Home > Des Moines Restaurants > Editorial Review > Editorial Juice Review: Cafe, The

Tucked into the suburbanized Somerset development in Ames, The Cafe quietly commands appreciation with a seasonal menu that changes every few weeks. Creative dishes are prepared from fresh, locally grown ingredients, and the bakery tempts with made-from-scratch desserts and pastries.

The place has class, albeit laced with a trace of pretension. Curtain ruffles trim tall booths, a brick wall anchors the far end of the dining area and striking black-and-white photographs border the restaurant. The Cafe sets an intimate but casual mood with a stylish, old-world decor.

THE GOOD

We dined on a Saturday during the lunch hour, and the place was buzzing. Still, we were seated after a 10-minute wait. I ordered the Salmon and Artichoke Melt on a toasted English muffin, which was fantastic. Some leafy greens sprinkled with candied nuts garnished the plate, adding a sweet crunch to the meal.

My fiance had the Mushroom Quesadilla with fire-roasted mushrooms, grilled onions, red pepper spread and gruyere cheese. He said he expected that the dish might get boring, considering the sparse number of ingredients, but it was pleasantly packed with flavor.

Since it was lunchtime, we didn't try anything from the extensive drink menu. But funky drinks, like the Cucumber Martini and the Strawberry-pineapple Infusion, made me thirsty to come back and sample some fancy cocktails. There's also a lengthy wine list.

THE BAD

Because the place has a slightly more upscale vibe, some of the prices are unnecessarily high - like $1.50 for a can of Diet Coke. I hate it when restaurants don't offer free refills on soft drinks. Though our waiter was polite, he wasn't what you'd call overwhelmingly friendly. And I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure a piece of unwanted bacon was lurking in my greens.

BOTTOM LINE

The Cafe is a nice special occasion lunch spot that seems like it would be a posh place to meet a friend or two for after-work drinks.