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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A rose is a rose, but is a cafe always a cafe? We decided to explore eateries that call themselves cafes and find out if there is a universal answer. Or not. “A cafe is something in between,” says Elizabeth McCabe, co-owner of Lola’s Cafe in Absecon, which she opened, with her husband, Adam Sternberger, in June adjacent to their White Horse Wine and Spirits.
“Not quite a restaurant. We have tables, but we don't have table service. You order at the counter and we bring it to you so it’s a little more of a casual vibe.
It has that vibe of a coffee shop, where you can sit and hang all day, but more food and less service.” “Small restaurant but more casual,” adds Adam Sternberger. “More of an ability to linger.
We want you to stay. We want you to be here. An elevated coffee shop with more food.
” Northfield mayor accused of brandishing starter pistol at woman during argument at Mainland The Trump helicopter tragedy that shook Atlantic City, 35 years later Thousands flee Florida for New Jersey as Hurricane Milton approaches Second Atlantic City High School employee charged with failing to report child abuse Atlantic City mayor, school superintendent plead not guilty in child abuse case Spirit to debut new Christmas store in Mays Landing Visitors say goodbye to Gillian's Wonderland on its final day Khajuan Roseborough throws for 393 yards and four TDs as AC wins fifth straight Van Drew says he's asked federal authorities to investigate Atlantic City Electric 'Unicoaster' not coming to Atlantic City Boardwalk; city to go out to bid again Lucas DeBiaso runs for 3 TDs to lead Mainland over Egg Harbor Township Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh face uncertain futures: Must Win Tempers flare at Cape commissioners meeting over library vote, airport Somers Point police say 4 conspired to steal 83-year-old woman's purse outside Acme Oakcrest-Pleasantville football game moved to Saturday due to threats The cold peanut noodle bowl is a healthy choice at Lola’s with udon noodles, peanut dressing, scallions, cabbage, carrots and, of course, peanuts. The word vibe came up a lot when we talked to cafe owners, as does casual, and social. “In my opinion a cafe differs from a restaurant and sandwich shop because of the large community that a cafe brings together,” says Dana Ianelli, owner and chef at the Shorebreak Cafe in Sea Isle City.
“A cafe brings the community together almost as a gathering space to enjoy delicious treats and yummy eats. Often a cafe draws a large base of regulars that turn into friends.” “You want to go into a place and say, oh, this is cute, this is nice,” says Justin Santiago, chef and co-owner — with his wife Leiza — of the Cheese Board in Linwood.
“You can sit over here and get lost in talking to your friends, in a nice atmosphere and just have a good time. It’s not home and it’s not a restaurant where you’re getting pushed out the door. You don’t have a waitress asking you how are you doing every five seconds.
You can come, take your time, sit with your laptop or bring some friends. It’s like this is my space and I can hang out.” “It’s not as upscale, not as elaborate,” adds Jon Carangi, owner and chef at Carangi’s Cafe and Deli in Northfield.
“We offer your everyday essentials: breakfast, salad, soups sandwiches. Simple food made right. It’s not niche food.
Just your standard deli cafe fare.” All of the eateries we talked with seemed to fit on a different spot on the scale of cafes and all seem to stray from the Merriam-Webster definition of “a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (such as coffee).” The Shorebreak leans more toward baked goods and coffee, Lola’s prides themselves on its unique take on menu items, Carangi’s is a cafe and deli with less of a gourmet feel, and the Cheese Board straddles the cafe/bistro title with a larger portion.
“European cafe culture is where all of our inspiration comes from,” says Lola’s Sternberger. “Trips to Italy, trips to France, we want what they’re bringing, here. Slow the pace of the American life down.
We’re not that place if you want eggs your way with bacon and sausage.” What you will get at Lola’s is a wide array of coffee and espresso drinks in an open space with a wooden, ornate bar, checkered tile floor, banquettes and plenty of light. It’s an airy feeling that’s inviting and comfortable for a chat and a bite.
The menu of breakfast and lunch items includes offerings such as French toast kababs with fresh fruit. “It’s a square French toast but it’s all the best parts. It’s crunchy but soft in the middle.
It’s delicious and fun to eat,” says McCabe. The baked feta and egg toast is also popular: scrambled eggs with feta, parmesan cheese and herbs that’s served on toasted sour dough bread and baked. It’s topped with micro greens and meant to eat with a knife and fork.
“It comes out kind of like an egg toast,” she says. Sterngerger says his favorite is the beet and feta burger topped with avocado, alfalfa sprouts, romaine lettuce and tzatziki sauce served on a ciabatta roll. “It’s the best veggie burger I’ve had,” he says.
But try the smoked whitefish platter served on a board with cucumber, pickled red onions, fresh dill, radish and toasted sourdough. The whitefish salad, made in house, is smooth and melts in your mouth. So good.
