Luke’s Cafe: Bringing tasty back
Luke’s Cafe on the Quad has always held some appeal to me. Compared to other USU Dining Services locations, it’s more sophisticated — maybe it’s the nonchalant way its patrons wave their ballpoint pens while sipping Cafe Ibis coffee.
I’ve since learned that Luke’s is more than a hub for chill people, Helvetica bold glasses and eclectic rock — it also houses some of the best food on campus.
For months, I’ve eyed the glass-encased desserts — cheesecakes, chocolate croissants, cake balls and eclairs — wistfully wondering what I would someday purchase. Today, I decided on the cherry pie pocket.
“Would you like that warmed up?” asked the woman at the counter.
That’s an option? Of course. “Yeah, sure,” I replied.
It was lunchtime, so I asked the woman what their best sandwich was. The BLT, she said.
Despite the high traffic of customers, the workers had my meal ready in a few short minutes. The sandwich was cut into two triangles, with a small mound of thin-sliced chips in the rift.
If you’re like me, you didn’t know what a California BLT was. It’s your basic bacon, lettuce and tomato, with the addition of avocado. Straightforward, but the simplicity is sort of the appeal. It comes with sourdough bread, but — unlike other campus dining outlets — you can request gluten-free bread.
Luke’s cooks their bacon the way I like it — crispy, with more meat than fat. If that’s not your style, the workers are accommodating and would certainly follow special requests.
The avocado was spread evenly to every corner, and the other sandwich elements were fresh and flavorful. Every bite had the perfect ratio of sourdough, ripe tomato, lettuce and bacon.
In addition to serving the basic BLT, Luke’s serves gourmet sandwiches and wraps, soups and salads.
The cherry pie was delightful — a small pocket of homemade, frosted, holiday nostalgia. Getting it heated up was a good choice. It reminded me of sharing my grandma’s pie with relatives after a hot meal. It will probably remind you of your grandma, as well.
I’m happy to report that I am charmed by Luke’s Cafe. I look forward to trying many other menu items while enjoying its ambiance.
— Brenna Kelly is a sophomore majoring in journalism, with minors in political science and multimedia. She mostly writes articles, but occasionally tweets @bckelly8.