15 Things You Need To Know About MTO Cafe

MTO Cafe, the coming Downtown spot that plans to serve up breakfast and lunch daily, is already targeting an October deadline for opening. The restaurant, which sits across from City Hall on the ground floor of the city parking garage, is small, seating 65. Here now, 15 things you need to know about the joint before it opens.

1. Chef partner Johnny Church, who in recent times helped View Wine Bar & Kitchen open at Tivoli Village and still works at RM Seafood at Mandalay Place, helms the kitchen.

2. Brunch is on the agenda on the weekends.

3. Las Vegas-based Shift Solutions, "a company whose founders have had a hand in numerous venues in the city and beyond," is behind the project.

4. Expect a post modern/Atomic Age decor.

5. Better yet, think of diners found in Hollywood in the '50s and '60s.

6. Leather banquettes, stainless steel accents and a black-and-white terrazzo floor set the scene.

7. A 14-seat communal table anchors the dining room.

8. Breakfast is all about eggs. A menu of wraps, omelets and skillets includes one with chile, jalapeño, cheddar, sour cream and scallions and other with chicken sausage, roasted tomato, caramelized onions and arugula.

9. But wait. There are pancakes too in lemon poppy seed with blueberry-ginger compote and vegan carrot and coconut with pecans and agave nectar.

10. There will also be chicken in a waffle.

11. Now on to lunch, with soups, salads and wraps such as the Celery Sucker with collard greens, quinoa, tatziki, babaganoush and tomato-basil and the Fat Elvis sandwich with French toast, bacon, banana, peanut butter, strawberries and Nutella.

12. The burger menu includes The Hang Over with bacon, fried egg, Tillamook Cheddar, lettuce and special sauce, a turkey version served open-faced with truffle bread pudding and orange-cranberry sauce and the Tree Hugger with quinoa, corn, red pepper, spinach, onions, mushrooms and chipotle aioli.

13. Sides include 3rd Street Farmers Market vegetables and fries and gravy.

14. For dessert, leave room for banana split bites, fried apple rings or walnut tossies.

15. The restaurant expects to be open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
· All Coverage of MTO Cafe [~ELV~]