Restaurant review: Cafe X-press
A tuna melt at Cafe X-press in Salem. Photo by Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times.
By Tim Blassingame
Special to The Roanoke Times
blass1@vzw.blackberry.net
Prakash and Sarojani Malakar opened Cafe X-press on Apperson Drive in Salem about a year ago. Prakash takes pride in his menu at this New York-style deli, explaining that he serves healthy food that contains no preservatives. He is responsible for all food preparations while Sarojani, his wife, is in charge of serving and taking care of customers, which she does extremely well.
The vibe
During my travels to New York, I’ve had the pleasure of dining in some of the city’s deli-style restaurants. When I first walked into Cafe X-press, I felt like I was back in the Big Apple.
The cramped space offers six tables and four bar stools at a counter, where Prakash can be seen preparing each meal in the open kitchen. A deli case filled with an assortment of nonalcoholic beverages and cold salads greets diners at the front of the deli, which is typical of this type of restaurant.
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Cafe X-press
206 Apperson Drive, Salem
540-444-7364
January 24, 2013 - 9:02 AM
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I have eaten here many times and the food is excellent! My favorite….The Manhattan on rye!
Interesting. These unnoticed gems are what need to be reviewed, thanks for this. We will check Cafe X-press out.
Their vegetarian selections are wonderful and the service is top notch! O
My husband works on Electric Road in Salem. I sent the review to him so he could check it out for lunch. It looks wonderful!
It does look wonderful. All I would say is, from the name, it sounds like some coffee/convenience store attached to a gas station. It would never occur to me from the name that they had sit-down service, far less deli style food.
After seeing the review I thought I’d give it a try. I love tuna melts and that’s what the featured picture was. I added jalapenos to mine. It was fantastic! Can’t wait to try other menu items. Very friendly staff too!
It is very, very good. My favorite is the chicken tandoori sub; we also have the Lexington and the Manhattan a lot. My hubbie loves their hamburgers, too. My daughter had a sandwich with avocado on it and thought it was very good.
You can find fresh made pasta and other types of salads, baked goods . . . yum.
From what I remember when it first opened, the owners roast the meats on-site. Bread for subs is delicious not too crunchy/crusty.
Love this place. Everything tastes fresh, homemade, and is reasonably priced. I’ve enjoyed everything except for the desserts, which weren’t horrible, but nothing to write home about. Make sure to ask about the specials and soup of the day. Had the best sausage kale soup last week. My one gripe is their knishes are always sold out before I get there! It’s a nice change to have a place to get a decent lunch in Salem and I wish them much success.
This sounds so fantastic, I have GOT to go to Salem!
The picture above of the tuna melt just made my stomach growl.
Wow, that looks delicious! I’m a sucker for sandwiches- I’m going here!
from the name, it sounds like some coffee/convenience store attached to a gas station.
FYI to anyone traveling to DC or other points north: time your trip so you’re hungry when you hit Harrisonburg. Dave’s Taverna Express is attached to a gas station too & it’s great. Gyros, Mediterranean pizza, veggie pitas … right off 81 at the Port Republic exit. They set it up to cater to JMU students but it’s good food (handmade potato chips too, yum.)
http://www.davestaverna.com/?page_id=151
Sample of the menu is on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Xpress/346063885423261
We LOVE Cafe X-Press! We’ve been going on a pretty regular basis since they opened and have never been disappointed! Everything we’ve tried has been awesome. They have some different (and delicious!) vegetarian offerings, so when my Mom and/or sister are in town I take them there. And you will NOT find any more friendly folks running a restaurant anywhere! Always a friendly greeting and genuine smiles, we just love them! The couple listed above and another young lady is always there as well. I’ve recommended Cafe X-Press to many people and the ones who have gone have all come back and thanked me for telling them about it.
Just ate our first (of many) lunches there today. I had a New Yorker, my husband had the Little Italy Panini, split an order of fries. May I just say, YUM! The place was packed, perhaps due in part to this review. Most seemed to be there for the first time, although I overheard one gent saying he’s been there about 25 times and liked everything ever ordered. I can’t wait to go back and already know next time I’ll try the tuna melt. This place is a score. The owners are very pleasant and surprisingly calm considering how busy it was.
Where on Apperson is this place?
Kristen, it’s next to the 7-11 across from Chianti Italian Restaurant and Shanghai. And that new Mediterranean place, Abrakababra, is on the same side of the street. All sorts of good eats in one little place!
Thank you Lindsey.
What are the opening hours for Cafe X-press? Are they open on Sundays
According to their Facebook page, they are open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thank you, Lindsey.