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New cafe a real hit next to Falls Baking
Published Monday, December 3, 2007
If you love the bread produced by Falls Baking across from Dairyland on North Union Avenue in Fergus Falls, you’ll also love the new Union Cafe. The dining establishment, which also includes take out, is owned by former Falls Baking employee Jennifer Davis.
Davis worked two years for Falls Baking and is overwhelmed by the number of patrons coming to the new cafe which opened in mid November.
“People who know how good the bread is at Falls Baking also know that we serve the same breads here, and that in itself draws a lot of people into our cafe,” Davis said.
Aside from that is the unique menu offered at the Union Cafe.
Along with the always popular turkey and beef sandwiches are pasta salads, turkey with avocado and red onions, green salads and vegetarian sandwiches (Hummus) and vegetarian soups. Daily specials are listed each day at the counter and the menu is constantly evolving.
Soups of the day include white bean, potato and spinach on Monday, shrimp and sausage gumbo on Tuesday, chicken noodle on Wednesday, black bean on Thursday, spicy pasta, bean and Italian sausage on Friday and Potato Leek on Saturday.
The classic Caesar Salad includes homemade croutons and homemade dressing. Another specialty is the Arugula with Gorgonzola cheese, pears, candied walnuts, homemade croutons and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
“We make our own soups and salads from scratch,” Davis said. “Along with sandwiches to go, people also can take along pasta, salads, cookies, cakes and bars.”
If you want to dine in for lunch and don’t have a lot of time, it’s suggested that you come before noon or after 1 p.m. — since indoor seating is limited. Coffee is easily available for those who have placed their orders, and the short wait for the unique food is well worth it.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call-in orders are encouraged. The phone number is 998-3780.
“People can tell us what time they’ll be here, and we’ll have it ready to go,” Davis said. “We’re already serving repeat customers who really enjoy coming here.”
Part of the special touch and atmosphere at Union Cafe includes the use of Pomme de Terre Pottery purchased from Sean Scott and Kate Scherfenberg of Battle Lake.
“It’s been hectic — but fun — these past several days,” Davis said. “People tell us this is the type of dining establishment that’s needed here in Fergus Falls. We appreciate our customers’ support.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by sassica (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sweet! A new cafe!
Posted by TKay (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agree! I am anxious to try this new cafe with some unique food offerings! Good Luck!!
Posted by fffoodcritic (anonymous) on December 6, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While this new café is exceptionally clean and well lit, it is not the place to eat if you are looking for basic or so-called comfort foods. The menu is small and limited, but perhaps it will expand with time. The selection of soup is limited to only one choice per day and expensive at $4.25 for a cup and $5.50 for a bowl, a quart of soup can be had for $10.00. Likewise salad selection is also limited to three, Caesar, Arugula and Pasta salad of the day. Cold sandwiches are seven in number with the usual staple ingredients such as Turkey, Tuna, Hummus, Beef, Egg Salad, Chicken Salad and BLT, all on bread from next door at Falls Bakery. Hot Sandwiches were the big disappointment for me, limited to Roast Beef with Provolone cheese and Tomato, or Turkey, with Swiss Cheese and roasted red peppers, or Sharp Cheddar with red onions and sunflower seeds. These sandwiches are hot only in the sense that they have been heated in a Panini Press. Beverage selection is also limited to coffee, soda or water. My hot Roast beef Sandwich came with some of the worst potato chips available to mankind, stale, hard and small. While the sandwich arrived with a sufficient amount of roast beef, it was cut so thin it resembled mush and tasteless mush at that. It is difficult to describe what my sandwich tasted like, at times the cheese overpowered the other ingredients and other times all I could taste was the tomato, at no time however could I taste the roast beef. It was not because there was too little beef, it was just bland and tasteless. They should reconsider their source for roast beef. Staples such as burgers and hot dogs are unavailable. While I would not return for another meal soon, quality may improve with time and deserve another chance. It seems to this diner that the Union Café is catering to a very select group of people, those who value upscale garnishments over basic taste or comfort.
