Out of the Ordinary: Cafe Makario

When we walked into Cafe Makario late-morning on a Saturday, all the tables were occupied and there was a short line at the counter. The energy was very laid-back and cozy and the groups at each table were clearly enjoying themselves. Most of the tables were small but If you arrive early enough, there is a larger seating area with a long, low-slung couch.

We queued up and studied the chalkboard menu on the wall next to the register. Cafe Makario offers a variety of specialty drip coffees, Dutch-style coffees, mochas and lattes, teas and a short list of food offerings. There is a deli case with delicious baked goods and pastries on display along with bottled beverages and pre-made offerings. They even sell fresh roasted coffee beans.

Classy sofa for coffee drinking // Rachel Weatherholt

There were only two employees to be seen and they were quickly and efficiently managing the kitchen, coffee, and counter. I didn’t want to contribute to the lengthening of the line that had sprouted behind us by asking a billion questions, so we picked a house drip and an iced Dutch Mt Rainier for our beverages. From the food menu we picked the K-Burrito and the Morning Croissant Sandwich with egg, cabbage, carrots, ham, cheese and house sauce. Apparently the Morning Croissant Sandwich is only available on weekdays, although the menu did not indicate this, so we opted for the Bagel Sandwich.

Seeing as the tables were full and we had other errands to run, we took our meals to eat at our next stop.

At first my iced Dutch Mt Rainier was sweet, with delicious thick creme at the top and the bottom of the cup. Once my straw cut its way through the very bottom layer of cream, the unsweetened coffee was very dark and strong. I stirred in the layer of cream from the top to bring back that initial flavor. I later discovered that Dutch-style coffee is brewed with cold water but is not exactly considered “cold brew”. Due to differences in the cold-water brewing process, Dutch-style coffee produces different flavor complexities than traditional cold-brew. “Dutch coffee” dates back to the 17th century and hails from the Netherlands.

I love coffee so it was nice to try a style of coffee that is outside of the normal local offerings. I’ll definitely seek out Dutch coffee more often and I’m glad that Cafe Makario offers so many types of Dutch coffee so I can experiment.

Now, on to the food! The bagel sandwich was stuffed full with ham, cheese, veggies and a house sauce. It was oozy and sticky and damn delicious. The sauce had flavors of honey and dijon and I think there was some mayo in there: zingy with some sweet that paired perfectly with the ham. I would go back for this bagel however I would want to eat it at home, over a plate, with more napkins and a sink nearby.

A damn delicious bagel sandwich // Rachel Weatherholt

The K-Burrito was filled with marinated beef and fried rice with onions, cilantro, and bell peppers. It looked like it was grilled panini-style, which I love! It was perfectly filled and sealed for a hand-held meal and was not the size of a football so it left me full but not overly stuffed. The meat and fried rice were moist and flavorful and made for a tasty base. I like textures in my food and the onion offered that. It was perfectly grilled so it still retained some crunch but definitely wasn’t raw.

Ooh! The K-Burrito! // Rachel Weatherholt

Overall we enjoyed our brunch but it was a bit on the spendy side so it won’t be a regular stop for us. After taxes and a generous tip we paid over $30 which is more than we are used to paying for this type of meal. But I will counter that by saying a lot of care went into the preparation of both the coffee and the food. If you are looking for a delicious treat and maybe something outside of your regular routine, give Cafe Makario a try. Just get there early if you want a seat.