Dos Gringos

Editor’s Note: Now that endless simmer is more popular than MySpace, a line of aspiring food bloggers has begun to form outside our offices (although some of them apparently thought it was a food bank). After an extensive, American Idol-esque audition process, we decided to bring the best of the best in to spice this thing up a bit. Pinch of Minch is a high-powered TV executive who is well aware that television is dead and blogging is the future. Specifically, this blog. Please welcome Pinch of Minch to ES.

Upon first glance at the mounted menu in Spanish, one might wish they paid a bit more attention in their high school language immersion class. Just follow the locals at the Mt. Pleasant café Dos Gringos and direct your eyes to the indiscernible English menu tucked just out of peripheral vision. There you’ll notice a tasty variety of vegan and vegetarian food along with healthy carnivorous deli options. The sandwich choices like Chipotle Grilled Tofu, Bean Mash Wrap, and Curried Chicken Salad are wholesome, satisfying and fit in perfectly with the handmade pottery they are served on. Free cupcake samples made from scratch line the counter next to homemade bakery goods. The extensive breakfast menu includes a Cilantro Egg Wrap with havarti cheese and Belgian Waffles with fruit and chocolate syrup. Late-risers beware: Dos Gringos usually sells out of their popular breakfast items by 11 on weekdays and just a half hour later on the weekends. The café might have a granola feel, but the staff is as quick and abrupt as any Bronx Pizza joint. This slight- yet café-efficient attitude will keep you from taking your time to choose between the Corned Beef or the Portabella Grinder right when you get to the front of the line.
Overall, the food is natural and delicious, the atmosphere Bohemian-chic, and it’s no surprise the quaint café sits right on top of Mt. Pleasant. And if you still feel the need to brush up your Spanish- language skills, Dos Gringos offers informal conversation exchanges on Saturday nights.