I really liked this cafe, I really did, and I came here several times, but I started going…read moreelsewhere toward the end because sometimes this place kind of frustrated me--they always seemed to be out of something. I understand that things happen every now and again, but it seemed to be a pattern here as opposed to a fluke. I still have to go with four stars though, even though three--or even two--would be fair, because when everything is just right, it's really an awesome place.
It's along the corridors of Jardin Constitucion, my favorite 'jardin' in this city--with its gorgeous trees, its church bells, and its liveliness--and it has outdoor seating. One night there were older couples all dressed in white, dancing to different kinds of music (apparently this is done every Thursday), and another night a couple come out and play awesome instrumental versions of mainly Frank Sinatra songs not fifty feet away from our table. The drinks and the food are both really good, and the is service too, I just wished it could run a little more consistently; one day, I $#!t you not, they were out of bread. Bread--when sandwiches are a huge part of the menu. They make our favorite cup of coffee, so we had cup and went somewhere else to get a sandwich, which is what we had all really wanted.
Like most cafes around here, they serve breakfast and lunch type food, but are generally open pretty late. The breakfast was good, but their panini sandwiches were REALLY good--using great bread and fresh ingredients, and were my favorite thing on the menu. The breakfast, again, was good, but was better elsewhere, except the crepes--which were not good at all, strange even. They reminded a little of rice wafers, and they were not very flavorful despite the filings; the French toast, on the other hand, was simple and really good--soft, chewy, and custardy all at the same time.
The coffee drinks were also good overall, if not the best. They do make a really good cafe Americano, and it was my dad's favorite place to get a coffee; I, on the other hand, like mine a little stronger and preferred the one at Santa Maria Cafe y Galeria--this was my runner-up. My favorite cafe drink is the cappuccino, and this one was good but not great, being a little thinner than I like, but at least it had a good, pronounced coffee flavor.
The service was good, friendly and polite, and there's definitely a Mexican-hipster (which I didn't know existed until I encountered it) vibe--playful menu with playful names, servers with piercings and beanies, and a respect for ingredients--but the experience was inconsistent. The ambiance cannot be beat, so it must be factored into the rating, and I did have a couple of really great experiences here, so I would still highly recommend this place. I actually will now look forward to coming here when I consider the prospect of visiting again, and that's GOT to say something right there.
