salad, grilled olives, honey, and jam. Y'ALL! OK, they GRILLED 2 olives!!! The presentation was as lovely as the taste!
The eggs were cooked as ordered and a necessary addition (for me) to the plate. I love my eggs. I enjoyed trying them with the various cheeses and dipping my bread in the yolk. YUM!
The cheeses, kashar, feta, and brie, were yummy with everything on the plate! I saved the salad dressing, a grilled green olive, and small chunk of feta for my last bite. SO GOOD!!!
The soujouk sausage, reminded me of a tasty gyro. I forgot to ask my questions about this, so more on that next time. Just know, it was quite flavorful.
I still can't get over that they made time to grill olives for a beautiful presentation! Real or perceived, it seemed to give it a different flavor. I'm going to see about finding the world's tiniest panini maker and start grilling my own.
The (Mediterranean) "medi salad" was almost what you'd expect, yet with a deliciously light twist. There were sliced cucumbers, cherry heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and a light sunshine-y vinaigrette that had a light lemon-y taste.
The honey & jam were yummy with the cheeses and bread. Everything on the platter felt intentional and healthy without feeling like "diet" or "healthy" food.
Our first trip, I had a mango yogurt (that's not what it is actually called). Oh my goodness, Y'all! As with everything else served here, it was beautifully balanced with the perfect amounts of yogurt, mango, dried figs, jam & sunflower seeds. I had it without walnuts, due to allergies.
We also got some pastries to go on our first trip. The poacha, borak, and something else yummy, were SOOOO GOOOOD!!!!
Another thing I absolutely LOVE about this place, is that they support/partner with a local artist/florist, Livintins Succulents. Her incredible artwork is unique, eclectic, fun, and classy. I truly enjoy the use of frames, birdcages, quirky pottery, succulents, plants, and dried flowers. She hosts classes on site, as well.
The entire vibe of this café and willingness to host the artist & classes, is homey and a care for the community.