At Carangi’s, their most popular dishes are the Cali Bennie — an egg benedict with bacon, avocado, hollandaise on a poached egg served on multigrain bread — and their Kaily’s Cali sandwich — turkey, avocado, cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato, greens, mayo in a wheat wrap. The Carangi Italian Sub consists of soppressata, capicola, genoa salami, sharp provolone, prosciutto, extra vigin olive oil, and oregano on a seeded long roll. Carangi says the Mexicali omelette is also popular with chorizo sausage, avocado, peppers, cheddar cheese and a pico de gallo.
One of the more unusual items which is very popular is Carangi’s House Fried Rice, something you would expect in a Chinese restaurant but a cafe? Oh yes. It’s a pork roll fried rice, South Jersey-style, with pork roll, egg, onions and their house seasoning. “We offer something for breakfast beside home fries and fruit, says Carangi.
“We sell catering pans that people buy. It turned out to be something that set us apart.” He also suggests their Katie’s Chicken Salad, named for his wife, that’s homemade chicken salad with toasted pecans and craisins mixed in, arugula, balsamic on multigrain bread.
His wife also makes the scones which are moist and light. The turkey burger at Lola’s Cafe and Kitchen in Absecon, is served with a garlic aioli, bourbon glaze, crispy onions, gorgonzola and arugula on a brioche bun. “That is a hungry man special, it’s so huge,” says co-owner Elizabeth McCabe.
The turkey and brie sandwich is one of the top sellers at the Cheese Board: house-roasted turkey with sliced brie, apple slices and a tangy, homemade honey mustard on French bread. Leiza Santiago says also popular is the duck banh mi, apple wood smoked duck breast with a spicy house-made chili aioli, cucumbers, asian slaw, cilantro on French bread. “It’s a good bite,” says Justin Santiago.
“It’s for the adventurous.” At The Cheese Board, they take pride in making their own lunch meats: roast beef, corned beef, turkey, and salads like chicken salad, by far their most popular, and also their other house-made salads, from broccoli salad, potato salad and coleslaw to pasta salad, tuna salad and of course many unique cheeses. Their chicken salad is pretty basic: chicken breast roasted, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, celery.
People come in and buy it by the pound, the couple says. “I want my customers to feel like they’re at a high-end place,” says Justin Santiago. “I wanted it to be a step above a food court, a step above a pizzeria, a step above a cafe really.
That’s why I looked more into the bistro kind of place.” At the Shorebreak Cafe, the focus is on the baking. Iannelli says her most popular items are the crumb cake, cinnamon buns and pop tart followed by their weekend-only special, the cruffin, a cross between a croissant and a muffin with cream filling and different toppings.
French toast kababs are a popular item at Lola's. “It’s a square French toast but it’s all the best parts. It’s crunchy but soft in the middle.
It’s delicious and fun to eat,” says co owner Elizabeth McCabe. But you can still find some interesting savory items on the menu, like croquet monsieur croissant with slices of ham and Swiss brought to a melty perfection on a multigrain croissant. Or the pastrami lox served on a bagel or croissant with scallion cream cheese, pickled onions and arugula.
“What I believe sets us apart from other small eateries is that all of our items are made from scratch in house,” says Iannelli. “One of the key ingredients is the European butter that we use. Our slogan here is ‘small batch, big heart’ and we believe in handcrafting all of our items with a lot of love for all to enjoy.
” A few things that bubble up when we looked at cafe fare is a healthier menu, lighter bites and a flare toward the gourmet. Lola’s popular kale salad and beet and feta burger are good examples of that healthier, lighter item. And the idea of a cafe being more than just a place to get a bite to eat, but a place to hang out, alone or with friends and family, as a community spot.
The Cheese Board motto seems to sum it up: Our restaurant is more than just a place to eat: it’s a community hub. Or maybe Justin Santiago has it right when he says, “I feel like the whole cafe thing is merely just semantics. I don’t want to be a sandwich shop, I want to be something a little better, let’s call it a cafe.
It comes down to what you want to be known as.” CHEESE BOARD 199 New Road, Linwood 609-653-8088; linwoodcheeseboard.com Hours: 10 a.
m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.
m. Wednesday CARANGI'S CAFE AND DELI 1205 Tilton Road, Northfield 609-389-9547; carangiscafe.com Hours: 8 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.
m. Sunday LOLA'S CAFE AND KITCHEN 410 White Horse Pike, Absecon 609-277-7891; lolascafenj.com Hours: 8 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday to Sunday SHOREBREAK CAFE 8301 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City 609-486-2137; shorebreakcafe.com Hours: 7 a.
m. to 2 p.m.
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