Could the great-looking bowl of vegetable and tofu pho in the picture above really be hospital food? Why, yes, it really is! Sutter Medical Center recently opened a new café in the basement of their Anderson Lucchetti Women's & Children's Center, and at least some of the food they're serving is a serious upgrade from the hospital cafeteria food most of us have experienced in the past.
The real game-changer is that the hospital has contracted with Star Ginger restaurant to offer delicious Asian food options using local, seasonal produce. The pho is made-to-order -- all you have to do is choose your broth (vegetable, of course) and whichever other ingredients you want included. The Star Ginger station also offers a vegan Thai tofu salad.
The café also has a good-sized salad bar. There's Mexican food, pizza, and burgers too, but I didn't notice anything of particular interest to vegans at those stations. Next to the café is a Peet's coffee counter. I didn't see any of the wonderful vegan pastries usually offered at Peet's, although the man working the counter seemed to think that one of their cookies was vegan.
Café on L is open to the public, although if you're really in the mood for food from Star Ginger, you'll probably just go to the actual Star Ginger restaurant a couple blocks away. If you're visiting someone at the Sutter Medical Center, though, the Café on L is definitely worth checking out. I asked if it was possible for a patient to call down and order something to be brought up, and the answer was no. If you're a patient, you'll just need to find an accommodating friend to buy it for you and take it to your hospital room.
Café on L is located at 2825 Capitol Avenue and it's open to the public. To get there, you enter the Anderson Lucchetti Women's & Children's Center and take elevator N to the basement. There doesn't seem to be a phone number, website, or Facebook page for the café at this point. They are open daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight, although food choices may be limited after 7:00 p.m.
2 comments:
I spent a few days in the nuero center while my girlfriend was not feeling well. I had numerous meals at the Cafe on L , wow the food was outstanding . It was made to order , reasonably priced, and overall a pleasant dining experience and atmosphere
It's never fun to spend time in a hospital, but it helps if there is good, nutritious food offered in the cafeteria. I'm glad you liked the food, and I hope your girlfriend is feeling better.
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