Off the beaten path, tucked along a seemingly residential road Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park is a quaint complex of gardens, rustic shops and the Red Currant cafe. The website of the cafe simply doesn’t do this marvelously enchanting place justice. Baskets inside are filled with bundles of cinnamon bark, tall glass jars align the dark wood buffet tables and neatly stacked along the walls are things such as rolled napkins, service plates and jams ready for breakfast. Large clear-glass vases are filled with hydrangeas; the flowers too are abundant outside. The dining room is in perfect order, and peaceful.
The windows all share views of the green lush garden outside, and the main patio doors open up into courtyard surrounding a charming and serene fountain. For brunch we enjoyed Shakusha, a classic Israeli egg dish that sits on a bed of roasted red peppers and tomato spiced saute, an additional classic breakfast of over-easy eggs topped with Zatar (an Israeli and Middle-Eastern blend of spices), Labene (a thick yogurt-like cheese), spiced olives, chopped Israeli salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes) topped with carrot shavings with an accompaniment of blue and roasted red peppers on the side. The bread was homemade and incredible. The fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh squeezed strawberry-lemonade delightful. We finished breakfast with rich coffee and Chocolate Babka.
The Red Currant is a serene Spanish colonial style cafe with picturesque views and delicious cuisine. We can’t wait to enjoy the rest of the menu.
