The chicken salad sandwich is huge, as are the pasta servings. Some items are sold as half-portions at lunch on weekdays. This is a chain that does things right. The cafe is located in one of the few buildings that survived the fire of 1892, which leveled most of the Third Ward. The streetside seating may be noisy during lunchtime, but the traffic volume drops precipitously after 5 p.m. The menu is closer to an authentic Italian one than any other place around.
Specials change often, making the menu always interesting.
An enclosed shopping mall is the very last place you would expect to find outdoor dining. But this spot comes complete with a landscaped earth berm to reduce noise from Port Washington Rd. The terrace is quite nice, and the Southwestern menu seems tailor-made for hot weather. The best items are mesquite-grilled. The beef in the fajitas seems almost too good for the accompaniments.