Dan's Papers - June 6, 2008

Still skeptical that food that does a body good can't possibly please the palate? One visit to Sunset Café, the casual take-out or eat-in restaurant located around the corner from the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, will make you a believer.

Featuring an expansive menu of fresh soups, salads, sandwiches and more made from organic and, when seasonally possible, locally grown ingredients, Sunset Café offers feel-good fill-ups at reasonable prices. Paninis are popular, and customer favorites reportedly include the grilled honey mustard chicken with swiss cheese ($10.45), and the tuna melt ($9.85), both served on multigrain health bread. Vegetarian options abound, like the creamy butternut squash soup ($3.75 - $4.85), and melted brie with avocado and apple slices on pumpernickel bread ($9.85). Breakfast lovers who also love to sleep in can order their favorite meal all day, and choose from whole wheat and honey waffles ($5.45), a yogurt parfait with granola clusters, mixed fruit and honey ($7.50), and more.

While devotees would be hard-pressed to tire of the standard selections, they also won't want to miss out on a variety of daily specials. My mouth began watering as soon as I read the Sandwich of the Day's contents - freshly sliced turkey, thin pineapple slices, Dutch-imported Gouda, and cranberry-jalapeno jam on multigrain health bread - and for good reason. The bread was warm and crunchy, the cheese gooey but not greasy, and the pineapple's sweetness was balanced perfectly by the jam's tartness. The Salad of the Day consisted of spinach topped with strawberries, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette and chevre, and proved to be an ideal complement to my panini and freshly brewed iced tea. All together, it was a perfect meal for a perfect, early-summer afternoon - fresh, light and filling.

Those looking for a quick boost also have many options. Several varieties of free-trade, organic coffee ($1.35 - $2.25) are brewed fresh throughout the day, and caffeine alternatives, like lattes ($3.85 - $4.85), cappuccinos ($4.45 - $5.85) and macchiatos ($4.45 - $5.85) are made to order. (After asking to be surprised with their adrenaline-pumping pick, I enjoyed a not-too-strong, not-too-sweet iced caramel macchiato with a healthy dose of whipped cream.) Fresh smoothies ($3.50 - $5.50) are also made to order; customers can choose from a variety of organic fruits, and add herbal infusions, like wheat grass, echinacea and more, for an extra $1.50. Delicious muffins, cupcakes and cookies are provided by Peconic Baking Company, in Riverhead.

While dining at Sunset Café will leave you energized and invigorated, you still might be inclined to hang around a while. The décor is soothing - walls are painted in earthy shades of orange, yellow, brown and aqua, and fresh breezes flow through four sets of doors that open from the dining area onto a small outdoor patio. And while swimming, shopping and socializing await, those in less of a hurry can surf the Internet on two Mac stations or via free Wi-Fi, play Scrabble or Monopoly, and catch up on current events displayed on a large flat-screen. Those who hang around long enough can even partake in the café's new wine and martini bar, which is currently open from 5-11 p.m. on weekend nights, and will eventually open every night later in the summer.

This is only the second season for Sunset Café, which is owned by Carrie Coakley, who also owns Magic's Pub, The Artful Dodger and Westhampton Seabreeze Motel. But if the eatery's fresh selections, inviting atmosphere and loyal health food converts are any indication, it won't be long before it joins the ranks of Westhampton Beach's must-stop staples.