Stuff we like: Sunshine Café will put a little light in your life
When strangers tell me something about myself unsolicited, I tend to assign them a level of clairvoyance. That’s the way it is in movies.By: Christa Lawler, Duluth News Tribune
- Sunshine Cafe
When strangers tell me something about myself unsolicited, I tend to assign them a level of clairvoyance. That’s the way it is in movies.
It was no different when Young-a Clement set a bottle of sauce in front of me during a recent lunch at the Sunshine Café. It was the color of a melted red crayon, and loaded with pepper seeds.
“What’s that?” I asked Clement, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Steve.
“Hot sauce,” she said and touched my shoulder. “You look like you like hot sauce.”
I felt like my scalp had been read. How did she know?
I ordered the Sunshine Omelet, a three-egg breakfast crammed with onions, green peppers, corned beef hash and cheddar cheese. I promised myself I wouldn’t eat the whole thing — this mound covered 75 percent of my plate — but, well … it was fantastic. The word “diner,” in this case, is not synonymous with something out of an ’80s sitcom. The eggs tasted really light, and so did the hash.
Of course, I had to try the hot sauce, since that was what seemed to be expected of me. The omelet didn’t need it, but what I can I say, I look like I like hot sauce. And I do like hot sauce.
I stopped in to the popular West Duluth diner at 1 p.m. on a weekday, and there was just one table and a few stools at the counter available.
The Sunshine Café is the kind of place where you leave with a story of friendly people and a good meal. One friend told me about the time some diners had entertained her daughter for the entire meal; my first trip to the Sunshine Café was with my boyfriend, who had been a regular for many years before moving away from the neighborhood. Clement remembered him by name, and asked about some of his friends.
After her sons left, a woman sitting near me told me about her grandchildren, soccer players in Proctor. When do-wop ’50s music began playing, a woman behind me sighed and said: “I love this kind of music.”
When I left, Clement reminded me to stop back and said she wanted to see me there again.
I guess we know what that means.
About the Sunshine Cafe
Where: 5719 Grand Ave., Duluth
Menu item: Sunshine Omelet, $7.99
Enjoy it with: Coffee, ’50s music and friendly customers
Call: (218) 624-7013
Notes: The Sunshine Café does not take credit cards or debit cards; it’s only open until 3 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.
Tags: stuff we like, arts and entertainment, life, reviews, food
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