Category | Arts & Living

Cafe has surprising mix of fare and themes

Published on March 30, 2010 by Nigel Brett

Entering the Atlanta Cheesecake Cafe is an unforgettable experience: the foyer is two stories high and covered in the most eclectic mix of colors and themes. Guests are surrounded by a mixture of swanky crystal and polished brass chandeliers, leopard print and bright purple shades, dark wooden cabinets, neon green railings and a claw-foot tub wrapped in zebra print.

While simultaneously evoking images of a New York-style bakery and an African safari, the eccentric decor still feels inviting. The ambiance is heightened by the jazz and swing music that’s piped into the dining area, with the gritty, hollow tone of an antique gramophone.

The dining area is nothing short of swanky and the high-resolution pictures of desserts splayed on the walls remind customers of the cafe’s namesake. You may have never noticed this small eatery, which is set back from the road and hidden inside an inconspicuous brick building.

The food is a surprising blend of gourmet flavors and familiar treats, perfect for an out of the ordinary lunch at a reasonable cost, the sandwiches range in price from $3.75 to $5.25.

The classic club sandwich is a behemoth-a “man’s sandwich,” as cafe manager Pieter Birch, says-something to order when you’re really hungry. The club’s 15-grain bread is piled with turkey, black forest ham, cheddar and Swiss cheeses, bacon, lettuce and tomato-served with sweet honey mustard on the side.

The Hawaiian ham sandwich is one item in particular that demonstrates the cafe’s quirky fare. Pineapple cheddar spread accents black forest ham. The balance of creamy cheddar and citrusy pineapple is harmonious.

Other original sandwiches include a deviled egg sandwich and a BLT. The cafe’s turkey berry sandwich, a house specialty, combines the savory roast turkey, the buttery sharpness of Havarti cheese and the sweetness of raspberry preserves.

To complement the gourmet sandwiches, the cafe has various hearty soups and fresh salads. The corn and turkey chowder is thick and loaded with chunks of tender turkey, potatoes, corn and herbs.  Other soup offerings include New England clam chowder, beef barley and chicken tortilla soup.

The salads range in price from $5 to $7 and offer a variety of flavors to suit every palate. The Cobb salad is its own meal with roast turkey, a hardboiled egg, cherry tomatoes, carrots, bacon, cucumber, bleu cheese and green onion. Any of the salads can be customized with a scoop of chicken or tuna salad for $2 more.

Despite the appeal of the cafe’s entrees, the divine dessert menu really takes the cake. All the cheesecakes are handmade with more than 20 different flavors to choose from, each as unique as your tastes.

The Vanderblon family owns the cafe  and has produced cheesecake for more than 20 years, starting on a farm in Alabama. Their Texas turtle, amaretto, orange cream and New York-style cheesecakes are all original family recipes. To sample, try a single slice for $2.55, or take home a whole cake from $11 to $25, but don’t stop at cheesecake. The cafe bakes different treats each week such as triple chocolate mousse and the strawberry amaretto cake.

Atlanta Cheesecake Cafe offers a 10 percent discount to KSU students and caters any party or event. They deliver to customers who call ahead.

The ambience of the cafe combines with the delectable tastes of the gourmet entrees and cheesecake to create a dining experience that will leave diners coming back for more.