Work in progress rises from the ashes
Sunset iCafé has potential
By Bill Lascher 03/20/2008
Sunset iCafé
2094 E. Main street
Ventura
652-0365 www.myspace.com/sunseticafe
M-Sa 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Su 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
$4.49-9.99
Hours after most of the fireworks quieted on the 4th of July, things were heating up at two businesses in Midtown Ventura. Arsonists took 10 minutes to torch two recently opened tattoo parlors a few blocks apart from each other, Scratch the Surface, which ended up suffering negligible damage, and Twisted Ink, where the blaze caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Rumors and suspicions quickly emerged about the culprits and the motivation for the attacks on the premise that certain elements in Ventura don’t welcome new tattoo businesses, but no arrests were ever made and charges were never filed in the cases.
In the months that followed the arsons, Twisted Ink’s proprietors shifted their focus and developed the Sunset iCafé, a pleasant coffee shop and sandwich and wrap joint near Ventura High School (the “i” is a reference to the free WiFi Internet connection and the ability to use a personal computer for 20 cents a minute).
Fortunately for Ventura diners, there doesn’t quite appear to be the same level of resentment toward new restaurants as there is said to be toward new tattoo parlors.
Open before school and into the evenings, as well as on Saturday and Sunday, the Sunset iCafé offers what much of this city is sorely lacking: a relaxed, locally owned café that can serve as a gathering place, hang-out spot, workplace and, of course, somewhere to get a bite to eat.
A menu heavy on wraps, sandwiches and personal pizzas assures diners that organic vegetables from local farmers are purchased for ingredients whenever possible, and a white board inside the café describes what particular ingredients are on hand for the day. The prices are a little steep, with a veggie wrap for $7.49 and a tofu on wheat sandwich for $7.99 (don’t worry carnivores, there are plenty of choices for you). On the other hand, each is served with chips (pita chips for wraps, kettle chips for sandwiches) and either cottage cheese or fresh fruit. You can even make your own sandwich.
Highlights on the pizza menu include La Fiesta, and Alfredo Chicken, and each is served with a small garden or Caesar salad.
On my visit, I reluctantly skipped the provolone and parmesan grilled cheese on sourdough, which is served with an organic roasted red pepper soup, in favor of a spicy chipotle wrap. Made with a chipotle chili and pepper wrap, grilled chicken, tomatoes, avocado, red and green bell peppers, spinach and jack cheese with ample chipotle sauce (I could have had more, but turned down my server’s enthusiastic offerings) the wrap was much like the restaurant, full of potential but not quite perfected yet. The chicken was tasty and tender, and the wrap was full of veggies, but they were incredibly cold when not right in contact with the meat. Fortunately, they weren’t so chilled to lose their flavor, and they were fresh, but the experience was disappointing in an otherwise tasty wrap.
I also ordered a small apple cider. I appreciated that it came served in a nice ceramic mug, and that all the dishes I was served were real and washable. It may be a money-saving move, but it’s great to see a casual restaurant take such a simple environmental measure.
The coffee menu is extensive, and I look forward to returning the next time I’m stopping in Midtown. I may also do so for one of the 10 or so smoothies, the tasty and enticing desserts (including milkshakes), or the grilled cheese and soup (actually, I’m definitely returning for that).
The airy eatery abounds with potential and the hopeful, personal style of an emerging small business. In one corner of the restaurant is a small stage. Sadly, where once there was live music, the word on the street is that concerts were getting broken up shortly into sets because the venue didn’t have the proper entertainment licenses. Near the stage a home-theater setup equipped with an Xbox 360 pumps music into the restaurant, and a bulletin board full of announcements for political events suggests the place could become a key meeting place as well as a place to just hang out, as long as the city and neighbors don’t strangle its potential with complaints like so many other businesses have succumbed to.
Indeed, albeit smaller, the Sunset iCafé evokes the feel of the dearly departed Underground Café, although with more food offerings. It’s clearly a labor of love. Hopefully the community will reward that love so it will be affordable to extend the café’s hours at least a little bit, and so the café can tighten some of its loose ends.
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