Given that Gilbert's Cafe comes up as #2 on the 2007 Best of City Search brunch list, we thought we'd try it as our first restaurant to review. The cafe, opened by 2 brothers (Gilbert and Sean Yeremyan), is on 10th St. near Piedmont, sandwiched between the Outwrite Bookstore and a neighborhood market. There is limited parking available behind the restaurant, but most patrons search for street parking. It's a small space and is as well known for it's brunch as it's nighttime scene. On certain nights of the week Gilbert's Cafe even offers Karaoke and Flamenco dancing for entertainment. Decor was minimal- the only signs of a Mediterranean connection were the metal lanterns hanging from the exposed ceiling. The bar covered one side of the restaurant which made it feel more like eating in a bar than a restaurant. Since we work in public health, we got a special kick out of one of the drink specials- the "flushot."The service was fantastic, the best we've had in a long time. If you can, try to sit in Doug's section. He was very attentive, friendly, and courteous. Doug mentioned that if you want to get in before the crowd, it's best to arrive before noon. At noon, restaurants can begin selling alcohol (Gilbert's has $4 Mimosas and Bloody Mary's) and people begin standing around the small space waiting for a free table. We quickly realized the pressure of having people "eye" your table can be a little uncomfortable and make you move faster through your meal.
The menu is not extensive, but probably offers the best deal for quantity of food for a reasonable price. Gilbert's has an "All-you-care-to-eat" for brunch menu. For $10.95, you select at least 3 items off this menu. You can add additional items or refill with more of the same for no extra cost. The menu said that these were "made to order." This is a perfect restaurant for a very empty stomach.
Stacey ordered from the "All-you-care-to-eat" menu and tasted a few bites of a variety of items: the scramblette, biscuit, lentil soup, french toast, and grilled cheese sandwich. I, as usual, went for a lunch item off the "a la carte" menu. Overall the food was okay, but nothing special. Stacey felt the scramblette (a scrambled egg with peppers, and tomatoes, onions) and the grilled cheese deserved praise. My mozarella panini tasted good, but the large quantity of pesto soaked through the bread and the sandwich was sopping wet. We both tried the lentil soup from the Yeremyan family recipe. The soup was a puree and although tasty, both of us thought it was a little thin for our preferences. The coffee was good and strong, and Doug did a great job of keeping the cup refilled and warm. The orange juice, regretfully, was not freshly squeezed.
Overall, Gilbert's is a good place to go when you are hungry and are short on cash, want good and pleasant service, and are not looking for anything special. It's also a good place to go if you want a cheap Mimosa or Bloody Mary!
Rating: 2 Out of 3 Pancakes
