Centennial Cafe

[rlibkind]

I've been driving by the Centennial Cafe at Belmont & Georges Hill Road/Montgomery Drive for months whenever I've had tasks to do in Wynnfield, Overbrook, Ardmore & vicinity. Today, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I stopped by shortly after 3 p.m. (It's open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., later in the summer.)

It's basically breakfast pastries and breads, sandwiches, salads and the like, but based on our limited experience today, quite nice. I went for the smoked brisket sandwich, SWMBO for the smoked beef chili.

I'm no smoked brisket expert, but the meat had the tell-tale red edges of expertly-smoked meat. Very nice flavor, with nice crust on the meat, if ever-so-slightly dry. I was told by the manager that they basically go through 1 to 2 briskets a day this time of year, so that's probably not enough to run the smoker every day. The brisket sandwich on an egg-washed roll with a side of Georgia-style pink-tinged slaw, sweet onion sauce and small fountain soda was $10.95; $7.95 if you just want the sandwich without fixings. The onion sauce, btw, was not at all dissimilar to the onion toppings you'd get on a dirty water Sabrett in Manhattan, but homemade and better.

SWMBO enjoyed the chili, which had a couple of different types of beans while remaining meaty; the sauce was too tomatoe-y for my liking, but that's simply a matter of taste, not a flaw. As we were rising to leave the manager placed a plate with four cubes of their lemony pound cake before us. Delicious, and the lemon flavor was just right after the smoky meats.

The interior of the cafe (built as the Ohio House for the 1876 Centennial exhibition) was simple: cafe tables and chairs, but also some comfy stuffed lounging chairs in which to enjoy an unhurried cup of coffee. Interesting prints of the exhibition and copies of its "newspaper".

The Centennial Cafe prepares box lunches. During good weather, this would be a great place to pick up a to-go picnic to enjoy at the nearby Horticultural Center or other Fairmount Park grounds. Better yet, stop by before a concert at the Mann (the cafe is located by one of the entrance roads) to either eat in or take as a picnic on the lawn. A tad less expensive than the catered offerings at the Mann.

[Siouxsie]

I'm trying to picture exactly where this is...I guess I could google the address. I usually hit Belmont coming from downtown via the West River Drive, then exit at Sweetbriar and come up the main wide road that goes to the Mann. This sounds like I'd make a right onto Belmont from there? If so, which side of the road should I be looking? All I can picture there are baseball fields.

I love smoked brisket.

Siouxsie

[MisterMax]

I'm trying to picture exactly where this is...I guess I could google the address. I usually hit Belmont coming from downtown via the West River Drive, then exit at Sweetbriar and come up the main wide road that goes to the Mann. This sounds like I'd make a right onto Belmont from there? If so, which side of the road should I be looking? All I can picture there are baseball fields.

Yes, turn right on Belmont; Ohio House is about a mile ahead on the left. Or stay on the West River Drive (I don't remember its new name either) to Montgomery Drive and make a quick left at Belmont. It's straight ahead on the far side of Belmont.

Photos at http://www.pbase.com/mistermax/image/90531688 and the next photo.

[rlibkind]

Mister Max's directions (West River [MLK Jr.] Drive to Montgomery to Belmont) is the best bet from Center city and environs.