Cafe What?

[Low-N-Slow]

Who's on First. Cafe What?'s on Hickory, at 1827-E, in the same strip as Taqueria Corona. Only open about 3 months, according to the cashier, it features breakfast, coffees, soups, salads, sandwiches, panini and daily lunch specials. Current hours are 7:30am - 2pm Monday - Saturday, but on June 15 the breakfast service will cease, and hours of operation will move to 10am to 6pm. The breakfast menu is limited-- mostly standard fare-- and the location probably doesn't lend itself to weekday breakfast traffic, anyway.

The dining room is small, but not too-- I'm guessing they do a lot of take-out. Meco shades on the glass front keep the afternoon sun from being annoying. The interior has a funky-but-clean southwestern vibe-- if there is such a thing as can be described that way in Harahan-- with New Orleans-y artwork decorating the walls. Service is order at the counter, and pick up at the window, but the counter help will bring your order out to you if not otherwise occupied.

Some sample offerings include a salad of blackened shrimp over California greens topped with tropical fruit salsa and raspberry walnut vinaigrette, or a BBQ pulled pork panini with red onion and pepper jack cheese on pita, or a loaded 8 oz. burger special, or what I had, a sandwich of honey baked ham with smoked gouda cheese and grilled green tomato on focaccia bread. All sandwiches (not the panini) are served with pickle spear, and blue corn tortilla chips with a small cup of salsa on the side. Besides various coffees (not printed on the take-out menu), beverages include fountain and bottled drinks, and a variety of iced teas.

Other menu items feature various tunas-- blackened, sashimi, seared ahi, along with chicken, shrimp, turkey, etc. No po-boys here, nor french fries, nor onion rings -- they don't appear to even have a fryer-- but it's clear from the menu they're not trying to be just another sandwich shop. I'm told the owner is no stranger to the business, and, at just a few months open, it appears they have things worked out fairly well already. Pricing is very reasonable. The only thing I didn't like was the pickle.