JULY 2018 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 31
In 1996, Jennifer and Todd learned
about available commercial space at
their current location in the Plaza
Sobrante Shopping Center, located
at 3550 San Pablo Dam Road in El
Sobrante. The building was new
and required significant work and far
more financial investment than they’d
anticipated to prepare the space for
restaurant operation. The couple secured
loans from family and investors and by
December 1997, opened for business
as Jennifer and Todd’s Café Soleil.
Twenty-one years later, the business has
grown far beyond the 600 square foot
space once known as Jennifer’s Café, and
also supports a thriving catering business
for weddings, corporate, and other social
and private events.
Jennifer and Todd aspired to
“create a modern and artistically
warm and wonderful place to have a
comfortable meal”—a goal that that
they have achieved and far exceeded!
The café’s atmosphere is relaxed and
casual, family-friendly, and the personal
service is warm and welcoming. The
interior of the restaurant is resplendent
with décor supporting the Café Soleil
theme. A large yellow sun prominently
painted on the far wall of the dining
area, immediately welcome customers as
they walk through the main entrance.
Strings of red and gold Café Soleil flags
are suspended across the high ceiling.
Two walls are lined with red brick,
and beautiful hand-painted murals
and painted accents on the walls are
reminiscent of a real French café (though
the restaurant serves American cuisine!)
Many of the customers are loyal locals
who come in repeatedly for the delicious
food, large portions, and reasonable
prices that they have come to know
and love. The restaurant accommodates
up to 90 guests, with both counter and
table seating available. During the busy
breakfast and lunch rushes, the counter
seats afford customers the fascinating
experience of watching the chefs
perform a well-orchestrated routine of
quickly and expertly preparing meal
orders. The servers bustle busily among
the guests, taking orders and delivering
BLAJT
plates to the tables, while hosts and
hostesses ensure cups and glasses are
filled, and that tables are cleared and
turned over quickly as guests depart.
Café Soleil specialized only in
breakfast and lunch service for many
years before adding dinner service
approximately nine years ago. The
extensive menu includes so many
choices that it will take you awhile
to read through if you haven’t visited
before. The breakfast and lunch menus
include all the favorites--traditional egg
breakfasts, omelets, pancakes, French
Toast, biscuits and gravy, hot and cold
cereals and fresh fruit, and an impressive
list of freshly made sandwiches,
burgers, and entrée salads—and all
breakfast and lunch items are available
all day. Starting at 4:00, the dinner
selections become available, adding
approximately 15 entrees from which
to choose. Among the dinner entrees
are such favorites as Chicken Parmesan,
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Tortellini, Pork
Chops, Mushroom Ravioli, Chicken
Saltimbocca, Chicken Marsala, and
Ribeye and New York steaks. All dinner
entrees are served with your choice
or soup or salad at no extra charge.
Daily morning and evening specials
are posted at the entrance to the cafe,
giving hungry customers added options.
Beverages available to accompany your
meal at include soft drinks, iced tea,
milk, assorted juices, coffee, tea, hot
cocoa, hand-made milk shakes, and beer
and wine selections. Although they do
not offer full bar service, Café Soleil
offers Mimosas, and recently added
several wine-based cocktails, including
Margaritas, Cosmos, Bloody Mary’s,
Mojitos, and Moscow Mules. The
cocktails are pre-mixed, are made with
rice wine and are produced by Bar 42.
Jennifer and Todd purchase only the
best quality food products to serve at the
café, including fresh seasonal fruits and
vegetables, eggs, meats, fish, and poultry.
Their breads and rolls are sourced fresh
daily from Richmond-based Maggiora
Baking Company, and most everything
else is made from scratch at the cafe.
For example, they roast a fresh turkey
every day, (which makes their turkey
club sandwich the best in the area!) They
make fresh homemade soups; marinara,
marsala, alfredo, and hollandaise sauces;
potato salad; garlic mashed potatoes and
hash browns; and fresh, fluffy biscuits.
Mon - Thurs: 6:00 am - 8:00 pm | Fri & Sat: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm | Sun: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm