After several pre-shopping brunches at Marty’s Market, Mark and I agreed to try a new restaurant. When I awoke on Sunday, Mark had already created the shopping list and decided where we would go for brunch. I usually draft the grocery list, so I was thoroughly impressed with his initiative that morning. Mark referenced Pittsburgh Magazine’s new article “Pittsburgh’s 15 Best Brunch Spots” for his selection. We prepared for the day and reminded Watson of the house rules before heading to Cocoa Cafe in Lawrenceville.
When we arrived at Cocoa Cafe there were a few couples braving the cold as they waited outside for an available table. Mark gave his name to the hostess only to learn there was an hour wait. Cocoa Cafe had only been open for an hour and we were surprised that there was already such a long delay. We decided to utilize our time and went to Target in East Liberty to pick up a few household items. Shopping at Target on a schedule is good for me as I am a browser and tend to leave with things that I don’t need. Mark’s name was called shortly after we returned and I took a bit of pleasure listening to a group of disgruntled women question how we received a table before them.
The hostess led us through a small dining area with a few tables and a cash register and down a short hall with tables lining the walls. We were seated at a booth and I had the luxury of viewing a painting of what looked like the morning after a long night of partying. Anything is considered “art” these days.
We began our meal with orange cranberry biscuits with fig butter. The biscuits were dense but not too hard and had a crumbly texture. We could taste both the orange and the cranberry and the fig butter complimented the biscuits with a subtle flavor and smooth texture. Mark had coffee, his traditional drink of choice, and I had carrot orange ginger juice. Coffee is coffee to me, so it isn’t worth mentioning, but the carrot orange ginger juice was amazing. It had a crisp yet slightly sweet and spicy flavor. Made we want to buy a juicer.
For my entree I ordered the the avocado omelette with smoked applewood bacon served with seasonal fruit and breakfast potatoes. The omelette was light and fluffy and the avocado was not too ripe. The meal was a bit bland even with the salsa. Adding a little bit of hot sauce added more flavor.
Mark had the shrimp po boy benedict with creole hollandaise served also with seasonal fruit and breakfast potatoes. The meal was a unique twist to a traditional brunch item. The shrimps were large and crispy and not over seasoned. The creole sauce added an authentic New Orleans flavor but did not overpower the meal. Mark raved about the dish so much that I ate at least a third of it. What’s yours is ours, right?
I would like to go back to Cocoa Cafe for more of their freshly squeezed juices and to try one of their unique specials. The restaurant reminded us a lot of Square Cafe in Regent Square but in a more convenient location. The service wasn’t great (the server didn’t even give us her name), but overall the prices were reasonable and the quality of food was good.
-Michelle
