In a spur of the moment NYE trip to the ever bustling Lake Oconee area, my partner in crime…read morerecommended this little spot tucked away in a business development. Expecting expensive food with small portions due to the crowd of wine moms and preppy high schoolers seated inside and out, I was greeted with the aromas of fresh coffee, a clean and well organized restaurant and a menu with numerous meals that sounded not only delicious, but affordable too!
Still a little skeptical, I ordered the prime rib sandwich with homemade potato chips and my companion had the chicken avocado bacon club or something like that, paired with a nice Samoa coffee. The register worker was patient and nice despite us being there just before close (special NYE hours we thought they'd be open later our bad) and in what felt like mere seconds our sandwiches arrived! For under $10, I'm not sure you could find a fresher, faster, and more delicious meal this side of the Miss'ippi.
I'll start with the sandwiches, and furthermore, the bread; not just crispy, but with that great sourdough chew as well! Really an incredible balance between crunchy and chewy. Just the right thickness, and absorbent for my prime rib's Anjou. The meat was well prepared, flavorful, fresh, and tender as could be, and that aforementioned Anjou even tasted like it wasn't made with a mix or packet (though if it was nbd). I can't emphasize enough how fresh it all tasted, truly a delightful meal. The old lady's chicken avocado bacon club (maybe) performed equally well or even better. The bacon was perfectly cooked in my humble opinion, and the chicken was far from dry or tasteless. Even the avocado, not typically a favorite of mine on a sandwich, I thought was a great addition for the bite or two that I stole. Moving on to the sides, which were maybe not as filling as a scoop of mac and cheese or a bowl of chili (which I think we could have ordered had we coughed up a couple more bucks), but were not forgettable either. The salad, like EVERYTHING else, was as fresh as possible, and the vinaigrette was sweet and tangy. My homemade (cool right?) potato chips had a lovely funk almost like an aged cheese along with a great crack and nutty flavor. Not one bite of our lunches made it past 2024, as we spared not one leaf of lettuce or a single chip. Even the coffee (Samoa with some kind of syrup and milk) was delicious, just a tad sweet for my liking but tasting quite legit, not like one you'd get from a gas station cappuccino machine.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the people. For 2pm, this place was HOPPING. And every worker there had a smile on their face! Not only this, but they happily brought our food to us outside. I was lucky enough to briefly chat with the owner, Lane, as he casually checked on the tables outside. He came across as authentic, cheerful, and involved, and explained he planned to keep the prices low and the food fresh and fast just as it was in our experience. Genuinely can't recommend this place enough, I will 100% be back if I don't die in a freak accident. Made our day trip to the area worth it. Cafe 44 was the perfect place to have lunch on the beautiful day we were blessed with to finish off the year!
Thanks Cafe 44!
p.s. I seriously can't emphasize enough how fresh this food was, like they made every portion size one at a time for each meal (though I am fairly certain this is not the case it was that good, think artisan farmers market ingredients). Thinking about eating at Subway now that I've eaten here just about makes me sick!
