One of the benefits of being in the Forte building for orthopedic surgery or physical therapy: Visiting La Verna Cafe, which is located on the first floor of the hospital. I had heard firsthand that this cafe is dope, and I had read reviews that this cafe is dope, and I finally got to visit it myself today. You know what? For a hospital cafe, this place is pretty dope.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. I peeped what they had for breakfast: they have a "breakfast station" where you can scoop out your own breakfast foods onto a plate. Each item is a different price. For instance, scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes are $1.29 per scoop, bacon is $0.89 per strip, biscuits are $1.09 per biscuit. Then you take your plate to the register, and you pay for all of your scoops and slices and individual things.
Lunch begins at 11 a.m., at which time the deli counter opens, and you can get a made-to-order sandwich, panini or wrap. There is also a pizza station; a grill station with things like hot dogs (only $1.99!), cheeseburgers and potato wedges; and an entree station, where they have a special meal every day. On the day that I visited, it was salisbury steak. If you don't like any of those offerings, there's also a grab-and-go refrigerated area with food like parfaits, hard-boiled eggs, sushi, and microwavable meals like arroz con pollo, of all things. Carmel doesn't know how to be anything other than Carmel, and it shows in this hospital cafe.
I shuffled into the cafe right when they changed over from breakfast to lunch, so I got a turkey sandwich on wheat bread. Sandwiches are served dry, no sauces, but there's a condiment area with mayonnaise and mustard (and ketchup, but why?). I don't know if it was because I was starving, but my turkey sandwich was great. It also cost $4.49! What in the every loving heck. Where can you get a hearty sandwich packed with multiple slices of turkey, tomato, red onion and lettuce for less than five bucks? And all of the condiments that you want, waiting for you at the condiment station! Whatta deal.
The great prices at La Verna Cafe could account for the old timers I saw posted up at a big table in the cafe. They were all hanging out, enjoying food and coffee, but they didn't look like they were patients or waiting for a patient. They were there for a good couple of hours. I'm thinking they probably discovered a secret: La Verna Cafe is the place to visit if you want great food at an amazing price. I suppose it's also a cafe that you visit if you're at the hospital, too. read more