Caf

“Handmade and Always Fresh” is the motto of Café Cosmos, a stylish and cozy Temecula café that prides itself on serving fresh food made to order. The café has several tables and booths so that patrons may eat their food at the restaurant, but they also prepare food “to go” for either pick-up or delivery in the Temecula area. It’s a good place to bring the kids for a quick, no-fuss meal — the plates are plastic and cups are paper. But don’t let the plastic plates fool you; the food is fresh and certainly worthy of a ceramic plate.

The “Slow Roasted BBQ Tri Tip” for $9.95 is served with a hearty side of steamed carrots and broccoli as well as fries. Not in the mood for fries? Try the “Yam Chips,” which have great flavor. The tri tip is rubbed with a secret barbeque seasoning and then slow roasted to perfection. This delicious meat is then sliced and grilled to order.

The café’s menu boasts other full dinners, which are listed as “Specialties.” They include “Cosmos Turkey Chili,” “Half Rotisserie Rosemary Chicken” and “Penne Country Chicken,” which is fresh penne with chicken, basil, snow peas, asparagus, garlic and fresh tomato topped with Parmesan cheese. The menu also offers starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and “Buffalo wings.”

An unusual but delicious salad is the Montecito Salad, which is a bed of field greens garnished with dried apricots, caramelized walnuts, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette for $7.95. Chicken can be added for $2.25.

Good iced tea is difficult to find in restaurants, but Café Cosmos offers brewed “Paradise” iced tea, which is a flavorful tea that tastes like passion fruit.

Café Cosmos is located at 26690 Ynez Road in Temecula. Please call (951) 695-4488 for “to go” orders or delivery in Temecula.