A Unique Crossing A Unique Crossing (March 08, 2002)

By Joni Ratts

Five months ago Ida and Winson Ma opened Crossings Café in Mountain View. After operating a travel agency for more than twenty years, they thought it would be a novel idea to combine travel with a café _ a place to plan your vacation while enjoying a good cup of coffee and a bite to eat. To that end they began the process of relocating AeroCruise Travel to the then unfinished space at the Crossings.

It took a year to complete the design and construction and actually move in. They opened on September 4th _ one week before the incident at the World Trade Center. Before their dream even started it seemed to be unraveling. The tightened economy was not conducive to spending, and people were canceling travel plans. The Mas wondered if they had made a mistake.

"The first three months were really slow," Ida recalls, but she did not abandon her dream. "I wanted someplace where people could come in and enjoy the place, the food, the service and hopefully make travel plans. I believe with time we'll grow; we'll stay as long as time allows."

Opposite the San Antonio Caltrain station in Mountain View, it is definitely convenient for commuters who like to grab coffee and a muffin, scone or croissant on their way to work. For others, the most obvious obstacle is this "off the beaten path" location. Ida believes that once people discover Crossings, they'll come back. I agree.

If first impressions are lasting, Crossings makes a good one. The space is clean, pleasant and inviting. Tile flooring, maple furniture and high windows lend an uncluttered, airy feel to the two-story building. Several murals by local artist Nick Motley, who did the artwork at the San Mateo train station, lend color and whimsy. Appropriately, one of them is of a steam train.

As you enter, the café is to the left and a travel reference desk is to the right. A blackboard behind the counter displays the menu and daily specials. Printed menus are also available.

Selections are clear-cut and modestly priced. Breakfast fare includes house-made Belgian waffles ($4.50) with fresh fruit, light whipped cream and maple syrup, or breakfast bagel, muffin or croissant with scrambled eggs and cheese ($2.75 - $2.95) and optional bacon or sausage sides ($.50). Baked goods are fresh daily.

The main morning draw is coffee. Espresso ($1.35, single - $1.85, double) and Americana ($1.95) are both popular and tasty, but their freshly brewed Italian coffee is excellent (12 ounce _ $1.35, 16 ounce _ $1.75). Coffee lovers who haven't tasted the full-bodied, intense flavor of Torrefazione Italia coffee have missed an incredible taste treat. Crossings offers coffee cards _ buy ten cups, get one free. The Torrefazione is available by the bag, either ground or whole bean.

If you prefer designer coffee, Crossings offers an array of choices, served hot or iced: cappuccino, latte, mocha, white mocha, and café au lait. There is also chai and soy latte ($2.75). A specialty of the house is ChooChooCCino ($3.25), an ice blended coffee drink.

Non-coffee drinkers need not despair. There are Barnes & Watson teas ($1.35): English breakfast, Earl Grey, spring dragon, Darjeeling, emerald blossom and chamomile smoothies ($3.25), iced tapioca milk tea ($2.50), iced milk tea ($2.50) and fresh-squeezed orange juice ($2.50). An assortment of bottled juices and drinks are also offered.

On a recent afternoon while I was sipping iced tea on the patio, a runner stopped for Gatorade, and a walker stopped for coffee-to-go. Don't be surprised to see neighborhood kids in the afternoon doing homework or visiting with friends. Crossings is a friendly place.

Lunch sandwiches are well worth the price. My favorite is wild, nutty turkey salad ($5.25). It comes on a hot sourdough roll, but I favor it on toasted wheat oatnut bread _ thick-sliced, fresh and soft. The turkey salad features grapes, cranberry and peanuts served with mayo, lettuce and tomato. This sandwich is so popular, Crossings now offers a sandwich card promotion _ buy ten, get one free. I'm on my way.

Other sandwiches include: ABC (avocado, bacon and cheese), BLT, Crossings club, hot grilled chicken breast, Albacore tuna and Oriental chicken salad ($4.50 - $5.25). And for vegetarians: falafel in pita bread with sesame Tahini sauce, cashew egg with avocado and cucumber, or Babaghanoush (eggplant), all $4.95.

Soup and salad lovers are in luck. House-made soups, either alone ($2.95) or with a half sandwich ($5.25), change daily. Specialty salads make great midday meals. Super Greek with a scoop of wild, nutty turkey ($5.75) and Chinese Chicken Salad ($4.95) look equally appealing. The Hearty Chicken Caesar ($4.94), mounded crisp Romaine generously topped with warm grilled chicken strips, is very satisfying.

For this reviewer, stopping in at Crossings Café gives me the feeling of being someplace else. Perhaps it's the enticing travel brochures or watching the train pull in and out of the station. Whatever the reason, I have the sense I'm waiting to go somewhere, and wish I were. I find the sense of anticipation a pleasant change of pace.
Crossings Café, 2101 Showers Drive, Mountain View, (650) 559-9989
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations: No Credit cards: Yes Takeout: Yes Parking: Limited/street Noise level: Low despite trains Wheelchair access: Yes