This café is the reason I like to wander backstreets for hours on end, because when you find a gem like this, all those hours are worth it. Every single one.
The only thing, literally, the *one* thing that makes me not want to yelp this place, is that I'm afraid I won't get the owner's undivided attention when I go back and it's packed.
So I sat down in the dining room, completely alone. Some Ben Harper came on and the chef/owner/waiter handed me a menu. He asked me what I was in the mood for and I rattled off random thoughts (filling but not heavy and a little spice perhaps?)...I ended up getting a cranberry sausage dish smothered in a sweet sauce with hits of cayenne and topped with brie.
I know, I know, food porn. It was even better than it sounds. Not one flavor was overpowering so every bite was a perfectly balanced little world.
The owner hung out with me after cooking and we talked about his travels (roasted goat in Africa is where it's at!) and future menu plans (gorgonzola cheese cake topped with bacon!). We agreed that if the world ever runs out of bacon you can throw us in the river because who wants to live without the sweetest of all meats?
Everything (including an ice tea) was under $15. The menu is probably best classified as "New American" or "Modern American."
It was nice (it was better than nice, it was awesome) to find real foodie dishes being served in a relaxed atmosphere where I felt comfortable walking in off the street in my lazy Sunday clothes.
And next time I'm getting the deep friend gnocchi because that's so genius it can't be ignored.