As you turn the corner of College Avenue and Draper, you?ll catch a whiff of an intoxicating fragrance. Keep walking, follow the scent, and you?ll find yourself in front of She-Sha Caf?.
The artsy exterior is complemented by the ultra trendy interior. Local and student artwork line the deeply colored walls. Funky music plays in the background. The variety of seating from the common table and chair to couches to floor pillows is your choice. Even the architecture and interior design, including a crooked archway and bubble lamps, add to the refined environment.
As you look around, you may still wonder ? what was that smell? What was that captivating essence that led you into this captivating place? Then you spot the hookah.
Mixing tobacco with assorted fruity flavors gives off a scent that fills the entire caf?. However, a taste of the hookah isn?t the only delight of this small caf?. While the hookah attracts curious customers, the food is a mystery to most. Well, the secret?s out.
After ordering several items from the counter, a friend and I plopped down on a comfy sectional and played a game of checkers while we waited for our meal. The wait wasn?t long and the food looked great.
I started with a Sampler Mediterranean Platter consisting of stuffed grapes leaves, Lebna, hummus and creamy feta basil with pita bread. The grape leaves were stuffed with rice and topped with olive oil. They were soft and almost melted in my mouth.
Lebna is a creamy, thickened Middle Eastern yogurt with olive oil and cumin. Personally, I didn?t care for it. I thought it tasted like bad cottage cheese. However, the creamy feta basil was delicious. The hints of basil were a great combination with the feta and wasn?t too salty.
Then there was the hummus. I?ve had a lot of hummus in my day, but this mix of olive oil and paprika gave the plain dish an extra kick.
Next I tried Mr. Tony?s Tomato Pesto. This Panini sandwich is served on Pane Mediterranean loaf basted in olive oil and press grilled. The spinach, tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil seasoning mixed with a very earthy tasting tomato pesto left me very satisfied. The sandwich was so juicy and delicious that even as droplets of olive oil rolled out of the sides of my mouth, I just couldn?t stop eating it.
I also tasted a few bites of my friend?s sandwich, Paulo?s Piri-Piri Chicken. Marinated chicken breast, served with havarti cheese and a creamy Caesar dressing, all on press grilled bread; this sandwich is perfect for spice-lovers. The Piri-Piri spice gives an extra little zing to the basic chicken salad sandwich.
For desert, I had a small piece of pistachio baklava. Layered with honey, pistachio nuts, and filo dough, the square wasn?t as sweet as baklava I?ve tried in the past. I thought it could?ve used more honey. The desert was perfectly chewy and the top layer of dough gave a spectacular crunch with every bite.
She-Sha offers a full menu of sandwiches, salads and appetizers with a Mediterranean twist. The atmosphere is perfect for a quiet study session during the day, or for a relaxing place to chill with friends in the evening. Pull up a chair (or pillow), grab a hookah or one of the cafes tasty Italian sodas and let the unique ambiance take over.