ANNOUNCER: The boys enjoyed dining in Puyallup last week so much they returned to the scene of the crime — in fact, dining just kitty-corner from last week’s review — DeCaterinas, which sits across the park from this week’s target — the Organic Comfort Food Cafe. Located in Puyallup’s downtown, sandwiched between auto dealers and the Puyallup Fairgrounds, this café, which opened at the beginning of December 2007, is part of a major restoration ushering in open spaces, condos and new restaurants. Specializing in comfort foods for the lunch crowd, the café has an “about us” section on their Web site we admired where they wrote: “COMFORT FOOD was set in motion with three objectives: first to serve wholesome and flavorful food in a heartwarming atmosphere; second, to facilitate a shift of focus and heighten awareness of local and world needs; and third, to impact the lives of local foster youth with God’s comfort and assist them in offering that same comfort to international orphans. (Please See: II Cor.1:3-4) That’s what LOVE INTERNATIONAL is all about. The profits from COMFORT FOOD will fund the outreach efforts of LOVE INTERNATIONAL.”

 

JASON: You don’t see that everyday on a restaurant’s Web site. I feel better about myself for eating there, even though I didn’t know their mission before walking through their door. Still, what a mission.

 

JAKE: Who said Puyallup is backward? 

 

JASON: The Organic Comfort Food Café features a bright, airy space with plenty of tables for two — thus, from my experiences, drawing in a number of ladies lunching in the afternoon. You may order at the counter to go, or sit and the pleasant servers take your order.

 

JAKE: The menu is fairly simple, divided between soups, salads, sandwiches and a few daily specials. I enjoy eating in organic restaurants because, maybe it’s psychological, I feel better. After eating at some spots, I need a nap. At Organic Comfort, I feel refueled and recharged.

 

JASON: I started with a warm cup of coffee — rich and robust with rice milk to chase. I thought it was weird they didn’t have soy milk, however, I suspect that was just bad timing on my part. Next, I delved into the toasted cheese sandwich. They serve the organic white cheddar on a variety of breads and add a thin layer of mayo. It worked.

 

JAKE: They serve two main soups — a black bean and corn chowder — both are outstanding. The black bean is hearty with nice hints of fresh herbs and savory spices. Not too thick or thin, the consistency was perfectly satin and filling. The corn chowder wasn’t thick on cream but instead the whole kernel chowder tasted more like a bowl of fresh corn with milk on top. Simple and sweet, the perfect non-filling starter to a meal.

 

JASON: You forgot to mention the best part — the biscuit. The soups and salads come with a small herb-cheese biscuit baked moist and creamy. Frankly, it’s one of the best biscuits I’ve tasted.

 

JAKE: Each day the Café offers a casserole such as spaghetti pie or pot pie. I passed and I delved into the chicken divan — a tender organic chicken breast layered with broccoli, cream and white cheddar served over basmati rice. Not too salty or heavy, this dish tastes absent of any thickeners or industrial flavors. It’s the closest to homemade I’ve had in a long time. 

 

JASON: The Café serves a variety of smoothie flavors and will mix and match on demand as well. Large and thick, they could practically be a meal. I also enjoyed the vegan chocolate chocolate chip cookie but could only finish half. Thick and overly sweet — a third is enough.

Organic Comfort Food Café

210 West Pioneer, #103, Puyallup, 253.770.6147

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Scene: Plenty of light and tables inside space that sits below a modern condo building smack dab in the middle of downtown Puyallup.

Cuisine: What you would expect from a ladies lunch place but with lots of organic and healthy options including vegan and those with food allergies.

Drinkies: Smoothies, soda, juices, teas and coffees – plenty of organic options.

Menu:

Smoothies >>> $3.95

Tuna Salad Sandwich >>> $7.95

Soup and Salad >>> $8.95

Tom Turkey Salad >>> $8.95