|
There was much lamentation in the South Loop when Gourmand, the reliably shabby café on Dearborn that catered to nearby office workers and local college students, closed its doors. It was such an integral part of the neighborhood that passing it was like nodding hello to a familiar face that you saw every day. So, when Café Mediterra opened in the old Gourmand space with the same tables and chairs are out front and the tag line "Old World Flavors, New World Cuisine," there was much hope that the new restaurant would be a suitable replacement and a delight to fans of its predecessor.
Yes, mini lamb burgers, which make sense since those cute lambs are so little to start with. This is where the Old World Flavors start to show themselves. Four minis are topped with cheese and served on mini buns. Onion is mixed in and the juicy lamb helps make you forget about how fluffy lambs are when not being served up on a plate. From there, go for the spicy steak wrap or the Mediterranean chicken kabob with hints of lemon and oregano. There are also a beef and kefta kebabs, both of which should be familiar to fans of Middle Eastern cuisine. And, for those keeping track, yes, kefta kebabs are made from lamb. Lamb appears again on the menu, this time as sausage on one of five different flavors of flatbreads, which are sort of like individually sized pizzas. For something more filling, pick the Kallayah, a sort of beef and tomato stew. Cubes of tenderloin are sautéed with onion, peppers and herbs, and mixed in with the tomatoes, making for a hearty winter meal. Café Mediterra also serves breakfast (all day long if like) and while the standards such as omelets, pancakes, waffles, and French toast are fine, if dig a little deeper on the menu you will be rewarded. The Tuscan egg scramble mixes egg whites with fresh tomato and tops it with basil oil and shredded parmesan for a delicious and relatively healthy start to the day. Also pretty healthy, is the granola and yogurt fresh berry parfait, or steel cut oatmeal with almonds and pecans. They're the good fat, right? Higher up on the calorie counter meter is the savory Gypsy hash browns, which cover potatoes and peppers with your choice of cheese. There's also the Hobo breakfast with its skillet of potatoes, cheese, and three eggs. Other non-dietetic specialty items on the menu include a lox platter and an assortment of cookies and freshly made muffins still in theor baking tins. On a second healthier thought, maybe a fruit smoothie is the way to go. The many fruit ingredients that are available - strawberries, bananas, mangos, raspberries, pineapples, and blueberries - can be mixed in various combinations. The flavors we tried were surprisingly and refreshingly tart. The only thing more surprising was our final bill with many items in the $8 to $9 range and a few over $10. That probably won't break the bank, but instead of an everyday neighborhood spot Café Mediterra will probably become a special and frequent treat for many. Café Mediterra |
At Café Mediterra
you can still show up for lunch with a bunch of co-workers and
everybody should be able to find something to order without complaints.
The vegetarian can pick the terrific fire roasted veggie salad,
which mixes goat cheese with grilled veggies and mixed greens,
or the Oasis salad, a sweet and savory meal that combines pears,
walnuts, cranberries, and goat cheese with your greens. Meanwhile,
the carnivore might want to select the chicken Caesar wrap or
the mini lamb burgers.