Cafés & Coffee
The French Toast Breakfast at Cuba Café.
We ventured out from the large, well-known coffee establishments to check out the offerings of small, local cafés to see how the food and coffee stacked up. What we found may have you switching your morning java routine!
Cuba Café
VACAVILLE – Cuba Café offers a unique dining experience with a menu that provides quintessential café dining options but also includes authentic Cuban breakfast and sandwich offerings that are well worth trying.
Their French Toast Breakfast comes with four half slices of fluffy French toast topped with sprinkles of powdered sugar, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage with sides of syrup and butter. The French toast was buttery, smooth and delicious — perfectly cooked with just a hint of sweetness that didn’t take away from the overall meal. The eggs were well seasoned and provided a good savory contrast from the light sweetness of the French Toast and the saltiness of the bacon and sausage.
Coffee lovers will thoroughly enjoy Cuba Café. The authentic espresso was rich in flavor and very smooth. Cuba Café is located at 146 So. Orchard Ave. in Vacaville.
The Sunny-side Up Sandwich from Journey Coffee Co. Photo: Joven S. / Yelp.
Journey Coffee Company
VACAVILLE & FAIRFIELD – Journey Coffee Company is a lively coffeehouse with better-than-average menu options you normally see at a classic coffeehouse chain.
Although seemingly ordinary, their Sunny-side Up Sandwich was absolutely delicious. The sandwich consisted of two sunny-side up eggs, a generous portion of mashed avocado and a slice of cheddar with mayonnaise on Dave’s Killer Bread — a simple yet tasty combination.
Salad and lunch options are also on the menu including a Jalapeño Tuna Wrap or even a Stuffed Avocado (sprouts, romaine, shredded carrots, tomato, cheddar cheese, hummus, salsa, dairy free aioli, & jalapeño mustard). In addition to the many coffee drinks, they offer juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Journey Coffee Company has two locations: 896 Alamo Drive #B in Vacaville and 370 Chadbourne Road in Fairfield.
The Large Waffle with Strawberries at Steady Eddys. Photo: Eric S. / Yelp.
Steady Eddy’s
WINTERS – A local cult favorite, Steady Eddy’s offers an array of breakfast and lunch favorites from oatmeal, to paninis and waffles, to gourmet sandwiches starting at $8. Their drink menu is also well-established from teas and espressos as well as unique signature drinks beginning at $1.75.
On my visit, I ordered the classic waffle with strawberries and it did not disappoint. The large waffle was topped with strawberries and whipped cream alongside powdered sugar and syrup on the side. It was light and crispy, with a fluffy and airy center. The strawberries on top along with the addition of syrup added a lovely sweetness to the already perfect waffle texture that made you savor every bite.
I also tried a delicious Freeze — a blended frozen mocha coffee treat topped with whipped cream. In addition to coffee drinks, Steady Eddy’s also serves some of the freshest loose leaf teas around.
Steady Eddy’s is located at 5 E. Main Street in Winters.
The Cinnamon Latte and Pumpkin Bundt Cake at Niche Café. Photo: Niche Café’s Facebook Page
Niche Café
FAIRFIELD – Niche Café is a delightful little establishment with a great selection of breakfast, sandwiches, salads, drinks and dessert options that are bound to satisfy your every craving.
On my recent visit, I ordered a Tuna Melt on wheat bread with pepper jack cheese and a cup of green tea. My bread was toasted to a perfect crisp which held up well to the sandwich content. The tuna was mixed with finely chopped onions, basil and pickles. The ingredients were well-incorporated and perfectly seasoned. The pepper jack added just a hint of spice, making it a perfectly delicious spin on a classic sandwich.
Additional menu items range from a Four Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with BBQ Pulled Pork to favorites like Cinnamon Lattes and Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cakes. In addition to a quaint gift shop on site, Niche also hosts occasional “Paint & Sip” classes.
Niche Café is located at 2460 Hilborn Road in Fairfield.
Angel Kidka writes “Tastes of Your Town”, a monthly feature in the print edition of Your Town Monthly. This article was originally published in the November 2018 Solano and Yolo County print editions.
