Market City Cafe, a new addition to downtown Macon, has become quite a hit with the lunch crowd. Such a hit in fact that if you’re craving dessert, you had better place your order as soon as you walk in the door.
My girlfriends and I found this out firsthand on a recent lunch outing. The banana pudding sounded divine, but unfortunately there was nothing left to try — not even a slice of chocolate cake. The waitress said dessert, which is made fresh daily, goes fast and suggested that if you plan to order any, it’s best to order ahead of time and they will gladly set some aside for you to enjoy after your meal.
Despite the slight disappointment at missing out on dessert, our meal was quite good. I ordered the Warm Meatloaf Sandwich, which came served on grilled bread and with a side of coleslaw and homemade potato chips. I wasn’t a big fan of the coleslaw because I like it a little tart, but my friend liked it and she swore that it tasted exactly like that served at Chick-fil-A.
The meatloaf, thinly sliced and full of flavor, resembled nothing like any I have tried before. The flavors and moistness reminded me a lot of dressing at Thanksgiving, and the only ingredient I could distinctly make out was celery. My friend thought the overwhelming flavor might be fennel, but was assured by the owner that it wasn’t. She became so obsessed with this meat mystery that she later e-mailed me to say she was sure it had to be caraway seed.
One of my friends ordered the soup of the day, a chicken vegetable, which she found to be a little heavy on the broth, and a grilled cheese sandwich. The sandwich, made with a blend of sharp cheddar and aged provolone, was so gooey and buttery it was like biting into warm homemade macaroni and cheese.
Another friend had the Martina and Mae, a grilled chicken breast sandwich with Brie cheese and honey Dijon dressing. I expected it to be a full chicken breast, but was actually pleased to find that the meat was thinly sliced, which made the sandwich much easier to eat. She loved the homemade chips, but would have liked the chance to add a little vinegar to them.
With our lunch outing deemed a success, I also took the opportunity to try the breakfast menu at Market City one Saturday morning. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, but is served until 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, giving clients the chance to sleep in a little.
I’m a big fan of carbs and went straight for the French Toast Napoleon. Instead of regular toast, the meal was made with a light French brioche, and came topped with fresh strawberries, Chantilly cream and pecans. I would gladly get fat eating this every day if I could — it was that good!
My friend ordered the Country Benedict, a blend of scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuit all covered with homemade country gravy. The flavors were good, but the gravy was so thick that it was almost like paste.
Overall, I would recommend Market City to anyone visiting downtown — but remember to order your dessert first!
Market City Cafe
502 Cherry St.
Three stars
Phone number: (478) 257-6612
Price range: $1.25-$7.95
Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday
Payment: Cash, credit cards
Reservations: No
Dress: Casual
Noise level: Low to moderate
Children's menu: No
Vegetarian selections: Yes
Alcohol: Yes
Latest health code rating: 98
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