Posted by shamrock (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It worries me to hear a 'food critic' use the words hamburger and hotdog in the same sentence. Sounds to me that you should stick with Mcdonalds or Burger King. That sounds more like your 'comfort food' lol
It seems that the 'select group' as you call it, kinda like the idea of having something a bit different than your basic burger and hotdog.
KUDOS to the cafe, and great food It's nice to have something that is not basic. And the yummy bread from the bakery next door..hehe is ABSOLUTELY the BEST!!
Posted by sweetpea (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the food critic said was that hamburgers and hot dogs were unavailable, not that he wanted them. If you disagree write your own review. Its like no one can give an opinion without somebody jumping on them.
Posted by ffprofessor (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow!!!, Hamburger and Hot Dog in the same sentence, that is indeed worrisome. Some restaurants have both, PLUS, other sandwiches. Express an opinion and one is condemned to Micky D’s and Burger King.
I have not been to the Union Café yet and if shamrock is representative of the clientele I believe I’ll stay away. (I might order the wrong entrée, to my everlasting shame)
Posted by shamrock (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good, then that means I wont have to worry about running into the likes of you..My gosh, you *ffprofessor* and little *sweatpea* sure like to cause an uproar. Just thought I would take a look at your little logs of past comments and it appears to me that you rather enjoy causing problems..have a good time writing more..then you can sit back and stew about all night long..
Posted by sweetpea (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
See what I mean?
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We were going to eat there today but there was a crazy woman dressed in green like a leprechaun berating people for parking the wrong way in the parking lot. She then went inside and chewed out a senior citizen because his napkin was tucked in his collar instead of laying on his lap, and then reamed the poor old guys wife out for putting mayo on her roast beef instead of mustard. We said the hell with this and went to Burger King were we saw the Professor and Sweetpea and we all had Hot Dogs and burgers.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Shamrock, save your breath, I know I like to cause problems. It’s what I do.
Posted by andtongs (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chipmunk, you are such a liar Burger King does not have Hot Dogs.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes I was lying, we really went to the Viking for Lutefisk, I just did not want anyone to know I ate Lutefisk because it makes my tail droop.
Posted by fffoodcritic (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hot Dogs, Frankfurters or Wieners may be anything but basic. For those who have traveled beyond Fergus Falls and thus expanded their horizons and minds, may have encountered “The Great Milwaukee Wiener House” which serves only Wieners and not only in Milwaukee. They do a landslide business at each location for over 58 years, and could not have survived by catering to the lower classes only. TGMWH will serve you a wiener in a multiplicity of concoctions or custom ordered. Another great café is “Billy Goats Gruff” under the bridge on the Chicago river in Chicago. This is the café made famous by the Saturday Night Live skits for their “cheeburger” but their other standby is Hot Dogs and is patronized by the elite of Chicago. (Mike Rico had his own table there)if the rich and famous of Chicago don’t get their nose out of joint over basic food, the pretension of Shamrock should be seen for what it is. Nor do they fret over who they meet, mix with or sit next to, One time I sat next to Frederica Von Stade and she ate her wiener with her hands, no doubt a major faux pas in shamrocks book of Fergus Falls snobbishness.
Posted by sweetpea (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Foodcritic, you forgot to mention that hot dogs were good enough for Franklin Roosevelt , the First Lady and the Queen of England. I also saw on the food network that the 4 seasons in New York serves a $26.00 hot dog.
Posted by killdeer (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was pleased with the quality of the food, but thought the prices were exorbitant. A cup of soup, sandwich and a beverage is $8.50. The soups are delicious-I imagine there is no grill set up, so I doubt we will ever enjoy burgers and dogs there, but there are plenty of other choices for that here in town. Location doesn't strike me as very desirable, and would be a little far for downtown workers to make it on their lunchbreaks.
