Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Broadway Cafe gives feeling of home

Broadway Cafe & Gourmet looks and feels like home.

The Myrtle Beach eatery has a decor that is reminiscent of a dining room in a stylish house.

There are oversized booths, dainty chairs and eclectic art on walls without a kitschy feel.

Simplicity reigns, but I did feel a tad bit special just sitting inside this cozy cafe.

Customers can sit at any table or booth in the place and see every other customer plainly.

Although the space is open, it still manages to make each nook personal and intimate.

Sit down, and you will discover a menu that is simple and not overwhelming.

Karen Holck, the owner, isn't ashamed of offering customers a small, but distinctive display of deliciousness.

The 8-by-11 sheet of paper that is folded in half has the menu divided into salads, soups, beverages, sandwiches and desserts.

Folks are wild about the Broadway Signature Pork, Brie & Berries salad that includes homemade croutons over mixed greens and finished off with a raspberry walnut vinaigrette.

However, I didn't try the salads since it was kind of nippy on the days I visited. I preferred the hot cups of soup, which were hearty, tasty and meals unto themselves. Since the soup choices change daily, you don't know what you may get. Whatever it is, though, it will probably be good.

Her soup choices are decided by whatever catches her eye while shopping. One day, you might get pumpkin and pear soup, which is going to be on the Thanksgiving menu. Cuban black bean, lentil and Holck's other signature soups appear sporadically.

Recently, Holck stopped selling name-brand soft drinks and began making her own Italian cream sodas. Each flavor has no sodium, no fat and low sugar, although sugar-free varieties are available. Peach, raspberry, chocolate, almond, cherry and Irish cream are among the flavors.

I tried strawberry, and it was fabulous. It felt as if I were drinking dessert because of the sweetness of it.

The drink paired well with my choice of the Shaved Turkey Breast and Muenster Cheese Big Samich, which is the eatery's cute trademark name for their sandwiches. This Big Samich, served on pumpernickel, came with cranberry honey mustard.

Her desserts are addictive. My favorite is her potato chip cookies. They taste like sugar cookies, but they have the nice, salty crunch of potatoes chips and are sprinkled with powered sugar. There is also an assortment of pies and cakes.

Broadway Cafe & Gourmet has enough personality and taste to win over any sandwich lover and dessert fan. The only drawbacks are the lunch-only hours and speed of service. Holck is serving up food to order, so she makes it after you order it.

She treats her sandwiches like works of art, and the presentation is just about as lovely as the sandwich.