Yesterday, while my wife and I were out running errands, we started looking for a place to grab…read morelunch. I love trying new restaurants instead of the same old chain spots, and we happened to come across Café Zupas. Their sign said "Soup, Salad & Sandwich Kitchen," and since those are three of my favorite things, we decided to give it a try.
The restaurant was bright, clean, and very welcoming. The menu boards had beautiful photos of the food, which definitely caught our attention. My only small complaint is that the menu doesn't include descriptions of what's on each sandwich or salad. Thankfully, the young lady behind the counter was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer all of our questions. She even shared her two favorite menu items and explained them in detail.
She recommended the Brisket Grilled Cheese with smoked brisket, provolone and Muenster cheese, sliced tomato, BBQ sauce, all served on ciabatta bread, along with the Chicken Chipotle Salad loaded with fresh mixed greens, roasted chicken, red onions, tomatoes, fire-roasted corn, black beans, tri-colored peppers, cheddar cheese, avocado, tortilla strips, chipotle ranch, and a honey cilantro glaze.
Both sounded too good to pass up, so I ordered the "Try Two" combo, which includes a full sandwich and your choice of a half soup or half salad. Let me tell you... these are NOT normal half portions! My meal was enormous. As an added bonus, every meal came with a warm roll and a complimentary chocolate-dipped strawberry. I also grabbed a lemonade to wash everything down.
The presentation was fantastic, and as a former chef, it takes a lot to impress me. But wow... I was genuinely surprised. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, with layers of flavor in every bite. The brisket grilled cheese was outstanding, and the Chicken Chipotle Salad was packed with fresh ingredients and had just the right amount of kick. The warm roll and chocolate-covered strawberry were such thoughtful finishing touches that made the experience feel even more special.
My wife ordered the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich with the Tomato Bisque, and she loved every bite. Before we left, the manager mentioned that everything is made from scratch in their open-concept kitchen, which made perfect sense after tasting the food.
It's not often we discover a restaurant that checks every box--friendly staff, fresh made-from-scratch food, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere--but Café Zupas absolutely did. We may have just found our new favorite lunch spot, and I can honestly say I'll be back again and again.
Highly recommended!