End of the Line Cafe could be nestled perfectly into some corner of New Orleans. But in the Panhandle, it sticks out like a nun in a mosh pit.
The bright-blue vegan cafe was easy to spot among the dull buildings that line Wright Street in downtown Pensacola.
My boyfriend and I walked into the modest room. We settled into the one diner-style booth, which seemed misplaced among the circular cafe tables that dotted the floor.
We caught glimpses of mismatched chandeliers, worn carpet and an assortment of posters, photos and drawings that lined the walls — all black-and-white, and all for sale. Refrigerators hummed and rattled.
We had one thought in mind: espresso. According to the long specials board that hung above the cashier counter, we were in the right place.
I strode up to the counter and searched for a menu. It took a couple minutes for me to spot one, and a few more minutes went by while I waited for an employee to appear.
A casually dressed twenty-something approached and immediately broke my heart: their espresso machine was broken. With stifled disappointment, I ordered a green tea latte and a mezze platter — hummus, tabouli, dolmade and pita — for myself, and a cup of coffee for my carnivorous dinner date. My attempts to pay with a debit card were thwarted. Cash only.
We sat for about five minutes, discussing his stale coffee and my latte, which tasted purely of soy milk, before the cashier delivered more bad news. They were out of tabouli. I would have to settle for pasta salad.
Fifteen minutes later, my food arrived. The pasta salad inspired my taste buds, while the bland hummus lulled them to sleep. I managed to swallow a bite of dolmade. We left as we came, hungry and unnoticed.
End of the Line Cafe, located at 610 E Wright St., offers a myriad of vegan salads and sandwiches featuring homemade, cashew-based cheeses.
It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to to 5 p.m. (brunch from 11 a.m. to to 2 p.m.) and is closed on Mondays. Dine in, order catering or have your food delivered by bicycle. For more information, visit eotlcafe.com.
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