by Stefanie Fischer, Micah Holley and Liana Neri
Hungry coffee shop fanatics, rejoice! Meshuggah Café, the cozy coffee spot in the heart of The Loop, now offers more than just pastries and java—the new menu launched last week adds plenty of tasty breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner items to the lineup. Made-to-order sandwiches make up the majority of the menu, with a nice mix of vegetarian, neighborhood favorites and make-your-own options. Six salads are on the list as well, including the self-titled Meshuggah salad. Breakfast items range from egg dishes to French toast. Even the drink menu has had a face-lift, expanding from coffee and tea to smoothies—two of which are named after the owner’s children. The prices are just right, ranging from $1.50 to $10.
We tried three menu items: the turkey club sandwich, the Tennessee Williams flatbread and the Meshuggah salad. The turkey club is loaded with layers of thick turkey slices, bacon, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, fontina cheese and mayonnaise on toasted bread. This sandwich is guaranteed to make your mouth open wide with its jam-packed ingredients. The Tennessee Williams flatbread? To die for. Smothered in mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, garlic, tomatoes and basil, this flatbread is perfect for lunch or dinner. As for the Meshuggah salad, it’s a tasty but light mixture of artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, onions, tomatoes, avocado and fresh mozzarella.
Owner Patrick Liberto’s favorite dishes, aside from the ones we tried, depend upon his daily mood, he says. As of yesterday, he preferred his yogurt parfait (made in-house) and Foxy omelet for breakfast, the Cecilian salad and the pasta salad (which changes twice a week) for lunch or dinner, and the Tropical Smoothie and macchiato to drink.
After trying only three of the many menu items, each of us is sure we’ll be back—especially for the flatbread. Meshuggah Café is located at 6269 Delmar Blvd. Look for Meshuggah’s online menu at the end of this month and the full website in October!
