Unlike speedy in-and-out coffee shops, cafés indulge fantasies of sneaking off through misty European streets paved with pain au chocolat and lined with gingerbread-biscotti parking meters. For $15, today's Groupon strews the streets with $30 worth of home-style pastries, fresh sandwiches, tasty tapas, and more from ate.cafe. Hop astride your scooter and buzz over to the café's Lakeway location. This deal is not valid on alcohol.
Through its sophisticated, jet-setting menu, ate.cafe aims to capture the feel of intimate old-world eateries complete with dapper gentlemen tossing bocce balls of gruyere and children sparring with baguettes. Let your chariot-racing taste buds out of the lunch gates in pursuit of the AAA Sandwich with guacamole, cucumber, tomato, and balsamic vinaigrette ($6.50), or a chopped salad with salami, provolone, chickpeas and cherry tomatoes ($7.75). The café's Southern European flare becomes more pronounced during dinner, when tapas such as shrimp in garlic sauce (gambas al ajillo) ($12) and bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with parmigiano reggiano ($7) appear on plates after patrons say their names three times. A small selection of desserts such as pecan tart, fruit crisp, and Italian chocolate-almond torte ($7 each, $9 with ice cream) satisfy forsaken corners of the palate.
Early risers can break their fasts alfresco on an outdoor patio dotted with bright blooms of umbrellas. Like its several incarnations of egg, ate.cafe cracks open six days a week to dispense morning fare such as fresh-baked croissants ($2.35), caper-bacon eggs hollandaise on a bagel ($4.50), and ever-changing blackboard options. Ate.cafe is closed Mondays.
Reviews
Nine Yelpers give ate.cafe 4.5 stars, and 82% of Urbanspooners like it:
- The breakfasts are incredible…golden crunchy potatoes with decadently prepared thick country bacon…Or go with any one of the amazing sandwiches like the grilled french ham with gruyere cheese. – Sain Designs, Urbanspoon
- It feels like walking into a couple of chefs' home kitchen and hanging out while they craft up some yummy grub…huge patio area outside. The food is fresh and potentially healthy… – Me Y., Yelp
- Maple Pecan Sticky Buns and one of the best coffees I have ever had…A week later I had the most fantastic Croque Monsieur… – Tara M., Yelp
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