Category Archives: Cafes

Benjamin French Bakery Cafe

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Forty years ago I had a Thon Baguette (tuna sandwich) in Paris, from a modest sidewalk counter. It was the best tuna sandwich of my life. I’ve been looking for another one ever since.

At last I found it! The one at Benjamin French is absolutely perfect, with fresh baguette that is a bit crusty but tender and not too thick, perfect tuna, delicious mayo (was it French, too?) and thin slice tomato and hard boiled egg that accented rather than overwhelmed.

I also tried the ham and cheese, but it wasn’t the same life-changing experience.

Coffee is good (maybe not Paris good, but good) and I love the French soundtrack.

Service was friendly. I’ll be back!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/benjamin-french-bakery-cafe-orlando

Bearclaw Bakery and Cafe

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Exterior
Exterior

***** (5 stars)

Bear Claw bakery has wonderful pastries, just as you'd guess from the name. They also serve complete breakfasts, and were doing a bustling business the Monday morning I visited.

I got a huge almond croissant, a big slab of sour cream pecan coffee cake, and coffee, all to go. Everything was wonderful. Next time I go I will definitely try more of their pastries, because I don't care how good the scrambled eggs might be, there's nothing like super fresh quality pastry!

Bearclaw Bakery and Cafe
228 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte
Taos, NM 87571

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bearclaw-bakery-and-cafe-taos-2

Lynchburg Cafe

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Interior
Interior
Whiskey burger and fried okra
Whiskey burger and fried okra
Lynchburger with onion rings
Lynchburger with onion rings
Exterior
Exterior

*** (3 stars)

This place serves a pretty good hamburger, with all the fixings I like on it. I would have liked a bun the held up a bit better, but it was tasty. We really liked the fried okra and onion ring sides. The service was fine. We visited after our Jack Daniels Distillery tour, and it was one of the least crowded places to eat.

Lynchburg Cafe
177 Main St
Lynchburg, TN 37352

https://www.yelp.com/biz/lynchburg-cafe-lynchburg

First Watch

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Exterior

Interior

Veggie omelet

**** (4 stars)

I really like the interior decor of this place, with high, modern ceilings, and large walls of glass. It’s much nice than the other First Watches I’ve been to, and also the competitors.

I have to confess that I’m a bit old school as far as breakfast, and I actually prefer most of the items at coffee shops to here, but there are some more heathful options that are interesting. The veggie omelet is a good choice, for example.

The staff was friendly and service was quick.

First Watch
7910 Winter Garden Vineland Road
Windermere, FL
33125
(407) 612-2022
https://www.yelp.com/biz/first-watch-windermere

Dixie Belle’s Cafe

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Exterior

BBQ Pork sandwich with onion rings

Sweet potato biscuit

***** (5 stars)

This is a great diner with traditional breakfast and a very wide array of lunch offerings. There’s a counter, lots of indoor seating, and limited outdoor seating.

I had a barbecued pork sandwich. It came with two sides, and I upgraded slightly to get onion rings and a sweet potato biscuit. Everything was perfectly prepared, and the BBQ sauce had just the right tang. It was nice that it was served on the side so you could use as much as you liked; I ended up making two open-faced sandwiches. The onion rings were nicely breaded and very crispy.

It might seem strange to have a sweet potato biscuit in addition to a sandwich, but it was essentially dessert! Crisp on the outside, dusted with sugar, and slightly salty from the pan, it is no wonder they are famous for these.

Service is fast, attentive and friendly.

Dixie Belle’s Cafe
7125 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32809
(407) 906-2476
https://www.yelp.com/biz/dixie-belles-cafe-orlando

Cat Store

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Cat cookies

Exterior

Entry

Garlic toast

Caramel apple and ice cream

Toast

Smoked salmon pizza

Interior with JJ

**** (4 stars)

This was a fun lunch. It’s a bit hard to find the place, as the signage by the entrance to the building is very small, and then you take a tiny elevator to the third floor. But once inside the place is surprisingly spacious.

Don’t expect to have a cat in your lap, but the cats were surprisingly interactive (it was feeding time) and very tolerant of the children who didn[t quite know how to interact with them in proper cat fashion.

The food was surprisingly good. I really like my iced chocolate coffee and apple with ice cream. The cat cookies were homemade and very tasty.

Cat Store
Flat D-E, 3/F, Po Ming Building, 2-6 Foo Ming Street
富明街2~6號寶明大廈3樓D~E室
+852 2710 9953
https://www.yelp.com/biz/%E9%98%BF%E8%B2%93%E5%9C%B0%E6%94%A4-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF