This restaurant, though named after a beverage, serves more than coffee, which is a pleasant surprise for the Quiet Diner.
The place mats (brown paper) have a list of about 100 menu items, including what it calls the Big Ben (a reference to the UK) Pizza.
The blurb says it would take 15 to 20 minutes to prepare the pizza, and 30 to 45 minutes for the entrées, because the food is cooked only after an order is made. Fair enough. It means we would get freshly done food.
Extremely Espresso Café
G/F, Vista Mall,
Santa Rosa, Laguna
Dining area: Spacious. A vitrine of pastries and a list of ice cream offerings stand by the entrance. A counter faces the main hall; tables and chairs are set up with ample space for easy movement.
Service: Comparatively efficient. Waiting for orders don’t take long.
Staff: Attentive. Because the huge menu selections are printed on the paper, it makes choosing quick and easy.
Suggested orders: Of course, coffee, that is, after the meal. The surprise is that the menu includes a lot more than pizza; there’s a selection of breakfast fare, soups, pasta, sandwiches, main entrées and desserts.
Management may find it difficult to determine its best sellers, so the place is doing as wide a menu as possible.
Anyway, one member of our group orders the Longanisa breakfast set; another, the Burger; and this diner, half expecting to be disappointed, selects the Lengua, which has the chef’s recommendation.
Voila, a delightful surprise! Lengua, which we suspect is pork, not beef, considering its size, is perfect: tender and flavorful in its brown sauce.
Coffee, especially the Jump-start Espresso, and the Ice Cream, are a fitting finale to the delicious meal.
Service and government charges are added to the bill. Senior cards are honored.
Rating – 2 Spoons.