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2 people, 1 restaurant, 25 bucks
Meals for people with big appetites and small wallets
Meals for people with big appetites and small wallets
The Underground Café opened in August in the subterranean level of a business complex at the corner of East Main Street and Maple Avenue in Victor. My friend Allison met me there for a pick-me-up lunch on a blustery Monday.
The mood
A comfortable place to grab a bite amid upscale decor and furnishings. The flat-stone fireplace and columns were my favorite features, and the earthy green-and-gold color scheme seemed appropriate, given the eatery's location. A large flat-screen TV on the mantle kept us up-to-date on global news. A plus for laptop carriers: free WiFi access.
The food
Fresh, bountiful and made with care. My eyes immediately zoomed in on the Turkey Berry sandwich ($5.99) with sliced turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce and raspberry/cranberry spread. It's a self-imposed annual tradition to have a variation of this sandwich once autumn arrives and the weather starts to turn.
Though worried that my choice of wheatberry bread would be overkill, it turned out that the lightly toasted slices subtly complemented the chunky, juicy spread, which tasted like the berries had been plucked and crushed minutes earlier. Sandwiches come with fresh fruit (or a side specialty salad, chips or pretzels); mine was served with an unpeeled orange.
Allison decided on the Portofino Salad ($5.99) with portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette on the side. Accompanied by a piping-hot, round roll, the salad managed to pull off combining warm sautéed mushrooms with the rest of the ingredients, which remained cool and crisp.
We left room for homemade dessert from the bakery case: a melt-in-your-mouth toffee-and-chocolate chip cookie, and a "Harvest" cookie — a deliciously complex ode to the season, made with cranberries, walnuts, oats, raisins, honey, coconut, molasses and wheat flour ($1.75 each).
The drinks
Allison sipped a 12-oz. Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread Latte ($2.50), which, to her relief, was not too sweet. Specialty coffees from Finger Lakes Coffee are $1.45 to $3.50, gourmet hot chocolate and steamers (steamed milk with a choice of flavors) start at $2, smoothies are $3.25, and juices and sodas range from $1.39 to $1.79.
The damage: $22.42
Next time ...
"The Place" Chicken sandwich ($5.99) — with grilled chicken, bacon, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and honey mustard — named after the cafe's home: The Place in Victor Village. (And this time I'd choose the chips on the side.)
