Scene: The café that opened earlier this month in Valley West Mall's central courtyard is open and airy, with tables and chairs scattered near the waterfall and glass elevator. It's a pleasant enough spot - and better than the bigger food court down the way - but you probably won't forget you're eating in sight of the Buckle.
Food: About 50 kinds of loose-leaf teas are stashed in bamboo canisters on the counter, hinting at the lunch menu of Thai-flavored, "tea-infused" wraps and salads.
The lemon green tea chicken wrap I ordered, for example, was studded with plump chunks of chicken that had been marinated in green tea, then swaddled with leafy greens, pepperjack cheese and mint pesto. It sounded more adventurous than it actually tasted, but it was still pretty good.
The half-cup of tabouli (cold bulgur wheat salad) was strangely sweet - not my favorite - but I finished it to justify the mammoth cashew-butter brownie I saved for dessert. Let me just say it was a marvel, with all of the best brownie textures layered into the same chocolate brick: soft cake, denser fudge, solid chocolate chunks, and that perfect crinkly-crackly surface.
All in all, it was a good place for a light bite, but I'll head to Chipotle if I want something more substantial.
On the clock: About five minutes at the counter, 15 more for the actual meal.
