Latkes (potato pancakes), served with applesauce and/or sour cream.
It's hard to find something interesting and new for breakfast, especially when on a budget, but Two-Bit Street Cafe does just that. Its unique environment harkens back to the sordid past of Ogden's Historic 25th Street while offering fresh twists on familiar classics.
Located in a bar, the tables in Two-Bit line the wall facing the barstools and remnants of the establishment's other occupation remain all over. The food includes a personal favorite, latkes, which are Jewish potato pancakes. They are served with applesauce and/or sour cream--crispy crunchy outside, creamy mooshy on the inside. Other unusual breakfast offerings include Toad in the Hole ($1.95; with cheese $2.45), Texas Toast with a dusting of powdered sugar ($4.50), Biscuits and Gravy ($4.25), and Eggs Benedict (8.95). Lighter fare, such as oatmeal, fruit salad, and granola, is also available.
Breakfast on a Saturday was crowded and it was clear that the owner did not have enough staff. It took 10 minutes to receive menus, another 20 to place our orders, and about 20 more minutes to actually have our breakfast served. In the meantime, however, the owner was gracious to offer us slices of freshly-made coffee cake to tide us over until our food was ready.
For lunch there are some fabulous salads, priced from $4.95-$9.95 without chicken, tuna, or shrimp. The Salade Nicoise (tuna, olives, hard-boiled egg, and tomato in a light vinaigrette--straight from the south of France), Shrimp Louis Salad (large chilled shrimp; avocado, tomatoes, chopped olives and egg), and Sunrise Salad (spinach, sliced portobello mushrooms, mandarin oranges, and toasted spiced almonds with poppy-seed dressing) are all amazing.
Two-Bit's sandwiches are unique as well, blending French flavors with Nouvelle Cuisine concepts. One example of this is the Grilled Brie sandwich, which is French Brie cheese melted on lightly toasted cranberry spice bread. The mushroom reuben is a new take on the traditional Jewish sandwich, adding roasted Portabello mushrooms and swiss cheese on marble rye bread. Finally, the Grilled Cuban Tampa Bay sandwich is made with ham, pork, and swiss pressed with Dijon mayonnaise on Cuban bread. All sandwiches come with a side dish, the choice depending on the sandwich. Prices range from $3.95 (grilled cheese, egg salad, hummus & veggies) to $8.95 for the Tuna Steak Sandwich. The Tuna Steak is wild yellow fin Ahi Tuna in a light sesame soy glaze; shredded cabbage & carrot, chopped tomato and a light wasabi mayo on a multigrain bun.
All in all, Two-Bit Street Cafe is a reasonably-priced place with great food. Reservations for large groups are recommended because of the small seating area. The restaurant is located at 126 25th Street in Ogden and can be reached at 801 393 1225.
For more information, check out their website at www.twobitstreet.com. Also check out other restaurant reviews from Ogden's Historic 25th Street restaurants here, here, and here. You can also find out more about the site's history at http://www.25thstreetogden.com/index.php.
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