Cafe Lucca - March 12, 2016

Main Entrance - Approaching from the north.

I took all these photos with my iPhone 5.

I love finally giving these local places a chance after years of passing them on my bike.  This was one of the better places, like Mead's Green Door (which I visited earlier in the day).  This place does indeed have an Italian/New York vibe.  I find it interesting that there is a progression of seating options.  There are the outdoor seats, then the outer enclosed seating area, and finally the main room.  The main room is itself broken into a more formal frontal section, and an open self-seating area in back.

It's part table service restaurant and part counter-service.  I made this visit just for the gelato and the photos.  People ordering gelato and perhaps other fare may do it simply by walking up and waiting to be served.  People may be seated more formally and served in that manner too.

Main Entrance panorama!

A Little Closer.

...a little closer.

North wall.

South wall.

South.

North.

Gelato display.

Gelato display.

I enjoyed my tiramisu-butterfinger gelato.  I was impressed by how much I actually received in a relatively small bowl.  Although more expensive than Baskin Robbins, the portions were almost the same as a waffle cone without a huge price difference.  Next time I would like to try the Straciatella gelato.

When I got my gelato in the disposable container my first instinct was to exit, but then I realized that I was there to soak in the ambience.  I'm paying for the right to hang as much as for the gelato, so I came back in and seated myself at the back, which had a vaguely Starbucks vibe due to young adults at the table with laptops.  There was a couple, specifically, and I got the feeling that the girl was uncomfortable with my presence at the table (but it could all be in my mind).  Either way, I heard her making some odd intermittent tapping noises throughout my time there, but it wasn't distracting enough to ruin the experience.  

The restaurant packs much magnificence in a relatively small space between the ceiling design, light fixtures, and artwork. 

View from rear.

 

Main Dining Room Artwork.

The (apparent) owner is a big, hearty man with a thick Italian accent.  When I left he called to me: "Thank you, my friend."  When he scooped my gelato he did so with much gusto.  This is a great place if you want something that has an atmosphere of formality and luxury with the accessibility and convenience of more casual places.

Main Dining Room As Seen From Outer Seating Area.

By the way, the tiramisu gelato used a generic "Magic Shell" formulation that I regularly make and use at home as well.  

My Tiramisu-Butterfinger Gelato with Kitchen in Background.

Mead's Green Door Cafe March 12, 2016

Main Entrance

Clearly this place has a hippie vibe.  It is a vegetarian/vegan establishment; I happen to be a vegetarian approximately 360 days a year.  I actually learned about this place while doing a homework assignment for a kinesiology class on healthful living in which I was reviewing various vegetarian and vegan resource websites.

All Photos Taken Quickly with my iPhone.

Main Entrance

Patio Opposite View from Main Entrance

View from Line Opposite Entrance

 

Counter, Bakery Case, Kitchen, and Cash Register

I was hoping that this place would be a table service place, certainly imagining it.  It turns out that this place is a hybrid between fast food and table service.  Fast food in that you order at the counter (counter service) and that you can get to go, table service in that they give you reusable dishes and offer a more decorated seating experience than typical fast food places.

Seating Area Just Left of Entering

I sat in this seating area immediately to the left of the entrance, which I had all to myself and was quite cozy.  In fact, I felt so comfortable that I sat with my back to the door, something I don't generally do.

Seating Area Just Left of Entering

Seating Area Just Left of Entering

Looking into central seating area from a bar just right of entrance.

This place has a bar for seating, not an alcohol bar, right of the entrance.  This is just one of many interesting things about this place.

Artwork Above Seating Area Just Left of Entering

Bus Your Own Dishes.

Blue Plate Special

The Blue Plate Special was truly delicious and worth the visit.  It reminded me a bit of my own cooking, but I haven't learned how to make my own veggie sausage this good (I buy mine) and I haven't learned to make the dark veggie country gravy either (once again, I buy mine).  I was able to detect that green bell pepper dominated the "sausage" flavor.

Blue Plate Special Opened Up

The chili was also great.  When I got home I emulated the dish pretty successfully.  I had the same rainbow quinoa, used less beans, and changed some of the vegetables, but overall recaptured the essence.

Bottom line: both of my selections were excellent and had me ready and willing to emulate them.  Furthermore, there are more items on the menu I'd try during future visits.

Mead's Three-Bean Quinoa Chili