Continuing my reviews of pet friendly establishments on the Mendocino Coast is the charming and rustic eatery located on Albion Street in Mendocino Village, ‘Cultured Affair’.

The wooden Victorian building brings reminiscence of Paul Revere’s home in Boston. Here the dark exterior is brought to colorful life with the planters and window boxes that overflow with flowering flora. Alongside the main entrance into the café is a side gate which takes you back to a charming patio and garden. This is the entrance for all canine diners.

This is a counter service café, so once you are all situated at your table someone in the party will need to go into the café and fetch the menus as well as check out the large white boards that feature the specials of the day.

Fresh homemade soups, pastas, sandwiches, a salad bar and frozen yogurt are the primary food selections. All sandwiches are made to order, vegetarian, gluten free or vegan selections seem to be able to be made upon request, as witnessed on both my visits.  In this tranquil garden the patio tables have umbrellas that use a very simple canter lever system to operate if shade is required. My human dining companions especially like the terracotta pots filled with colorful foliage and succulent plants cleverly surrounding the umbrella poles.

On return from reviewing the inside special boards one of my dining companions bought out a small to-go container of nice cool water for me to quench my thirst. He also told me that he had asked what might be available to satisfy my taste buds and cubed turkey was suggested and ordered. Now that my drink and food order was complete my other dining companions decided to each order the Mulligatawny Soup ($5.75) and share a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich on sourdough bread ($7.80). All sandwiches come with lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard unless requested otherwise.

The soup had an authentic flavor and was full of delicious ingredients but lacked a degree of spiciness that my fellow dinners usually enjoy. The sandwich was stacked with turkey and all the accoutrements. Bottled water was the drink of choice for the human diners. On our previous visit my dining companions ordered the Chili ($5.75) and the Curried Chicken Salad ($8.40), a tasty mixture of Chicken with mayonnaise, mango chutney & curry mixed together and filled to capacity inside a pita pocket. I tried that also and have to say it was very yummy. A little window from the kitchen into the garden area allows them to call out when an order is ready and you pop back inside and pick up your order that has been plated and set on trays with the appropriate flatware and napkins.

The funny and engaging gentlemen who was working the front counter on both visits, will also, time permitting, often bring orders out to the tables as they are made. The salad bar although not tried by my dining guests always looked well stocked with fresh vegetable selections and dressing choices.

My cubed turkey was $1.00 and I had enough to take with me for a later snack. Cultured Affair offers uncomplicated fare in a clean and unpretentious environment. For a casual and affordable lunch with fresh ingredients and a pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff, this canine gives the restaurant three paws.

Three Paws

Cultured Affair Cafe
corner of Kasten and Albion
Mendocino, CA
Open for lunch

More information about Hairy Putter can be found on his website, www.hairy-putter.com.