San Chez Café offers unique Spanish inspired dishes, inviting atmosphere

My love for breakfast food and sandwiches made it hard to reach a decision on what to order at the San Chez Café. The Café offers a variety of breakfast and lunch choices. For breakfast offerings, there are options like Spanish omelets, cinnamon pecan rolls and breakfast empanadas with vegetarian and vegan options among them. The Café also serves salads, soups and sandwiches. The sandwich choices range from a vegan falafel wrap to a smoked salmon bagel melt. For an extra $1.99 any sandwich can be served on gluten-free bread.

As a broke college student, price is a huge factor on my dining in experience. I can’t afford an expensive meal, but I do know that you get what you pay for. The sandwiches on the Café’s menu appeared to be averagely priced, around $9.99. I chose to order the Cajun Po’ Boy. The sandwich costs $10.99 and includes a side choice. Out of the five available side choices, I decided on the loaded potato salad.

The first bite I took of the Cajun Po’ Boy was filled with a fusion of sweet and spicy flavor. The Café makes their Cajun Po’ Boy with blackened cod, tomatoes, zesty coleslaw and lime alioli.

I think that the bread is one of the most important ingredients on a sandwich. The bread on the Cajun Po’ Boy was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sandwich itself was cut in half, and easy to eat without making too much of a mess.

My only reluctance upon ordering the Cajun Po’ Boy was its spicy factor. I don’t enjoy eating spicy foods, but the Po’ Boy proved to have only a small kick, just enough to make the sandwich interestingly tasty.

The zesty coleslaw and lime aioli created a sweet flavor that complimented the blackened cod. I was surprised to find the coleslaw mixed in with the cod, but that is what combined the mix of sweet and spicy flavor so well. The tomato also contributed to the sweet flavor of the sandwich.

The loaded potato salad side was tasty but lacked bacon. My friend found one crumble of bacon in her potato salad, but mine did not have any. Either way, there should be more bacon. I also think the potato salad should be more “loaded” with green onion and other vegetables because there was not much to it. However, the potatoes were cooked flawlessly.

My friend and I were at the San Chez Café around 1 p.m. on a Thursday and were happy to find only a couple other tables occupied. The quiet made for a nice dining experience. The service was exceptional. Our server was friendly and funny. It was clear to see he enjoyed working with people. He also had a broad understanding of the menu options and helped clarify any questions that we had. After we ordered, it did not take long for our food to arrive.

Whether you like coffee with your breakfast or a Mimosa, the San Chez Café has you covered. They serve a wide selection of fair trade coffee and signature cocktails. The restaurant is located in the same building as the San Chez Bistro, on the east side of the building. The atmosphere of the Café is very vibrant and inviting with colorful walls, blue booths and hanging lanterns. The restaurant has a very classical feel, with Frank Sinatra type music playing in the background. Windows wrap around the Café providing plenty of natural light and beautiful views of downtown. The selection of unique Spanish inspired dishes at the San Chez Café pairs perfectly with the welcoming dining atmosphere.