We were trying to avoid the construction on I-75 and decided to cut west and take back roads to I-69 on our way home yesterday, and what a great idea that was, because not only did we avoid some horrible traffic congestion, we found a wonderful cafe in Lennon to have a late lunch.
First off, this is a little charmer of a building. It's older, full of character, and they've added more to it with the decor - lots of retro, sassy signs, but unique, too, not just the generic "assorted crap on the walls" decor scheme that many chain restaurants have adopted.
The staff is SUPER friendly, and even though we were clearly out-of-towners, we were made to feel very welcome.
The menu has so many options from which to choose - I settled on the Bavarian Ham and Cheese sandwich - it is grilled on their homemade bread, and I am not kidding when I tell you it is hands-down the most delicious grilled ham and cheese sammich I've ever eaten. You can just taste the quality of the ham and cheese, and the bread is thick but tender, with the grilled bits being just crispy and wonderful.
My husband went for the American Steak Sandwich: sliced ribeye on another type of homemade bread that was like a very thick pita and helped to hold in the meat juices. Their fries are cut with the skin still on and cooked to perfection.
We indulged ourselves in desserts, because I could not resist the lure of homemade pie. Most of the varieties were sold out due to a large group that had ate in their banquet room before us, but one of the two choices I had made was available: banana cream. WOW. Again, this pie was the best piece of banana cream pie I can say I've ever had. Such a unique crust - thin, but that elusive perfect mix of tender and flaky. Real banana slices! Wonderful creamy texture mixed with the quality whipped cream on top just made for a divine dessert experience. My husband had Amaretto Cherry ice cream and really enjoyed that, too. He's usually strictly a chocolate, or chocolate and cherry ice cream kind of guy, so this was something new for him and he really enjoyed it.
Their prices are beyond reasonable. Our bill totaled $23.xx dollars with soft drinks (free refills), two sandwiches, one deluxe with fries, a large piece of pie, and a generous double scoop of ice cream. We left a huge tip because of the great service, too.
We will make it a point to visit the Lennon Cafe again, even if we are not in the area for other business. This is one of the best restaurant experiences we've had in a LONG time. read more