Review by CarliAhsan

Lisa’s Radial Cafe, a quaint breakfast cafe, is located on the corner of 40th and Cuming. Open from 6 a.m.- 2 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. on weekends, Lisa’s is the perfect brunch spot. The cafe is next door to Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop, a great place to stop for all kinds of sweet treats after enjoying an early morning breakfast. After hearing lots of positive reviews, eight Network staffers, including myself, visited Lisa’s to see if it was really as good as everyone claims it to be. 

The building that Lisa’s Radial Cafe is currently in has been standing since the early 1930s. It had always been a diner, but in the 2000s, a new family bought it. Lisa’s Radial Cafe has been family-owned ever since Lisa Schembri first moved in. Lisa’s daughter is the current manager and the rest of the family works to keep their mother’s legacy alive. 

Lisa’s is a very small, homey cafe. As soon as you step in the door, you know you will have a special personal experience. The workers treat everyone like family, and it is a comfortable environment perfect for a weekend morning brunch with your family or friends. They can get pretty busy on the weekends, and they don’t take reservations. If you have a larger party, as we did, I would advise that you call about an hour before you go and ask them if they can set aside a couple of tables. They were more than willing to accommodate. 

The menu has a wide variety of breakfast foods. From the classic “The Works,” two eggs, hash browns, choice of ham, bacon, sausage or turkey sausage, and toast, to the “Radial Specialty Titanic,” a bed of hash browns topped with biscuits, two eggs, and country-fried steak all generously covered in country sausage gravy, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits your taste. They also have a lunch menu complete with sandwiches, burgers, salads and a soup of the day. Their breakfast prices are inexpensive ($6-9), especially considering how large the portions are. 

When it came to ordering, everyone had a hard time choosing what to get because there were so many appetizing options. I went with a classic and ordered hot chocolate and “The Combo,” French toast, one egg, and two strips of bacon. The French toast was filling, and it was perfectly cooked. It wasn’t soggy like some places serve it. The bacon was crispy, but not burnt crispy, and the egg was cooked enough, but not overcooked to the point of it being too dry. The hot chocolate was very hot when it first came out, but it was the perfect amount of chocolate without being too rich or too sweet. The total was $8.99 for The Combo and $1.89 for the hot chocolate.

Others had variations of the French toast with different sides for $7.79, but one of us tried the Killer Cakes, two very large pancakes with chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, for $6.75. One staffer ordered the Radial Raft, a bed of hash browns topped with biscuits and two eggs floating in a sea of country sausage gravy was only $8.29. We also ordered the special of the day, Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast, for the table to share which cost $6.75. This French toast was topped with apples, caramel sauce and whipped cream. It tasted exactly like a dessert. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to finish it if I had ordered it for myself, but it was the perfect dish to share as a group. All of the food was beyond delicious, and we all agreed that we would recommend it to anyone. 

Lisa’s Radial Cafe is the perfect spot to enjoy a nice breakfast or lunch while spending time with family or friends. The food tastes like a home-cooked meal, and one of the best parts is the price. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the staff is especially friendly and helpful. It is a cozy, casual place to visit when you’re looking to try some tasty local food. You are guaranteed to feel comfortable at this cafe. I will definitely be returning soon, and I highly recommend taking a trip to try all the delicious food for yourself.