Cheap Eats - Sister act
Some constructive advice for Five Sisters Cafe
A funky vibe permeates the Five Sisters Cafe, with its overstuffed couches and armchairs, salvaged pub-style wooden tables and multi-colored Christmas bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Walls painted a vibrant purple and green, and an eclectic variety of drawings and paintings, add to the restaurant’s safe alterna-kitsch feel. You’d think your were in the heart of downtown Decatur, not on its dreary outskirts.
Les cinq soeurs: The splashy portrait of the five Kalvelage sisters that dominates the room begins to tell the story of their dream. They started the place back in 1997 as a coffee shop. Then they began serving lunch, expanded to dinner (now served only on Friday night). They grew up in Sagamore Hills across the street, and their exuberance still brightens the cafe.
Sandwiches: The staple here is the sandwiches, with perky names such as Bab’s Chicken Salad ($6.50), Sylvia’s Shrimp Wrap ($7.95) and Dev’s Ham & Swiss ($6.50). The hefty price of the Caroline ($7) was a surprise, but I bit anyway. I wish I hadn’t. This wimpy, uninteresting tuna salad variation is served with a thin spread of goat cheese, mixed greens, roasted red peppers, onion and cucumber, and a miso dressing; country French baguettes weren’t available, so I went with the whole wheat. I could’ve done better at most any grocery. I didn’t expect much from the Fabulous Faux Crab ($6.75) my friend ordered (served with scallions, tomatoes and lettuce), and my low expectations were met. The sandwiches are a little more impressive when served on a baguette, but they’re still not up to snuff.
Combo: For a better deal, try the combo — a half-sandwich and a cup of the soup du jour or salad for $7.95. Choose from Bab’s Chicken, Donna’s Turkey, Peg’s Veg or Dev’s Ham & Swiss. The Peg’s Veg ($7) is an assemblage of roasted eggplant, red peppers, mixed greens with goat cheese and pesto. Thank God for the splash of tangy pesto, otherwise I may have cleared a space and taken a nap. Sides of potato chips, tomato cucumber salad or fresh fruit (orange slices and grapes) didn’t do much to perk up the plate. The lobster bisque was buttery and full, however.
Dinner: Friday dinner specials offer a chance for something a little more playful. On a recent evening, choices included garlic bread with a roasted garlic puree, arugula salad, grilled portabella, and a penne and cheese pasta. The large slices of garlic bread ($3.95) included plenty of spread. They talked us into the pasta — though it was described as “glorified macaroni and cheese.” Dead-on. The penne was smothered in a variety of rich cheeses, but the portion was small — especially for the $6.95 price. Perhaps a combination of the above items would’ve been worthier of the sisters’ efforts.