Looking on the Sunny Side

I want to like the Sunnyside Cafe in Highlands Ranch. It’s a couple of miles from home, locally owned with fair prices. After our first visit today I’m on the fence. Maybe everyone was tired at 1pm but that shouldn’t be our problem. We were seated promptly but without a great deal of warmth. The waitress mirrored the same behavior, efficient for the most part but not many smiles.

Bob and I both ordered sandwiches accompanied by our choice of fresh fruit, french fries, cottage cheese, house potatoes, onion rings, sweet potato  fries, soup or salad – a nice variety. Bob went for the BLT and fresh fruit. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich with sweet potato fries. The toasted whole wheat bread came topped with apple slices and chopped chicken mixed with grapes, walnuts and green onions in a light dressing. It was a generous helping and tasty if not outstanding. The sweet potato fries were nicely seasoned but not very warm, by the time I was done eating some were hard as tree twigs. Bob judged his sandwich lower with a “I wouldn’t order it again” rating. The bacon was extremely hard, not crisp – probably prepared in advance and allowed to dry out. The dish of fruit was fresh not canned or frozen. Ice tea acceptable but wasn’t refilled until we were presented with the bill.

The Sunnyside has an extensive breakfast menu that is available from opening until the 2pm closing. Perhaps our mistake was selecting sandwiches. If breakfast is the specialty, stick with breakfast – scrambles, skillets, omelettes, benedicts, south of the border selections, plus traditional fare such as biscuits and gravy or hash and eggs. Gravies, soups, dressings and desserts are made from scratch in-house. Once again, we missed the specialties – our mistake.

The restaurant opens for breakfast and lunch daily and on Saturday night for dinner and live local jazz. There is a full bar. Sunnyside originated in La Puente, California in 1980 and the interior mildly reflects a  California/Mexican decor.

We will return to Sunnyside Cafe for breakfast and another chance to show us friendly service and quality food. I’m still straddling the fence but trying to look on the sunny side.