Located in the heart of trendy Mount Washington, the Desert Caf serves up Mediterranean fare and delectable desserts in a setting that is unrivaled in terms of comfort.
The Desert Caf caters to a rather hip crowd of people who enjoy good food in an intimate atmosphere. The type of people who frequent this restaurant are laid-back and love well-prepared, simple foods in the company of close friends.
The Desert Caf's flavorful offerings include various soups and salads that are made with vegetarians in mind. Though some may cringe at the idea of vegetarian menu offerings, the soups and salads really are flavorful. In particular the curried split pea soup is excellent and has a creamy texture and subtle spice aroma.
Like most cafs, this place offers a selection of sandwiches. Unlike ones at other places, sandwiches at the Desert Caf are freshly-prepared and about as far from a boring turkey sandwich as the North Pole is from its southern counterpart. The chicken tarragon, tuna salad and beef sandwiches are all seasoned just the right amount and have a surprisingly pleasant flavor and tanginess to them.
Another excellent food they prepare is the chicken gyro, which consists of marinated and grilled chicken, cooked just so that it isn't overdone, and then placed on gyro bread with the usual condiments. The rendition of chicken gyro at this restaurant is actually fresh and not a westernized version of the authentic gyro. The gyro here is as authentic as can be, but made with chicken instead of lamb.
Of their specialities, the "Greek Island" is rather unique and offers an appetizing combination of a pita topped with hummus - homemade, of course - and then served with a Greek salad on top of it. This may sound a bit confusing at first, but once you see it, you can't mistake this dish for anything other than a brilliant way to combine two old favorites: hummus and Greek salad.
The more typical Mediterranean dishes include baba ghanooj, falafel and grape leaves. All these are prepared fresh and offer examples of simply-prepared foods that are true to their cultural origins.
Among the more stylized dishes is the "Mango Curry Chicken Salad." Truly, this combination of chicken breast meat combined altogether with fruit in a creamy, curry mayonnaise embodies the perfect blend of Mediterranean cuisine fused with western tastes to create appetizing and innovative dishes.
In addition to the regular menu items, most days have a special that can range from something as simple as the beef gyro to a more complex dish that incorporates tradition foods with more modern tastes. When you see something on the specials slate outside, know that you can't go wrong by ordering it. In fact, it will most likely be a dish you won't see elsewhere.
In case it isn't apparent by the menu offerings, the Desert Caf is the place to go for cooking that incorporates fresh flavors and healthy eating. Since the food is so healthy, it won't hurt you to partake of their mouthwatering desserts. Dessert at the Desert Caf is an art unto itself. You will find every kind of dessert ranging from berry-filled pies to pyramid cake, which is a sinful concoction of chocolate and vanilla butter cream. This restaurant even offers baklavah and havlah candy for those seeking a truly authentic experience.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Desert Caf does not sell alcoholic beverages. However, you are encouraged to bring along a little liquid indulgence to accompany your meal. If you are lucky enough, co-owner Blake Wollman will forever immortalize that bottle by adding it to the growing collection of bottles that rests in the upstairs part of the restaurant.
Recently, ownership has come under siblings Blake and Whitney Wollman, who are actively improving upon the restaurant by expanding into an upstairs area and creating a private area to be used for parties and gatherings. The Wollman siblings seem to be capturing a youthful aire about their new acquisition and in doing so are improving upon an already extraordinary dining experience.
