My insides are happy after my first visit to Fa-Me Caffe, a welcome addition to midtown Phoenix’s restaurant options. Fa-Me Caffe has so much going right it’s bound to make its mark on the Phoenix restaurant scene.

Fa-me’s owners, Ivan and Maria O’Farrill, are quite special, perhaps delightful is the better term. They are transplants from Cabo San Lucas with stops in San Diego and New York. They have Corazon (heart) as well as a real ache for quality food, warm service and guest comfort.

New York is an important part of their story. It was there Ivan attended the Culinary Institute of America and later studied with James Beard award winning chef Daniel Boulud. Needless to say, Ivan has wicked cullinary skills and I love that he wears dress whites. It tells me he has honor and respect for his profession.

I had a chance to sit with Ivan and Maria and talk about their dreams and intention. Simply stated, they want to delight people. The food needs to bring joy to the senses and the service needs to remind guests they are special and welcomed.

I tried out one of their sandwiches… a shaved turkey with tomato and pesto on slices of tasty Noble Bread. It came with choice of sides, I choose salad. Ivan told me how they prepare the meats. Although I didn’t quite follow all the concepts, the outcome was moist and tasty turkey piled to just the right proportion. The basil was more than tasty as were the bright red tomatoes and crisp-fresh salad. Yes, I liked it a lot… especially since the meal was under ten bucks, a real bonus in my book.

Fa-Me Caffe is open for breakfast and lunch. As of this writing, they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays and will expand to a 6-7 day a week schedule as they tighten up the many variables of running a successful place. (There is a whole story here. Ivan and Maria do not want a lot of early press. They want to slowly and deliberately grow so each and every meal is served properly.)

I implore you to drop by Fa-Me Caffe for breakfast or lunch. You’ll be treated to a simple, yet varied menu that is sure to make your stomach happy. Plus, it will give you a great place to share with friends who like the idea of being treated well and enjoy exceptionally prepared food.

Fa-Me Caffe is located at 4700 N Central in the same center as Hula’s. They are open at 6:00 am and close at 4:00.

The Urban Team