The atmosphere seems designed to invite one not to linger; chairs are very close together,and decor is very bright, but sterile.The seating feels more like somewhere to wait while your takeout order is prepared, than somewhere to enjoy a leisurely lunch with friends. Fergus has been screaming for a place like this; I hope Union Cafe will work out a few issues, and do a great business.
Posted by chimpunk (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My tail droops when I laugh, that is why I cry so much. Have you ever tried wiping your nose with a piece of lefse? It makes the lutefisk much easier to digest. People call Larry King a "great guy". I call him a home wrecker. That's all.
Posted by ffprofessor (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I took a chance yesterday and avoided the dreaded snob shamrock. I ordered the classic Caesar Salad and was satisfied but I had to wash it down with a cola. My partner had the Hummus sandwich which I took a bite from, a mistake I’ll not make again. ( I would sooner join chipmunk for Lutefisk at the Viking) I considered a cup of soup but refused to part with the better part of five dollars for soup. My salad dressing was excellent, the café was clean. The staff seamed stressed and short with a customer who thought he would be waited on at his table rather than coming to the counter to order. The owner actually approached a group of eight who wanted to push two tables together and told them to “get organized” before the ordered at the counter.
Posted by chimpunk (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The ambience of this room from which I opine is subdued and mellow as I analyze comments posted to this "forum" and find the composers of said posts to be overly impressed with their own insignificance. That we consider our comments relevant is distressing and further proof that what we say here, frankly, doesn't matter in the least. I only hope we can gather enough testicular empowerment to one day say aloud what we crave to have heard (or, perhaps, resort to posting what we say aloud, and that is nothing, or at least, nothing short of pleasantries). But, that wouldn't be anonymous enough, would it? Unless, maybe, we could wash that down with a cola.
Posted by chimpunk (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What other eateries can we expect fffoodcritic to "critique"? I don't mind the comments, but the comments/evaluation may be more relevant if other eateries were evaluated, just a tip, because if you only evaluate one restaurant, it might look like you are biased against it and, perhaps, on the bling from a different restaurant/competitor.
That's all!
Posted by HockeyMom (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure about all the jabbering on here, but some of my girl friends and I tryed out the new cafe last saturday and I must say I was pleasently surprised. What a treat! I do admit, I was a little reluctant and didn't know if it would be my cup of tea, soup being 4.25 a cup, but I had the potato leek soup and it was well worth it. No one else seemed to mention that she makes everything herself down there. As for me, I'll pay a dollar extra for quality. Way to go!
Posted by number1mom (anonymous) on December 14, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, HockeyMom, for being a voice of reason! She does make it all herself down there with organic materials, so it doesn't surprise me that her prices exceed those of, say, McDonald's. I'm willing to pay 5.50 for a sandwich made of stuff that won't kill me and isn't mystery meat, if you know what I mean. And that potato leak soup is to die for. I believe that Union Cafe is a new hidden gem of Fergus Falls and I hope my children grow up to appreciate a quality establishment like that!
Posted by girlofgod15 (anonymous) on January 18, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, Chipmunk and HockeyMom. FFFoodcritic, calm yourself. I hate to break it to you, but if you want a dang hamburger go to Applebee's or Mabel's. You tell me where else you can go in Fergus to get a sandwich on fresh-baked bread. If it's not your taste, fine; but if you're just going to be mad because it's not like every other place in Fergus, I think that's the point. People like it because it's unique. Soapbox, done.
HockeyMom, I totally agree with you. I haven't tried the soup yet but the salads and sandwiches are SO tasty! I was just there tonight actually and she has added a chicken, pesto and provolone panini which I tried to order but couldn't because she ran out of pesto since everyone has been asking for it this week and getting the great comments out there!
So if you want something fried that's always the same and has no nutritional value, go watch someone fry your meat. If you want something organic and healthy, with many more choices than a burger joint or hot dog cart or whatever you mean, fffoodcritic, then go to the Union Cafe.
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