Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Tired of the ordinary lunch and dinner choices offered at so many eateries? Then you’re in for a real ‘surprise’ if you stop by Café Sorpreso, located at 415 Main St.
“Sorpreso translates to ‘surprise.’ That’s what you’ll get when you dine with us,” said Jan Lucas, one of the co-owners of the business. “It’s difficult to tell what we sell as we change all the time. But it is fresh produce, not fast food.” The café is the culmination of a lot of planning by four friends: Lucas; her husband, Roger Lucas; and their friends, Clifton and Judy Boudman. Each brings to the establishment a variety of recipes picked up during their travels in other parts of the world.
“Judy has cooked for many years, as you know, here and in the Far East. Clif enjoyed cooking dinners at the Rum Rapids and introduced folk to the flavors from the many countries he has visited. Roger gained his master chef status in the British Household Cavalry and continued to cook in Australia and the Far East for several years,” said Lucas.
Lucas gained her experience cooking in the United Kingdom, France and Italy where she prepared meals for many years, including feeding members of the British royal family and government.
That worldly cooking experience is being put to use now in the Star City.
“We realized there was no place to eat – no variety. There was just no atmosphere, no place to go and experience something a bit different than the same old steak and potatoes, burgers and fries,” said Clifton Boudman.
The menu varies on a daily basis, with separate menus for lunch and dinner. Lunch offerings include salads, desserts, soups, wraps and bistro sandwiches like the roast beef French dip and hot ham and Swiss panini. The dinner menu includes appetizers, salads, soups, desserts and entrees like the angus filet mignon in a Cabernet Sauvignon and mushroom sauce or seared sea scallops with sweet pepper and wine reduction and cilantro drizzle.
The café seats approximately 40 people, with reservations required a day in advance for dinner due to the establishment’s growing popularity.
“We’ve only been open since Nov. 16 but we’ve already had to turn people away, so we’re asking folks to make reservations a day in advance to guarantee a seat,” said Boudman.
The menu isn’t the only aspect of the restaurant that’s a bit different from everyone else. The facility also offers a lounge area for people to drop in, bring their laptops and surf the Internet or read one of several publications available on site while enjoying one of dozens of beverages offered at the café.
“We have Internet access. It’s wireless, double fire-walled. Thirty people could be on computers in here at the same time. There are no codes needed to get access. The antenna stays in the room; the minute you go outside the signal’s dropped. Service is fast,” explained Boudman.
Boudman said individuals can come in and view a selection of printed media.
“Folks can come in and peruse the New York Sunday Times, The Economist, New Yorker, Vanity Fair, London Literary Supplement, as well as the Man Booker Prize winner and more. While they’re here, they can enjoy a fresh brewed espresso, cappuccino, coffee or tea – all in a variety of flavors,” said Boudman. “It’s a living room atmosphere, a place to sit back and relax.”
Or, if customers prefer, they can choose from a selection of wine or beers.
“I think we’re the only full espresso bar north of Bangor,” added Boudman.
Menus change a couple times a week, with selections varying depending on the season and what produce is available.
“We feature locate fare whenever possible,” said Lucas.
“We use local farmers’ produce. We connected with people at the farmer’s market earlier this year and have arrangements to get local produce for the business when it’s available,” added Boudman.
Talks have been under way with the PIHS school farm as well.
“We’ve connected with the school farm. We’ll see what we may be able to use from there,” said Lucas. “We’re not into pre-frozen. That’s not something we care to do.”
“We want everything to be fresh – the food and atmosphere. One hundred percent of what we have here is nowhere else,” said Boudman.
Boudman said what can’t be purchased locally is obtained through distributors in the Midwest and South Carolina, since there are no distributors in Maine for the items the owners prefer to use.
“The problem we find with local suppliers is they don’t supply to individuals. They carry the same products for everyone. But we’re not like everyone else,” said Lucas.
The business has already built a base of repeat customers.
“We get many of the same people coming in every day,” said Boudman.
“We have people come for lunch and dinner,” continued Lucas. “Food preparation isn’t rushed; this isn’t fast food. Items are cooked to order, so it may take a bit longer, but we make it worth the wait. Nothing is pre-done.”
Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Dinner is served 5 to 8:30 p.m., with reservations a must at this point, according to Boudman. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – the busiest days of the week. For more information or to make a reservation, call 764-1854. Six staff members are on hand for each meal. Takeout is offered on lunch and drinks.
Café Sorpreso is helping change the atmosphere downtown.
“We’re changing Main St. attitudes about eating and the environment of the community. We want to create an environment for people to feel comfortable – a humanistic place to come,” said Boudman.
“Basically we’re four friends who want to have fun with food and share the experience with our customers. Stop by, try us out and let us know what you think,” said Lucas.
