Cafe Ambrosia’s lengthy menu is Greek with some American (burger) options. We’d arrived hungry, and proceeded to immediately order multiple appetizers. The hummus came out first with warm pita points and was chock-full of garlic. The somewhat chunky consistency was a bit unusual for the dish, but it worked and was a fresh and tasty start to the meal. Next came the charbroiled octopus; it was served warm, slathered in sensational Greek seasonings in an olive oil and red wine vinegar sauce. It was tasty, and the octopus had a nice texture, not too rubbery, which can be a concern when cooking this creature of the sea.
After we ordered our main entrees, the flamed cheese saganaki was brought to our table; the server poured bourbon on the dish, and it fervently lit on fire. I’ve joked that sometimes all I want to do is eat a plate of melted cheese, and finally there it was, my want had come to fruition. It was a Greek village cheese that had characteristics of a marriage between brie and feta, like a French milkmaid fell in love with a goat herder on vacation on some Grecian isle and started a family. It was awesome, especially the crunchy bit at the edge, but there was no way on God’s green earth that Victoria and I could tackle this hunk o’ flaming cheese alone. It’s definitely a starter meant for more than two.
I couldn’t help but order the homemade stuffed grape leaves (dolma). They were huge, bulging with beef and rice inside. They were served hot with a lemon dill sauce reminiscent of hollandaise on top. They looked gorgeous, but the first bite left me disappointed, something seemed to be lacking. I took a wedge of lemon and squeezed it on top, and with a sprinkle of pepper, the dolma took on new life. It’s simply magical what a dash of citrus can do to bring flavors together. Like someone spiked the punch at a Junior High School dance, it went from being dull to a delicious party in my mouth.
More food arrived. We were really going for it; a middle of the day Greek feast was well underway. I got the pork skewer platter with orzo, and it was a bit monochromatic to look at, but the pork was grilled and seasoned to near perfection. Unfortunately the massive mound of orzo was as bland to taste as it was to the eye—nothing much going on there at all. I hope that the rice pilaf they offer as a side is a less monotonous companion. Maybe I’ll try that next time.
Victoria ordered the mousaka (layered potatoes, eggplant, ground beef & béchamel sauce) platter with a Greek salad. It had fantastic flavors with prominent notes of nutmeg. The dish reminded me of a combo of lasagna and shepherd’s pie. It was even more enjoyable to eat than it was to say. It’s one of those fun words I love like jalopy; you can’t help but smile after it falls off your tongue. Go on, say it: “mousaka.”
We boxed up the enormous amount of leftovers and went for coffee to drink and a chocolate soufflé. The dessert was obviously not made in house, but it was still a nice, decadent closer to an incredibly over-the-top lunch. The food was great, and the atmosphere made for a relaxing holiday season binge eating experience.
I’m still full.
Café Ambrosia is located at 1923 E. Broadway, Mon-Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat-Sun, 8AM-10PM.
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