This restaurant opened on a "whim" seven years ago, occupying one end of a Target shopping center in Duluth, with seating indoors and, yes, on the patio.
"Sometimes I look back and think, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe it actually worked,' " said Julie Medina, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Carlos, and her uncle Lynn Nunley.
It sure has. Folks stand in line to order six days a week, trying to choose from the vast menu of hot and cold sandwiches on homemade bread, salads and soups, as well as breakfast items. And if they can't resist, they top off their meal with a huge slice of cake or one of the Patio's many cookie options.
Attentive audience
My 3-year-old son, Ty, and my niece Alex plastered themselves against the glass dessert case as soon as we headed to order at the counter. The colorful iced clown cookies captured their attention and also kept them busy while we finished eating, aware of the sugar high — and low — to come.
The Patio attracts everyone from families to tennis teammates gathering after a match to individuals and groups of workers.
The counter service is convenient when ordering, and the wait staff promptly brings your meal to the table so you don't have to focus on listening for your name.
Sweet and savory
The Waldorf chicken salad outdoes itself and nicely balances the diced apples, grapes, walnuts and white meat chicken, which is cooked daily. It is bound with just the right amount of mayonnaise, and ours is spread onto fresh sourdough bread (other bread options include wheat, white, rye, pumpernickel, croissants and wraps). Go for the combo -- our "patio duo" for $6.95 has a half sandwich, cup of soup or salad, and a fruit cup. Two soups are available every day, and we were fortunate to be there for the popular chicken with wild rice, which is served in a light creamy broth and served with irresistible muffins and rolls.
The turkey sandwich was stuffed with so much meat that it nearly threw the sandwich out of balance, overwhelming the bread and cheese and mayo.
Removing a few of the thick slices helped. The sandwich was accompanied by a fresh and crunchy Caesar salad with croutons and Parmesan cheese.
The lineup also includes hot sandwiches such as a Philly cheesesteak and pastrami Reuben.
Bakery mania
Those who resist temptation at the Patio miss out.
The dozen choices of soft, fresh-baked cookies, priced at 75 cents (except for the decorated varieties), are a cheap afternoon pick-me-up. The snickerdoodle is a buttery bite topped with cinnamon. The hand-decorated iced cookies are delicious, but only for those with the sweetest of a sweet tooth.
Four or five different cakes by the slice are available daily (they do special orders for cakes, cookies and other bakery items). The toffee crunch layer cake avoids the stickiness of some caramel cakes because of the use of moist yellow cake and white chocolate icing topped with caramel and homemade toffee.
Signature dish: Waldorf chicken salad
Entre prices: $5.75-$8.45
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Reservations: no
Credit cards: yes
Online: www.thepatiocafe.net
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