Come December 29; the one-year-anniversary of the closing of California Pizza Kitchen on Linden St will arrive. Replacing the beloved ‘CPK’ would be a bohemian, Israeli cafe, by the name of Tatte. What began as a foreign mystery to the inhabitants of Wellesley, has now become the hottest-casual brunch place, a year later. However, the question still lingers; was this cafe, Tatte, worth it? The answer is– yes. The unhurried ambience, combined with a generous food and drink menu, creates a lovely destination for all palates– whether you’re lunching with friends, a hungry teenager after school, or just looking to conclude a sweet tooth– you will leave Tatte satisfied. 

Immediately upon entry on a rainy day, the brightly lit cafe welcomes you before any one of the attentive employees can– which they will. The large windows and warm lighting come together for a cozy feeling, perfect for studying or a coffee date. Although it gets crowded once in a while, the line still managed to move at an adequate pace. As the line advances, you pass by the seductive and extensive pastry display, and the large drink menu. The pastry display contains a variety of great bakes– from croissants to tea cakes. They have full size baguettes for sale. Thought that was pretty interesting!

If pastries aren’t your cup of tea, no worries– it’s no sugar off the shelf. Also upon entry are the stack of menus, containing sandwiches, tartines, shakshaka, breakfast options, and more. There is also a soup of the day. I’ve always felt a place that has a soup of the day is automatically a green flag. Something a bit important to note; Tatte has a great assortment for those who are gluten free. As someone with celiac disease, I didn’t find the allergy to limit too many pastry and food options. For a cafe, this can be quite rare. There are options for gluten free bread for sandwiches, and there are many pastries labeled gluten free (the teacakes, the halwa bomb, mousses, etc). Employees also ask if the gluten free choice is a diet or allergy, which is pretty important for preparation of the food. The Israeli influence of the cafe certainly shows itself in some of the menu, as well. When I said generous, I meant generous. 

However– the prices may not be as altruistic as the menu. It’s $11.50 for a Turkey BLAT. In no way is the taste undeserving of a higher price– but $23 for 2 sandwiches is a bit of a reach. This can be quite the limiting factor– and therefore can be considered one of the few cons of the cafe. 

For drinks, you get all of the classics. Cold drinks, lattes, teas, coffees, and hot chocolate– along with some unique-er options, like a pot of Moroccan tea with multiple mugs for sharing. Some drinks come unsweetened, allowing you a visit to the sweetening station with sugars and syrups. This can be a plus if you’re on the pickier side, and a minus if you find it extra. On my first trip to get notes, I ordered a matcha tea latte. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed. The taste slightly resembles grass, and even after sweetening, it had a metallicy bitter aftertaste. On my second trip, however, the teas of Tatte certainly redeemed themselves. I ordered a chai latte, and found it to completely make up for the matcha. They managed to balance the spice and sweetness of chai in a great, addicting way. 

Now that you’ve ordered and paid for your food, you have the choice for indoor and outdoor seating, or to-go. Inside the cafe are counters with stools and benches with tables of various sizes– a variety of well-spaced options. The outdoor seating certainly helps to air-up a crowded cafe. You take a given number from the employee for your table, go to your seat of choice, and wait for your food. The wait is pretty quick, under 5 or 10 minutes, depending on how busy it is. They bring your pastries and drinks on plates and mugs, making it kind of feel like a restaurant instead of the advertised-cafe. I thought this to feel different from the Starbucks ‘grab and go’ approach– although Tatte also has that option.

Once the plate is laid in front of you, you'll take note of the presentation of your food item. For my entree, the avocado tartine, I could tell it would taste as good as it looked. If Tatte has to have one thing– it’s certainly style, with the matching white bandanas of employees, the green atmosphere, and Lana Del Rey playing in the background.

Upon my first bite, I was welcomed with a yummy mix of lemon, dill, and avocado with egg. The flavors balanced each other out in a great way. I was a fan! For the $10, I think it was money well spent. The tartine was filling and good-tasting. Going into my first bite of the halwa bomb, I was a little anxious– as the contents of the ‘bomb’ (?) were concealed by the mysterious, shiny chocolate exterior. Needless to say, I was very surprised. There were at least 3 layers within the bomb, consisting of different flavors which harmonized very well. Once again, I found myself forgetting I was in a walkin cafe, and not at least a restaurant. As somebody who doesn’t like things too sweet either, I feel that Tatte reflects respect for that opinion when it comes to desserts. It wasn’t too insanely sweet, but still managed to have a great combination of flavors. 

Now that you feel a couple pounds heavier, it’s time to leave. You put your dirty dishes in a bin, throw any trash, and you’re done. 

Ultimately, the Tatte experience is assuredly a good one. It’s a great acknowledgement toward modern styles, both in food and decor. The food and drinks are very agreeable, as is the staff which serves them. CPK (with all due respect) certainly had a run for its money here. Over again, I would confirm this once-foreign-mystery is, indeed, worth the trip for your latte.