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| - The first thing you notice about Sapna Cafe are the windows pouring natural light into this neat, white space. (For shape, think of the Flatiron Building in New York on a tiny, tiny scale.) The windows are covered with thin 15-foot mix-and-match drapes tied to reveal Grand and 13th Ave. views. The vaguely triangular dining room gives way to a door frame through which you find the blackboard menu and register, where you order.
I took two friends on Saturday during Art Detour for a late lunch and the place was about half-full with the owner and one other person working.
There are two daily specials, and I had the Garbanzos and Eggplant in a Coconut Milk Curry, which came with brown rice, baguette pieces, and a side salad of field greens modestly but flavorfully dressed, all for $6.50. The curry was rich, warm, and filling, and the firmness of the garbanzos went well with the butter-soft eggplant. A great lunch for the price.
My friend Katie had the messy but delicious tabbouleh and chipotle hummus wrap, and my friend Kelly had a large salad with cranberries, almonds, goat cheese, and manchego. It was dressed with balsamic vinegar only (no oil?), so the flavor was mostly sweet and tangy.
The drinks, we agreed, were on the subpar side. The orangeade was inventive and attractive on the menu, but was mostly diluted and unsatisfying for $3.
Sapna's seems to be sorting out the ordering, serving, clean-up system, not to mention operating the register. Ringing up sales took about 3-5 minutes per patron, and you pay at the end. The half-eaten and abandoned sandwich at the adjacent table remained for our entire hour lunch.
Nevertheless, I am so grateful for fresh, interesting food on Grand Ave., and I'm confident Sapna Cafe will work out the service issues.
I will return.
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