Awtash Cafe opened just a few days ago and I am so delighted! It's close enough, and good enough, to become a regular lunch hour destination for me.
I have a decent imagination but I cannot comprehend how Awtash Cafe used to be that somewhat dive-y Tea House 168. The interior and exterior are completely different. Dark wood furnishings, cushioned couch banks, heaps of pillows, dramatic light fixtures, Persian print posters: it is all such a remarkable upgrade from the former shabby, scuffed-up bubble tea cafe.
The drinks menu includes coffee shop staples like cappuccinos, lattes and teas as well fruit shakes, lemonade and special Persian-fusion creations. There are several different chai, rosewater and saffron beverages on the menu, which I'd say are quite unusual.
For lunch today, a friend and I each tried a specialty pizza and a shake. I had a coconut shake which was rich and tasted of actual, real, fresh coconut. My friend tried the saffron shake, which came in a dish with sliced fruit on top. The saffron shake also had a delicate essence of rosewater. My dining buddy declared she wanted to order a second one immediately. I think this is going to be her new "I'm having a rough day" treat.
For meals, the menu lists sandwiches, hummus platters, salads and two genres of pizza (standard combinations and Persian specialities). The pizzas are $8.50 for a dinner plate size (I took half home for later). I tried the Fessnjoon pizza with chicken, pineapple, pomegranate-walnut sauce and a sesame crust. It was an unusual combo but a very good one. I recommend it. Some of my other co-workers tried the sandwiches earlier this week ($6.50 each) and declared them to be extremely good, too. There is a dessert menu: cakes by the slice and ice cream too, I think.
Awtash has applied for a liquor license, and I can definitely see myself reclining on those piles of pillows enjoying an after work drink - perhaps a saffron martini or similar? And did I mention this place is also a shisha/hookah bar? AND there's wifi, a big TV projection screen and also a separate lounge room at the back, perfect for a group event. It's all here! And as an added bonus, the staff is super friendly, too.
*note - they are still new so they don't take debit or credit cards yet*