Cafe Melange
A gyro and salad at Cafe Melange. Photo by Sara Gettys
Reporter Erin Snelgrove and I gave Cafe Melange a try for lunch. Both of us were ravenous by the time we got there, and truthfully, it was hard to even wait to photograph the food before eating it. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and Erin had the gyro.
Being a bit of a stress-eater (who isn’t?), I was hoping for some hot fries with my burger, but that wasn’t an option. Sandwiches, including the gyro, come with soup, salad or fruit.
And, once I’d finished, I have to say I was glad I got the salad. A plate full of fries would have left me napping my way through the afternoon, whereas the hefty and juicy burger paired with a light, pepper-sprinkled salad filled me up without being overkill.
Because it was lunchtime on a work day, Erin and I weren’t able to partake in a selection from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. The upside of it being lunch time was that the menu consisted of items pretty much under $15.
The sandwiches were about $10, and there also were personal pizzas, salads and pasta dishes for $9 to $12. The dinner menu is quite a bit more, with entrees ranging in the $20-$30 range, which for this photographer equals a very special occasion.
The rest of our lunch experience was lovely. The service is great, the atmosphere casually elegant. The dining room is small enough to feel comfortable and familiar.
Another thing I like is that the walls feature a rotation of local artists. Full disclosure — as a local artist, I hung my work there several months ago, and I must say I appreciate local businesses that support artists with visibility. It reminds me that we have a vibrant arts community, and it’s fun to see new work while having a nice meal.
– Sara Gettys
Cafe Melange
7 N. Front St., Yakima
Phone: 509-453-0571
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.
