East Side Review: Café 111

A new place some of you may not have heard of or seen yet is Café 111, tucked behind Brinker’s at Green River and the Lloyd. While not entirely different from some of the other Cafés around town, it does have it’s own zing.

The space inside is open, not forced at all. The glass tables are standard or high-top with plush green seat, and green seems to be the color of choice here, as the entire back wall is painted green as well. You’ll notice the wall to your left has a large mural on it that seems to try to place the Café in old-Paris or something similar. The set up is that of a standard Café. Against the back wall there is a counter from which you order at one end-there are a few bowls of different salads in the case-and move down to the other end to pay and pick up your food. The menu is large and hung on the wall, but to my dismay, without having perfect vision, you can only read the name of the food item, but not any of the details about it. In fact, I had to have my dining partner read it for me even once I was at the counter.

The majority of the menu consists of sandwiches and salads, though there is a small breakfast menu. My dining partner ordered the Roasted Chicken with Tomato Pesto, which, besides the obvious, included roasted red peppers, grilled onions, fresh baby spinach, and provolone cheese. It was served with a pickle spear and chips. I choose the Lunch Combo. With this you pick two of the following for $6.50 : 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad, cup of soup, or side. I decided on half the Smoked Turkey Sandwich (including sharp Vermont cheddar and sliced granny smith apples) with the White Chili soup of the day. Other options tend to be familiar sandwiches with a twist, like a BLT with avocado or chicken salad sandwich using raspberry mayonnaise. Salads include traditionals like Greek or Caesar, and nontraditionals like Pear or Asian with Miso Dressing.

We both agreed our food was good, but nothing special. In fact, I would have preferred a little more seasoning in both my soup and sandwich. Also, their whole assembly line system seemed a little out of whack. There were enough people behind the counter, but it appeared not all had a job to do, and others weren’t entirely sure how to work the panini presses. Moreover, they did not get food out to customers in order. People ordering after someone else would get their food first, despite what it was. Another example is a couple who ordered together, but their food came out separately-his more than 5 minutes after hers, while other people ordering after him sometimes got their meals immediately. I even had to wait 10 minutes.

I would go back again, but not if I had to hurry. The food is good, but nothing special stands out, and it tends to need slightly more seasoning.

Café 111 is located at 111 S. Green River Rd, Suite D, behind Brinker’s. (812) 401-8111. Mon-Fri 7am-2:30 pm.