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.
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.
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.
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.
| Attitude | 0 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 2 |
| Hipness | 0 |
| Local Color | 0 |
| Service | 0 |
| Value | 1 |
| Wine | 0 |
