Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Josh Jansen shows off a balanced meal: a fresh mixed green salad and a lemon custard fruit tart.

Palace Cafe: Not just a chip off the old block

By GENEVIEVE ROJA

Open since March, Palace Cafe is the newest addition to the trio of restaurants in the area owned by the Eaton family, including western-styled Rio Grande in Mountain View and a fine dining establishment, The Palace, on S. Murphy Avenue. Palace Cafe, a casual version of The Palace across the street, boasts a variety of specialties, starting with the popular portobello mushroom sandwich with roasted peppers, spinach, feta cheese, roasted garlic and sun-dried tomato pesto served on rosemary flatbread ($6.00). Another lunch favorite that's adored by the vegetarian lunch crowd is the eggplant, tomato, and fresh mozzarella focaccia sandwich with pesto ($6.95).

Due to the Cafe's locale and thoughtfully rendered menu of gourmet deli selections and continental American cuisine under the direction of executive chef Dennis Iczkowski, Palace Cafe is already a hit with many of its clientele. Everything here is made in-house, except the bread and packaged potato chips, and all items are always fresh, with no dish staying enclosed in jars or cases for more than three days.

"I try and go as organic as possible," Iczkowski says. "I designed the menu on things that I couldn't get at a few places."

Hence the slow-roasted pork sandwich with grilled peppers and onions and chipotle aioli (a non-mayonnaise, mustard-like substitute) for $6.95, fresh squeezed juices ($2.50), and an inviting prosciutto (a thinly sliced, lightly salted Italian ham), tomato, provolone and garlic melt on rustic Italian bread ($6.50).

For early and late risers, breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to noon, headlining a prosciutto and egg croissant with fresh fruit that's heralded as the brunch item. The strawberry jam, made fresh every two weeks from 12 boxes of strawberries that are minced with sugar and gelatin, is served with toast and scones.

Because of its large kitchen, Palace Cafe also extends its food services to corporate groups and wedding parties. The restaurant can handle large buffet-style items or rigorous seven-course meals at the customer's request. Specialty cakes and desserts are the cafe's largest asset; at a recent soiree, little ladybug cakes were custom-made to the guests' delight.

Speaking of dessert, assistant pastry chef Rick Wool recommends the praline mini-cheesecake ($5) and the chocolate bourbon nut tartlet ($3.95), two lip-smacking wonders.

And just in case the Palace Cafe doesn't have that Philly cheese steak you're craving, it's no problem, says Iczkowski.

"I can pretty much do it. There's nothing worse than getting denied a special request."

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The Palace Cafe is at 139 South Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale. Open Sunday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 774-6111. Fax-in orders to 408/774-2949.

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