By Leigh Bratina
Phyllis Pickle has been in the restaurant business for well over twenty years. You have probably seen here before and if not, you most likely have tasted the food that has set her apart. Her restaurants included ones that were well known and well liked across the Birmingham area, including Sun's Chinese on Greensprings Highway, Sun's Buffett at Loman Village in Hoover and Jade Palace on Highway 280. Her newest restaurant venture, located at the corner of Highways 58 and 95 in Helena, Alabama is certain to attract the same crowds and attention.
Serving an international menu with varying selections from Chinese and Japanese to Thai and Indian, don't think that Phyllis menu is limited to just the international fare. She if fully aware she lives in the south and cooks in the southern style to appease those of us that prefer it "like momma fixed it" too. Their menu section dedicated to Southern Home Cooking comes with such offerings as garden fresh vegetables prepared daily with traditional entrees like meat loaf, hamburger steak, fish, shrimp, oysters, chicken fingers and wings (that a friend of mine insist are some of the best he's ever eaten).
It's Phyllis work ethic, visualization and creativity that produces City Cafe's stand out dishes like their Japanese Teriyaki section with shrimp, chicken or beef is served over rice and a medley of vegetables in a teriyaki sauce simmered for hours.
The Spicy Shrimp Pasta ($10.99) Shrimp sautéed with creamy Cajun sauce and healthy whole wheat and vegetable pasta. It is the most remarkable dish.
The Crispy Chicken Costoletta ($9.99) Lightly breaded chicken breast sautéed with white wine & cream Lemon sauce, served with mashed potato and fresh vegetables
But it was the Ta-Ta Chicken ($9.99) that struck the fancy of most at the table. Prepared with flavors of Indian curry, sautéed with carrots and potatoes and served with steamed rice it was a delicacy! The flavors married like Fred and Ginger, creating a most magnificent dance for the palate. Somewhat spicy, and oh-so-good! It will be what I get when I visit City Cafe in the future. And their will be future visits!
On this our first , however, and to set my self apart from the group, I decided to try out the Vegetable Plate (4 veggies- $5.25) Phylis offers fresh seasonal vegetables and travels to Birmingham's Farmers market weekly to handpick her selections. On the vegetable menu you will find such southern staples as
Turnip Greens, Steamed Carrots Black-eyed Peas, Corn, Green Beans, Pinto Beans, Cabbage, Mashed Potatos, Butter Beans, Peach Cobbler (almost as good as momma's), Fried Green Tomatos, and Deluxe Mac & Cheese..and this is not all the choices! I selected the carrots that seemed to be in a honey sweet broth, pinto beans (that my most finicky child licked clean), corn and the delux mac and cheese (that is so rich and gooey it counts as 2 sides). The mac and cheese is prepared with spiral noodles that hold onto its four cheese sauce so well.
Mention that it is your first time to City Cafe to restaurant owner, Phyllis and she will probably personally bring to you a serving of her peach cobbler. She's not worried, She knows you will be back for more.
City Cafe offer's a kid's menu too. My two children both gave a thumbs up to the Kids Fried Chicken Fingers / Fries/drink $4.99. The chicken fingers are not frozen, but are hand cut and breaded. My husband managed to pry one from one of our children and commented on how delicious that it was. Phyllis personally makes the honey mustard sauce that is served alongside as a condiment for the chicken fingers. It's this attention to details and the starring dishes that truly make City Cafe a local favorite. And for those who are not local (like a couple who had driven all the way from Huntsville just to dine at City Cafe) you will find, the quality and taste are with the drive. Bring the whole family for lunch or dinner but, please, leave room for dessert! Phylis has that covered too.
City Cafe
HOURS
Monday through Saturday from 10:45am to 9:00pm
Sunday from 10:30am to 4:00pm
City Cafe
2693 Highway 58
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-1141
Menu link
*Leigh is a full time mother, a part time photographer and writer. Her photography and written work is featured in several professional business and local publications. She owns her own photography business, Photographic Memories. Leigh resides in the Alabama with her three children and husband "Big Daddy". You can read more of Leigh's daily adventures by visiting any of her three blogs: Tales from Bloggeritaville , Plates and Places , as well as Photographic Memories
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