Marty’s Café Tugogh By Jim White Vincent Van Gogh provides the inspiration for the play on words name of Marty’s Café Tugogh. Starry, starry lunch? Maybe not a priceless masterpiece, but certainly a palate full of choices. With Marty’s transformation into a full-service food operation over the last couple of years, hungry people now have even more reason to stop by the venerable Oak Lawn institution. It has always been a great place to pick up a bottle of wine and gourmet goodies for a picnic or a party, and it still is, but now you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. There’s a tranquil dining room in the front of the store with wine books and magazines--just steps away from the dazzling wine selection (you can order by the glass or bottle at retail prices, not restaurant prices)-a cool oasis for a mid summer’s business lunch. Chef Mynetta Cockrell and her staff have put together a full menu of salads, sandwiches, entrees and pastas. There’s no wait-service at lunch (it is offered for dinner), but this can be a bonus when time is of the essence. Order food-hot or cold-from the deli area, then relax with your meal in the dining room (or rush back to the office with your lunch tucked under your arm if you insist!) For starters try the Thai corn cakes and sesame chicken skewers with peanut sauce ($5.99). Also great for this hot weather is the three-salad plate ($6.99) with chicken salad, pasta primavera and fresh fruit. I had a tasty grilled chicken sandwich with pepper Jack cheese ($5.95), and several other interesting selections are offered including a Reuben and a grilled tuna salad. Entrees from the grill shine: Beef tenderloin ($11.95), marinated quail ($8.95), and salmon steak ($7.95) are among the offerings. I would suggest they be served on a plate with silverware for dining room patrons rather than the plastic containers and utensils used for to go dishes. All in all, it’s a quiet, casual, comfortable setting with good food in a great space. Marty’s Café Tugogh 3316 Oak Lawn (214) 526-7796 Check out even more restaurant reviews in our Best Business Lunches area. Join “The KRLD Restaurant Show with Jim White” Sundays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 1080 AM Send me an Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.