Café Allegro at the Musical Instrument Museum in North Phoenix serves up lunchtime dishes using fresh, local ingredients.
Each day they offer one local and one global special, amongst other locally fueled dishes. After perusing the menu, simply walk up to the food line where head chef Chris Lenza and his team prepare your delicious dish du jour. Café Allegro has an impressive selection of local craft beers and wine which can be enjoyed along with lunch.
Classics such as chicken salad are given a sophisticated twist with free range chicken from 2 Wash Ranch, fresh herbs, and a light and creamy dressing over a bed of local, organic greens and vegetables. Their salads are a celebration of texture. Cool, crisp, wholesome and satisfying. Juicy cheeseburgers showcase local organic, grass-fed beef. Crispy sweet potato fries, plump, all-natural hot dogs, and vegetarian dishes alike are mouthwatering. Creative cookies and melt-in-your mouth brownies also feature fair trade organic chocolate, local goat cheese, and flour from Phoenix based Hayden Flour Mill.
As would be expected of the MIM, the ambient music is relaxing and low key. Café Allegro is an ideal place to enjoy lunch and discuss the music and instruments you’ve experienced before further museum exploration. There is also a coffee shop offering various drinks and pastries. The café has large floor to ceiling windows that make it feel as if you were sitting on the patio. This is especially ideal in the summer months when temperatures keep us Phoenicians indoors. The patio area is beautiful while the natural light in the café keeps the experience easy and light.
Café Allegro’s commitment to local and fair trade ingredients makes it one of my new favorites. The ingredients are thoughtfully hand selected, allowing what Arizona has to offer shine. Farm fresh foods celebrate what is in season throughout our beautiful state and identify local operations that we can continue to support. Café Allegro and the MIM are a natural and harmonious pairing. Visit the museum and the café to experience wonderful local and global flavors!
Café Allegro is open daily, 11am to 2pm.
For more information, visit mim.org.
*Photo Credit: Lauren Potter, instagram.com/mimcafeallegro