DINING OUT -- MARY FURR

A television station in Tokyo included the Park Bench Cafe, on

Goldenwest Street just below Slater Avenue, in a program of interesting

eating places in the United States. The program featured the cafe’s

doggie menu for those diners walking their pets in Huntington Central

Park.

The woodsy Park Bench Cafe was just a takeout place 13 years ago when

Michael and Christine Bartusick bought it, but it has grown with an

umbrella decked patio and a small cafe of distressed white wood walls

with eight checkered vinyl-covered tables holding vases of colorful silk

daffodils and carnations.

The canine cuisine sort of thrust itself on the cafe, first with bowls

of fresh water for the dogs and then full-blown poochie parties

celebrating the birthdays of our four-footed friends.

Breakfast for people (7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) can’t be beat with

three-egg omelets that cover half the hot platter ($6.25 to $8.25) and

include a choice of pancakes, fruit or home fries. Michael says he takes

directions for his menu from park customers -- joggers and strollers who

enjoy the rustic paths with their dogs.

The park omelette ($8.25), a thick fluffy envelope, is full of big

pieces of grilled bacon, mushrooms, crunchy onions and melted cheddar and

jack cheese topped with a big blob of avocado. Our server Niki brought an

extra plate to hold the two big pancakes filled with blueberries. The

added berries (75 cents) rather than just plain cakes made it the most

sumptuous breakfast I’d ever indulged in -- a meal to last until dinner.

The veggie omelette ($8.25, with cheddar and jack cheese add 79 cents)

is brimming with crunchy bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and made by

Michael’s mother Bernice Avalos. It is quite spicy -- a little goes a

long way. Michael says his mom taught him all he needs to know about

cooking and taught him well. Fruit with the omelette is big bunches of

red grapes and slices of melon that Michael hand-selects from the local

produce markets. The freshness is the key to the great breakfast at Park

Bench Cafe.

The farm breakfast ($7.99) a very popular choice, has home fries

topped with two scrambled eggs, grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon, cheddar

and jack cheese and finally a scoop of avocado mix. You can also have a

homemade biscuit smothered in sausage gravy ($3.99) or hot oatmeal

($5.99) with a choice of two -- brown sugar, raisins, granola, walnuts

and toast or English muffin.

Recently added to the menu are burrito wraps ($7.25 to $7.50) filled

with eggs and bacon, sausage, ham, bell pepper and even steak -- you name

it and you’ve got a wrap you can handle while commuting to work.

And now to the canine cuisine. Pets have always had a reserved area at

the cafe and been served water just like everyone else, so a menu of

their own is a natural. There’s hot diggity dog ($1.59) a plain all-beef

hot dog without bun, cut up in doggie bit size; bow wow wow ($2.29), a

boneless skinless cut up chicken fillet; chilly paws ($1.29), a scoop of

vanilla ice cream for the pampered pooch, and finally doggie kibble (79

cents) for the discriminating dog who doesn’t eat table food.

A Westminster High School grad, Michael has had 10 years experience as

a restaurant owner, and though Park Bench Cafe appears casual, it’s a

well-run restaurant attune to its customers. He takes care of the back of

the store, Christine the front -- a happy mix.

On weekends, the outside tables increase to over 20 -- what a

wonderful way to begin the summer -- a jog, a pooch and a latte!

* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have comments

or suggestions for her, call (562) 493-5062.

o7 FYI

f7 Park Bench Cafe

ADDRESS: 17732 Goldenwest St.

PHONE: (714) 842-0775

SUMMER HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

weekends.

MISC.: Credit cards accepted