Cheap Eats 2011: Cafe Hibiscus

By Rebecca Jacobson

Though the Hawaii-inspired decor might not transport you to the Alps, this tiny establishment's menu is firmly rooted in Switzerland. The year-old cafe, whose owner was raised by a Swiss father and a Hawaiian-born mother, offers such filling, comforting dishes as wienerschnitzel ($10), hearty vegan lentil stew ($9.50) and mildly spiced Bratwurst heaped with caramelized onions ($9.50). Émincé de veau à la Zurichoise ($12), tender bites of pork in a rich, wine-based mushroom sauce, might just have you yodeling in delight. Main dishes are served with potato salad or rösti (like a latke, if Jews ate bacon), but you can ask to substitute spätzle, those delightfully chewy noodles, here pan-fried in garlic butter and dressed up with a touch of parsley. And save room for some sweets—on our visit, the cafe had a Swiss apple pie and a dense, walnut-studded torte on offer.

WWeek 2015

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