An Afternoon at Bansky's

Full disclosure: when I went to Bansky’s Cafe, I was starving. I hadn’t had breakfast or lunch yet, and it was closing on 3 p.m. when I finally wandered out of the house looking to quiet my grumbling stomach.

So, rather than review my meal in the typical drinks-appetizers-main dish-dessert chronology, I will review it like a typical hungry person: grabbing what looks good first.

As my stomach would have it, the slaw was first. The dressing is not mayonnaise-based, but oil-based. Crunchy, fresh, colorful—I finished the entire serving before I even touched my meal. The tangy cranberries were a welcome touch.

Then, there was the red velvet cupcake. Although Bansky’s doesn’t make their own—they use a service called The Dessert Diva—this was a highlight. Deli glass-case desserts more often disappoint than please, and I’m generally not a dessert person; it took some cajoling from a companion to even order one. But I’m glad I did. The cupcake was moist, the frosting sweet and buttery, and the presentation was truly gourmet.

The main components of the meal were the red meat wrap (rare roast beef, horseradish sauce) and the “Bay Mac,” a whopping $12 monstrosity that involved a lump crab cake, shrimp salad, and three—three!—slices of sweet, Challah-like bread.

The red meat wrap provided a hefty dose of roast beef, but the horseradish sauce was a bit puny for my palate. The shrimp salad and crab cake were done well, but while the kitchen staff managed to make it look like a sandwich, actually picking up and eating it with my hands would have been impossible. A side-order of silverware solved the problem.

Still, it wasn’t the food quality that is already drawing me to return to Bansky’s. The most impressive part of the meal was the exceptional customer service we received from behind the counter. The staff was thoughtful, polite, informed and engaging. No bored 16-year olds on my visit, just professionals.

Bansky’s feels like a place that can engage a community, and be rewarded in return. It gets a thumbs-up. 

Bansky’s Café

6080 Falls Road

410-377-4444