Writing
Cafe Homestead is truly a hidden gem — a diamond in the rough tucked away so well I’m pretty sure the locals are trying to keep it a secret from the rest of us. From the moment we walked up to the restaurant, I knew this place was something special. The cafe is absolutely beautiful, elegant, spotless, well-maintained, and organized so well it could probably teach my closet a few life lessons.
As we approached the hostess station, the prettiest hostess greeted us and for a brief second I honestly thought I had accidentally wandered into the Pearly Gates. Ms. Liz — and yes, apparently the “Batman symbol” in the spelling of her name is silent — greeted us with the biggest smile, an amazing sense of humor, kindness, professionalism, and enough positive energy to power the whole restaurant. In my humble opinion, Ms. Liz deserves a promotion because she showed natural leadership from the moment we walked in. Ms. Rebecca, the other hostess, was equally awesome and welcoming. Ms. Liz took down our number and placed us on the waiting list with about a 30-minute wait, but honestly the atmosphere alone made the time fly by.
Once our name was called, Ms. Liz escorted us to a booth in Ms. Susie’s section. Now let me tell you something about Ms. Susie — she was outstanding. Friendly, efficient, polite, welcoming, and constantly moving like she had rocket boosters hidden somewhere. Even though she was clearly busy taking care of several tables, she made us feel like we were her only customers. She got our drinks quickly, gave us plenty of time to look over the menu, and made sure to repeat our order back to us for accuracy. That kind of attention to detail deserves applause nowadays.
We started with the Smashed Fries for $12.00, and good gracious were they amazing. Ten small red potatoes baked, smashed, and fried until crispy, then topped with Parmesan cheese and chives with a side of ranch dip. These things were so good they could’ve been the main course all by themselves. Crispy, flavorful, perfectly seasoned — basically little golden hockey pucks of happiness.
Next came the Chicken Fried Steak for $17.00, smothered in white cream gravy and served with mashed potatoes and a homemade dinner roll. That steak was fork-tender, perfectly seasoned, and downright delicious. The dinner roll came out hot, fluffy, and soft enough to make you emotional. We also ordered the battered chicken breast, also covered in white cream gravy with mashed potatoes and another homemade roll. That chicken was juicy, tender, and seasoned so well it almost made me stand up and testify right there in the restaurant.
And then came the king of the table — the Reuben sandwich. Listen… if I’m lying, I’m dying, this was hands down one of the best Reubens I have ever eaten in my life. Thinly shaved corned beef, Swiss cheese, house-made sauerkraut on marbled rye bread with Thousand Island dressing, homemade potato chips, and a dill pickle spear. This sandwich was so good it might make you want to slap your mama… or somebody else’s mama if yours isn’t nearby. Every bite was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection.
Overall, every single staff member we encountered was attentive, professional, polite, and genuinely welcoming. Great food will bring people in once, but great people make them come back again and again. I would absolutely return to Cafe Homestead not only for the amazing food, but also to see the sweet and wonderful Ms. Liz, Ms. Rebecca, and Ms. Susie again.
If you’re ever in the area, do yourself a favor and visit this awesome place. Grab a seat, enjoy some incredible food, and be sure to say howdy to Ms. Liz, Ms. Rebecca, and Ms. Susie. Hope to see y’all there!
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