Cafe Zori

Have you ever wanted to eat microwaved Italian beef while surrounded by porcelain dolls and ladies' apparel? WELL YOU ARE IN LUCK.

I was wandering my new neighborhood in need of food and stumbled into Cafe Zori. If the nice older woman who runs the place hadn't been sitting just inside the door, I would have walked right out.  Instead, my filthy liberal kitten-snuggling heart got the better of me, and I let her point me to a seat.  

Then I let her recommend an Italian beef sandwich.  I was skeptical, mainly because (a) this place looked like it hadn't seen a customer in several years, and (b) they also sold sequined purses.  But I was trapped.  I haven't been able to play the dutiful grandson for almost a decade, and so, I let the kindly lady make me a sandwich.

Then I heard the microwave, and I felt my soul die just a little.  Somewhere, beyond the clouds, my grandparents wept, and soft rain began to fall onto the sidewalk outside.

The only thing I'll say is, at least I got a lot of food for the five bucks or so I spent on it.  But it was microwaved beef.  Rubbery, gray, awful.  The sandwich equivalent of a deceased jellyfish.  It came with a grease-filmed cup of au jus that would have better served as lubrication for my bathroom door hinges.

I ate through half of this thing, made up a half-assed goodbye like I was talking to my actual grandmother and trying to get out of staying for dinner, then scuttled quickly out the door and into the rain, moving like I was about to be spotted--again by grandma--exiting a porno theatre during Sunday morning church.

There might be something I'm missing here, but a kindly lady and good coffee probably won't draw me back.

The woman who runs this cafe is so sweet and attentive! I love that it is never over-run with noisy peeps, but I don't like the fact that she doesn't get enough business:( The egg sandwich is on sinfully fresh French bread with incredibly fresh tomatoes! $3.50.........    The coffee/cafe mochas are quite good and reasonably priced. They just got a pool table too, and the sweet lady recommended that my boyfriend and I bring a bottle of wine some Friday night and shoot up a little pool:)  I don't know if the wi-fi has kicked in, but I never found anything like this when I lived in Humboldt Park. Quiet (save a little music piped in) and relaxing with all-kindsa-attentive service!

So one day I was feeling like I wanted to have some coffee and something light to eat. I happened to drive past Cafe Zori and I pulled over.

The lady behind the corner was very nice. I ended up getting a cappuccino which was VERY good. She suggested I get the special (I sort of think she didn't really have anything else) which was the egg sandwich. When I asked her could she put cheese on it she looked at me sort of funny but she did it. Then she pulled out her little grill and began making it. She told me not to sit at the counter because of the smell from the grill. So I had to get up and move to a table. I was sort of disappointed about that because sometimes you just want to sit at a counter you know?

Anyways...I felt like I was waiting for my mom to make my lunch. lol The sandwich was pretty good (I mean one can only expect so much from an egg sandwich, right?).

While I was waiting for my food I went to use the restroom which was located all the way in the back and was very dark. Then I had to figure out where the switch was. It was pretty creepy. Once I finally found it I saw that the bathroom was nice and clean.

Overall, it was a nice experience but I don't think I'll be making any special trips back. Actually I take that back. I may go back for the cappuccino. It was really good.

Oh and I almost forgot...It sort of smelled a bit musty in there but I think it was just the old guy in the corner.