While whizzing down Western today, I noticed that the paper was off the windows and there was activity inside the Vella Cafe spot, under the Blue Line L tracks. Scrreeech! I pulled into the parking lot (ominous sign threatening to tow me if not a bank customer, but whatever...) and stepped into the sunny, inviting Vella Cafe.
Being that I made the cutoff for the Commuter Special (7AM-11AM weekdays), I decided to get one to go, for my "commute" back to my home office. The special is $6 and includes a medium coffee (excellent Intelligentia roast, didn't catch the name) plus a choice of panini - vegetarian or sausage frittata - or stuffed french toast, or another breakfast item I don't recall right now.
I chose the sausage-caramelized onion-butterkase-adjvar mayo frittata, and...WOW! Creamy cheese and spicy sauce with hearty, delicious chunks of sausage and onion and perfectly cooked eggs on fresh, country bread, nicely toasted and still crispy after the 10-minute drive home. Next time I will try the vegetarian version, which the menu promises roasted tomato, cremini mushrooms and herbed cream cheese. Or maybe the fruit and orange-honey-cream cheese-stuffed french toast.
While waiting the few minutes for my panini to be pressed by one of the smiling owners, I noticed that weekend brunch (or BLUNCH as they call it) will probably be fantastic: the breakfast stuff I already mentioned, plus several kinds of crepes, a spicy polenta dish, "sammies" or other lunch-ish panini, and salads. Oh, and the items on the bakery case stared at me while I waited, too... so I decided to add a strawberry-rhubarb muffin to my order. I just ate that now for my mid-afternoon snack. Yum! If the other pastries they bake are this good, commuters who hop on the L at Western are in for a real treat. It was better than the last couple of muffins I've had from Red Hen, though not quite as perfect as Letitia's raspberry-almond muffin...but the combination of those early spring fruit flavors and the crunch of cinnamon on top was heavenly.
They must be expecting crowds (perhaps for weekend brunch?), because the bright and cheerful cafe looks to seat 30 or so people. When I stopped in this morning at 10, there were only diners at three tables and it felt empty, but not lacking energy. It has a very clean, open feel, and nice decorations in the windows. If it weren't for the rumbling of the L overhead, and the relaxed mood, I might have thought I was in the chi-chi shopping areas on Division or Damen. I liked the vibe, kind of like what Milk & Honey Cafe was like when they first opened.
I'm very excited Vella Cafe is finally open and looks to be a delightful spot for breakfast or lunch. Let me know if you agree after you try one of their panini. Mine was fantastic!
Vella Cafe
1912 N. Western Ave.
t: 773.489.7777
"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln