The Coffee Bean and Jazz Café in Ozark, Missouri
Two visits have left me ready for a third. That’s how much I have enjoyed The Coffee Bean and Jazz Café located on the Square in Ozark, Missouri.
The first time I went was with some girlfriends, after a day spent doing a homes tour. We were ready for a break, and welcomed the cozy feel of the Café, with its antiques and homemade desserts. The extensive menu floored us, to the point where we ended up ordering three items and splitting them all, just to get to taste our top choices.
The second time, I dared to take a man with me—two of them, in fact. We had been to Branson with another couple and I suggested we stop there for lunch on the way home. I offered them an out, saying that the guys could review the menu while the ladies shopped in the great little store next door, and if they didn’t find anything they liked we’d just leave. When we came back from the store, they were situated at a table, chatting up the waitress as though it were a comfortable (read: manly) hamburger joint.
Remembering the three sandwiches of the past, I narrowed it down a bit and was ready to order my favorite of those three: the Bacon, Tomato and Avocado sandwich, which comes with red onion, lettuce and a “zesty” cream cheese on a delicious crusty roll. Be prepared to peruse the menu while munching on the fresh bread and dipping sauce, which will be brought to your table along with your choice of drinks (I recommend the sweet peach tea). The seasonings in the dipping sauce can be purchased (another big recommendation—it was so good, I bought a couple of jars for gifts).
On my first trip, there was a spicy beef soup offered as a side; this time, they had asparagus soup with couscous—an unusual combination that paid off. However, if you are into the heavier cream soups that are thick and lay firm on your spoon, you might want to pass. This one was light and brothy, with plenty of butter and seasonings. Their soups are served in coffee cups with generous proportions, making the soup sippable to ensure you get the last dregs. The soup and full sandwich are a bargain at $6.00, or add a second side for a whopping $6.50. Combinations of half sandwiches, as well as wraps and salads are also available.
The most popular sandwich on the menu is the Sarah Vaughan, named in honor of the jazz vocalist. It has diced chicken with fruit and pecans, and comes with your choice of bread or in a salad or a wrap. The Tony Bennett is hot pastrami with Swiss cheese, spicy mustard and a pickle on the side. The Trombone is a chicken Caesar wrap. There is also a standard Reuben, or a turkey club, and dozens of other choices.
Our selections included the French dip, the turkey club and the Tony Bennett, and all were plentiful and fresh. The hot pastrami had been ordered with sourdough rather than rye, but the kitchen must not have gotten the word because it came with a swirled rye; it only took a few minutes to fix the error, with apologies. We all agreed that the quality of meat was high and the bacon on my sandwich and on the turkey club was crispy without being overdone.
For the children, there is a “Little Jazz Singers” menu offering $2.75 grilled cheese or $3.50 cheese quesadilla.
Dessert is a must if you have any respect at all for homemade taste. The desserts change out so are not listed on the menu, but are on a white board. We had our choice of mocha cream cake, tiramisu, and about five other cakes and cookies, but went for the server’s recommendation and got the peppermint cheesecake with four forks. It had a nice chocolate graham crust, and a creamy cheesecake with the taste of butter mints—you know those ones you get at weddings? It was a nice surprise and much more pleasant than our candy cane expectations. It was topped with shaved white chocolate and, at $3.75, ranks as both a good value and as one of the more memorable cheesecakes I’ve ever tasted.
The Café has a roomy feel with about a dozen glass-topped tables scattered around the large expanse. A piano resides on one side, ready for Thursday’s open mic nights, from 7-9:30 p.m. (no dinner, but dessert and coffee is available; there is a $2 cover charge). Restrooms (well, restroom—there are two stalls, but it is a unisex) were clean and spacious with lotion samples from the store next door.
Lunch is available Monday through Saturday. Dinner, featuring dishes such as prime rib or salmon, is served only on Friday and Saturday nights, and reservations are recommended (581-2116). It’s a great space for a reception, too; call 827-4847 for that information.
When you go, have a cup of the soup of the day for me.
