So I mentioned my perfect weekend that started with breakfast at Flore, remember? Well it ended with a quiet afternoon reading books at a homey new place on the Westside, Jax Vegan Cafe. Have you been? From the descriptions that I had read on Yelp I imagined this place as a little fairytale cottage tucked away in some magical corner off Westwood Boulevard. I saw twinkly lights on a rough-hewn brick patio shaded by craggy olive trees and populated with inviting little wrought iron cafe tables and comfy worn cushions. It's not that.
But after my second visit, I can say that it is every bit as cozy and welcoming. This atmosphere comes from the food and the proprietors however, not the worn-in cushions because, as I said, the place is new. It's airy and bright with a few tables and a comfy little nook in the window for longer lingering. There are a couple tables outside just off the tiny parking lot that they share with the Indian place next door. It's sandwiched between Ramayani Indonesian on the north side and Sunnin Lebanese Cuisine on the south (which is excellent by the way). Jax recommends parking under Ross.
There is a simple menu of sandwiches and salads and a daily soup to fuel your lingering. The sandwiches are carefully crafted on wheaty sandwich bread (The menu says that specialty breads are to come and that is my only complaint about this place - the wheat bread is good but it doesn't seem appropriate to every sandwich. Once their bread roster is full, I think this may be the perfect vegan cafe.) The sandwiches are thoughtfully chosen and constructed. They have a nice balance of flavors and manageable, but not wimpy sandwich construction. There's a barbecue chicken number with melty cheese and good tangy sauce. The pesto chicken is also very good with a garlicky spread and crunchy fresh spinach. The sandwiches come with a smoky pasta salad or mixed greens.
All this is capped off with excellent coffee from Groundwork and a bevy of desserts from all over. Sweet and Sara s'mores are shipped in from New York, as are Vegan Honey twinkies and other little treats. There are chocolate chip cookie bars from a company called No Udder (which I can find no info on. My search has netted information on calving at an Irish Dairy Farm and correspondence about a toy cow with workable udders. Once in a great while you fail me, Internet. Does anyone out there know anything about these vegan bakers?)
Happy weekend y'all.
