Enlarge Photo

David Owen and Robert Weycker knew they wanted their new restaurant to be called "Cafe-something," but they weren't sure exactly what that something should be.

After being open a short while, a lawyer advised them that if business didn't pick up, they would be filing Chapter Eleven bankruptcy. Not long after, the restaurant was christened "Cafe Eleven" and, as Owen points out, "We're still here twenty-three years later, but who knows where that lawyer is."

Part sidewalk cafe, part bistro, part happy hour meeting place, Cafe Eleven in Hillcrest has been a fixture on University Avenue for over two decades, and yet is one of the area’s best kept secrets. Diners-in-the-know come for a fine dining experience that includes options for beef, pork, and lamb. Others are looking to sample some salads and gourmet burgers with the gang or have a few drinks during happy hour with co-workers. Still others are looking to enjoy a peaceful Sunday brunch with the family while relaxing to the Kool Jazz that permeates the restaurant. No matter your desire, Cafe Eleven caters to your culinary interests in its casual, yet elegant atmosphere.

At Cafe Eleven, both indoor and outdoor seating is available - either in the main dining room or on the heated patio amid ivy-covered wrought iron fencing and fanciful umbrellas. In fall of 2007 the bar area was remodeled and fully-expanded and offers a full array of cocktails. And for that aesthetic touch, artwork selections by husband and wife artists Edwin and Marie Wordell have adorned the restaurant's walls for the last fifteen years.

Some of the more succulent dinner choices include Filet of Beef Brittingham, filet mignon rubbed with fresh garlic and thyme, Rack of Lamb, marinated in fresh herbs and seasonings, and Roast Duckling, roasted with apples and onions and served with a green peppercorn sauce. The Sunday Brunch, which begins at 10am, offers tantalizing egg dishes, a grilled vegetable frittata, and a bananas foster waffle garnished with pecans and blueberries, whipped cream optional.

A "Super Saver Menu" is also available Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. Here, diners choose from a series of entrees including Fresh Almond Trout, Petite Rack of Lamb, and 2 Center Cut Pork Chops. Fresh soup or garden salad, fresh vegetable array and warm bread and butter are also included for $14.95 per person.