Caffe Fresca
Backstory
Caffe Fresca opened in 1995 a mile or so from where it is now in 1995. Originally a coffeeshop with minimal food, it quickly expanded into serving just about everything. Also from the start it had a strong base of regular customers with far more enthusiasm for the place than I've managed to work up.
Dining Room
The most surprising aspect of Caffe Fresca is its dining room, which is brilliantly designed in a modern way. Given the dreary strip mall in which it resides, it puts one in an optimistic mood. However, the service staff seems to be more concerned with making sure the rules are followed than that customers are having a good time. Even modest requests are greeted with at least a moment's hesitation.
Why It's Essential
The lands that lie alongside canal-centered West Metairie Avenue feel more like traditional New Orleans neighborhoods than most other local suburbs. That makes the area fertile for neighborhood cafes. Not only the the familiar kind with poor boys and gumbo and seafood platters, but also places like Caffe Fresca. Despite the coffeehouse-style name, it sports a full menu the likes of which you can find anywhere in America. Slight Greek and Creole inflections make it seem momentarily exotic.
Why It's Good
Most of the regular menu reminds me of what you'd find in an office building with a captive clientele. The ingredients are more than decent, but less than exceptional. The portions are neither large nor small. The only time the kitchen breaks out of average mode is in its daily specials, particularly the Italian ones. The soups are also pretty good. Otherwise, it's so many for the . . . uh. . . What? What? Oh, gosh, I must have fallen asleep for a moment there.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> Toasted pita, provolone, parmesan, green onions<br /> Pita pizza, artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, basil, provolone, parmesan<br /> Eggplant sticks, marinara or fresca sauce<br /> Crab or crawfish cakes, remoulade sauce<br /> Italian stuffed artichoke <br /> <em><strong>Salads</strong></em><br /> »Fresca salad (greens, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, artichoke, red onion, sun dried tomatoes)<br /> Grilled portobello mushroom, like above<br /> Caesar<br /> Chicken or tuna salad on Fresca salad<br /> <em><strong>Soups</strong></em><br /> MO--Red bean<br /> TU--Broccoli cream<br /> »WE--Hot tamale chili<br /> »TH--Spinach-artichoke<br /> FR--Shrimp and corn chowder<br /> SA--Chicken-sausage gumbo<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> Alive (vegetarian: avocado, romaine, carrots, mushrooms, cucumber, tomatoes, melted provolone, sprouts, on pita)<br /> Chicken Caesar pita <br /> Greek grilled chicken, avocado, olives, tomatoes<br /> Grilled chicken, eggplant, romaine, tomatoes, honey mustard<br /> Grilled portobello, eggplant, red onion, provolone, feta<br /> Spicy chicken<br /> Smoked turkey<br /> Hamburgers<br /> Muffuletta <br /> Grilled chicken muffuletta <br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> Filet mignon, butter and garlic<br /> »Center cut pork chop, Creole mustard glaze<br /> Stuffed lobster, crawfish dressing<br /> Shrimp and/or catfish platter (grilled or fried), crawfish cake<br /> »Trout St. John, grilled or fried, shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms and shallots, herb butter cream sauce<br /> »Eggplant Fresca (fried, filled with shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms, shallots, herb butter cream sauce, angel hair pasta<br /> <em><strong>Selected Daily Specials </strong></em><br /> <em>every day:</em><br /> Pasta fresca (shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms, butter cream sauce) Chicken parmesan<br /> »Grilled tuna steak, garlic butter<br /> Grilled tilapia<br /> <em>Monday:</em><br /> Red beans & rice <br /> Santa Fe pita sandwich <br /> Taco salad<br /> <em>Tuesday</em><br /> »Pannee chicken, pasta alfredo<br /> Turkey & avocado bacon pita sandwich <br /> Grilled chicken breast, avocado, romaine, tomato, whole wheat croissant, fresh fruit<br /> Fried chicken club salad<br /> <em>Wednesday</em><br /> Grilled chicken & andouille pasta<br /> Southwest pita sandwich<br /> Turkey avocado pita sandwich <br /> »Greek salad with grilled chicken, tomato, cucumbers, red onions, artichoke, kalamata olives, feta cheese, Aegean dressing<br /> <em>Thursday</em><br /> Meatballs & spaghetti<br /> Fried chicken club sandwich<br /> »Santino salad (Italian salad)<br /> <em>Friday </em><br /> Giant crab cake, potato salad or fries & salad<br /> Fried shrimp caesar sandwich<br /> »Spinach salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, bleu cheese crumbles, pecans, pepper jelly vinaigrette<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Bread pudding, white chocolate sauce<br /> Chocolate fudge brownie, nuts, vanilla ice cream, caramel
Deficiencies
They should recognize that not everybody likes sandwiches on pita bread.
For Best Results
Check the specials before looking at the main menu. The great salad dressing is the herbal Greek-style Aegian--not often seen in our part of the world.
Bonus Ratings
2
Environment
1
Value