Oy Vey, It’s Lori’s Café
You may have seen Lori Kline’s hilarious ads for Lori’s Oy Vey
Café here in Letters where her face is pasted into a photo of a
surfboarder, sea captain or 1950s housewife. Well, that same sense of
humor shows on the menu of her little café with fun names for the
sandwiches, and in the café itself with cute décor.
Lori’s,
located in the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard at 39 Baltimore Avenue, states on
its menu that the goal is "to consistently present fresh, quality
fare to all our local friends and out-of-town guests." Lori has fun
specials daily and a variety of items to satisfy any appetite.
She is most famous for her chicken salad, which is a rich pleasure. She
calls it "Chicken Salad to DIE for," and it is tender chicken,
mayonnaise, chunks of blue cheese, hunks of tart Granny Smith apples, and
slivers of toasted almonds. It is really good. I like it best when served
on one of her field greens salads, where I get more blue cheese (I can
never get enough of good quality blue cheese!), walnuts, red onions and
greens.
Lori’s Café carries some Jewish deli favorites like Corned Beef,
Roast Beef on Rye, and some of the best White Fish I’ve ever had.
Her sandwiches are huge, but somehow I always manage to finish the
White Fish on a poppy seed bagel with capers, red onions, lettuce and
tomato.
In all of her menu items that have mayonnaise as an ingredient, she
goes, as she says, "WAAYY" easy on the mayo to let the flavors
come through. I really like her potato salad as well—it reminds me of my
mom’s…no pickles.
The "Bubbie Kline" is inspired by Lori’s grandmother
("bubbie" is grandmother in Yiddish) who loved corned beef and
cream cheese on rye. Yum.
My other favorite is the roast beef; it’s great quality meat, and she
obliges me when I ask for the rarest part she’s got. Usually, I’m
always trying to eat my veggies, but sometimes I really enjoy her rare
roast beef on rye with just a little spicy mustard and nothing else. Do
you think they’ll take away my California birth certificate if I eat too
many of those?
There are many non-Jewish things on the menu as well, such as the
"Cheap Surf & Turf" which is a delicious combination of
bacon, tuna salad, sprouts and avocado. Her bacon is always thick, crispy
and perfectly done.
She cooks her own turkey breast for sandwiches, which seems like a lot
of work, but I know her customers appreciate it.
If you happen to go in there on a day when she’s made turkey chili,
you simply must try it. Everything she makes is fresh and delicious.
The newest sandwich on the menu is the "Holy Cow!" which is
hot beef and cheese—sort of like a cheesesteak. Definitely yummy.
If you have vegetarian friends or family, Lori’s Café is a great
place to take them. She has seven different vegetarian sandwiches on the
regular menu in addition to salads and other items.
Lori’s Café is probably best known for lunch, but she opens at 8
a.m. and her coffee, bagels, and breakfast specialties make her café a
very popular spot on a nice sunny morning.
For those of you who often come in to buy meat or chicken salad by the
pound, you should know that Lori’s Café provides catering services.
A review of Lori’s Café would not be complete without mentioning her
wonderful staff. I don’t know everyone’s names, but they are always
friendly and hard working. Locally famous actor and singer David Button
(who is cute as a button) can ring up a mean cash register! The little
café can get quite busy, but I’ve never had to wait long for take out.
Usually, I just use the wait as an excuse to snack on one of her
scrumptious deviled eggs.
A couple of years ago, Lori started offering delivery service for
lunch, but personally I love to go there and sit in the CAMP courtyard,
eating my wonderful food from Lori’s Café while chatting with locals
and visitors. Hopefully you’ll be there soon. What a great town!
Lori’s Café is located in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard at 39
Baltimore Avenue and is open daily from 8 a.m. until after lunch. Delivery
and catering can be arranged by calling Lori directly at 302-226-3066.