Petra Cafe is one of 4 cute little restaurants by that name, and this one in the Sanderlin Center is the closest one to us. The Daughter and I met The Husband there for lunch one day early in the summer. The styrofoam cups hit me hard for some reason, so I won't demean T Tuesday by mentioning the drinks. The Husband had the Pisa Paninni, and The Daughter and I each had the Turkey Pita:
The food was wonderful! I thought the red peppers were perfect! The waitress was welcoming and charming. You can see the lunch menu here. Our total was over $35. I've already decided what I want when we go back, but I may bring my own glass. (Not really, but I do hate styrofoam cups.)
Go Memphis has a positive review. Yelp gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
For dessert The Daughter and I headed back to Casablanca Cafe. We've eaten there before, but this time we specifically planned on having their Turkish Coffee and dessert. I had the baklava, and The Daughter had the chocolate mousse:
The desserts were both very tasty. I didn't much care for the coffee. It had flavoring of some sort, but we couldn't tell what. sweetening, of course, but something else, too. This Wikipedia article says cardamom or pistachio grains are sometimes used. Maybe that was it. It was interesting, and I'm glad I tried it, but I won't get that again.
T Tuesdays are a friendly gathering of women who drink (and most often craft) hosted at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's place. Feel free to join in. They make everybody feel welcome over there.
Posts
Such pretty plates and yummy food at the Petra Cafe...shame they can't find an alternative to those Styrofoam cups (makes my teeth go on edge).
ReplyDeleteWashington DC just signed a bill to outlaw takeaway Styrofoam food containers (it will take a few years)...so much of that kind of waste ends up in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers around here and as you said stays around for eons = a pollution nightmare. Hopeful that one day all containers will be compostible which would help the price come down too ... oh oh you got me going ;-)
Your desserts AND CUPS look yummy...
what a nice time you had!
Happy T Day
oxo
I agree with you about the pollution nightmare styrofoam causes. There's gotta be another way!
DeleteWe did have such a nice day :) Thx :)
I have a thing about styrofoam cups, too. They seem so fast food oriented. I had a peek at the menu, which seems rather comparable to LeMonde's prices. I didn't see grape leaves on their menu, but I don't remember seeing panini on LeMonde's.
ReplyDeleteI would have gladly joined you for dessert. Both of these sound excellent. I've had Turkish coffee before, and I remember it was very strong and tasted of cardamom. I asked. Your cafe may have been different, though, because the coffee I was served came in a demitasse cup, was thick, and black.
Thanks for sharing your meal and dessert with us for T this Tuesday, dear.
I really wasn't expecting the styrofoam.
DeleteI should've asked about the coffee and am not sure why I didn't. The staff there is really good about interacting with folks.
I find it so hard to believe that this nice establishment with such wonderful food would serve in Styrofoam cups! I 'd definitely take my own cup next time and start a conversation about it. I've never had Turkish coffee but would be willing to try it at a place where it's known to be good. Thanks for sharing those lovely meals and outing for T day!
ReplyDeleteYes, styrofoam was a shock. I liked that the coffee was strong -thick, even- but the flavoring would be an acquired taste for me. I might try it again after all.
DeleteHappy T Day!
Did you happen to mention your disappointment with the styrofoam cup to the management? They get enough complaints maybe they will make a change. :) The food looks YUMMY!!! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteIt was all so good otherwise I hated to mention it. If I ate there a lot I would bring it up. Happy T Tuesday! :)
DeleteThey must have spent all their money on the pretty plates and serving pieces, to serve ANY drink in a styrofoam cup! I was very surprised at that one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit
Happy T-day
The styrofoam was definitely out of place. Happy T Day :)
DeleteThe use of styrofoam was outlawed in Berkeley some time ago so we are spared that. I do like cardamom in my coffee occasionally and think maybe that is what you had in yours since it is common in Turkish coffee. I'd sure like a piece of baklava with my morning brew.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Forward thinking of Berkeley! We should follow suit. I don't know that I'd ever had cardamom before. Maybe I need to go back and give it another try. The baklava was very good :)
DeleteThe styrofoam issue is such a concern. Last night I saw on the Japanese news some wonderful edible bowls and cups developed precisely to combat the issue. Eat your meal and then your dishes. :-) Your meal and dessert look delicious.
ReplyDeleteEverything about this place was perfect except for those everlasting disposable cups. Edible dishes! Now that's an idea I could get behind. Like the bread bowl at Panera.
DeleteYumm! Baklava I've heard so much about this yummy delicious and am yet to try it. I don't like Styrofoam cups either. They are wobbly and fragile.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week
The baklava was light and tasty. Very nice. Styrofoam sets my teeth on edge. Happy T Day! :)
DeleteJUST YUMMIE!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that it is late here and I am not hungry ...
LOL!
Happy T-Day
xxx
Susi
Yes, I want more, looking at it now lol!
DeleteI should not look at food pictures before breakfast hahhaaha yours looks so yummy
ReplyDeleteBridget #1
It does look tempting, doesn't it :)
DeleteI can't believe that at such a nice restaurant that they would serve drinks in styrofoam cups! That would really annoy me, too. That's something you expect from a fast food place where food is served out a window. At least the food was good. Your desserts look sinfully delicious!
ReplyDeleteHappy T-Day! :)
It did seem out of character with everything else at this little place. It's a shame really. All the food that day was faultless!
DeleteThe deserts do look awfully yummy ♥ to bad the coffee was a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI think the coffee just confused me, not having had it before. It was strong and thick, but that taste was odd to me.
DeleteSuch a pity the cafe resorts to styrofoam cups when the other crockery is so attractive. I'm with you on my dislike of styrofoam. Your lunch did look good and the baklava looks very yummy, but I would have gone for the mousse ;) nom! :D
ReplyDeleteAren't those plates wonderful! The styrofoam was the answer to, "which of these things doesn't belong?" lol Yes, I'll have to get the mousse next time.
DeleteIt's been a long time since I've been served in styrofoam. When we went to Puerto Rico, they often served us in that but here in the States, not so much. The meal sounds good! I am new to T for Tuesdays, but it appears that the topic of choice is what you are drinking.. for me, coffee and water all the way and if it's free (even in styrofoam), all the better.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to T Tuesday! I've "met" some fun people :) I'm also a fan of coffee and water. I paid $1 for water in a plastic bottle today. Bummer, but needs must.
DeleteI am with you on the styrofoam cups. I cannot drink out of them as it makes me go goosebumpy! If I realise that is what they use I will drink something cold!
ReplyDeleteYour reference to Turkish coffee reminded me of a trip to Czech. The hotel in the local town had some 40 coffees on their menu. They had ideas of being upmarket and wasn't quite ready for a bunch of UK visitors (one friend with a strong scouse accent) but we got through most of the coffee menu between us. I chose Turkish at which the others raised an eyebrow. I had to try soo hard not to spray everyone with it! Jeesh! Never again!!!
Thanks for the happy thought!
Hugs
xx
What a fun story! I've never known a place with so many coffee choices.
Delete