During the busy workweek, it’s all too tempting to settle for the nearest restaurant with a cheap menú del día or wait for a box of stir-fried noodles to arrive via bicycle courier. Though I often take the path of least resistance, I really do feel thankful every time I choose to walk a few blocks from my office for a light and satisfying lunch at Menssana. The restaurant has two floors, with big windows flooding the dining areas with light. Combined with the natural wood tables and design accents, a meal here feels like a breath of fresh air. The sidewalk terrace has a handful of tables, with a short wait at lunch time.
The mission of Menssana—whose motto is ‘Eat Good. Feel Good. Do Good’—is to serve local, seasonal and healthy food, with options for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Choices include excellent fish tacos, lightly fried with a delicate batter and topped with crunchy cabbage, as well as a slew of burgers and sandwiches—from a classic bacon cheeseburger or BBQ pulled pork on a bun with rocket, to a grilled chicken and basil sandwich or their unique vegan burger made from curried pumpkin and lentils and slathered in vegan alioli.
The earthy, roasted aubergine salad with bulgur wheat, pomegranate seeds, tahini and yogurt sauce is a lighter option, while the roasted chicken with oranges, dates, rosemary and barley salad makes your typical pollo a l’ast with soggy potatoes wither in comparison. The other starters and main courses at Menssana run the gamut from grilled salmon tikka masala and chicken tacos to vegetarian chilli and Thai-style prawn wraps. There is a daily lunch offer that consists of an option of either soup or salad, followed by a choice of three main courses, priced €8.50, though drinks and dessert are not included. The separate breakfast and brunch menu (until 12.30pm) is highlighted by smoothies and juices, various pastries, an avocado and bacon-clad breakfast burger, homemade muesli, fried eggs with smoked salmon or aubergine on naan bread, bathed in spicy harissa, hummus, or crème fraîche.
All in all, it’s the little things, like the excellent, crunchy coca flat breads, the variety of hot sauces on the table, the delicious chips dusted in paprika, the coffee from Cafés el Magnífico in the Born, and the welcoming ambience that beckon me from my desk for that brief satisfying stroll.
Café Menssana. Sardenya 48. T: 936243505.
Open everyday. 9.30am-11.30pm.