Hot Spot Cafe

I think this is a little mom and pop operation. There were tables inside and small tables for two outside, but we walked up to the counter and ordered from the cook dude who spoke a bit of english (Armenian I think), but really nice. I’ve walked past a bunch of times and they’re usually more staffed. As soon as we said we were staying in to eat, he motioned for us to sit and we were waited on, no problem.
Ok, the food was AWESOME. My salmon was so freaking good. Came with hummus, rice and armenian salad. Simple, fresh. Goddamn I forgot how awesome fresh dill is until I had the armenian salad. Friend got the chicken skewer plate and said it ruled. They only have a handful of things on the menu — most being like beef or chicken or vegetarian plates with rice, hummus and armenian salad, but it is so good.

I rolled by this place on my bike once, and stopped in just to check it out. There was no acknowledgment of my walking in the door by the four guys in aprons in the mostly open kitchen. I found myself a menu on a wobbly table, it was a large, two sided, color thing that had been twice laminated, once with plastic, once with grease. It had about a dozen entrees and maybe two were meatless. So I walk to the counter and one guy breaks the huddle and walks, chest first, to the counter, still saying nothing. «How’s the falafel?» I ask.
«Yeah, one falafel!»
«No, no, no– I was just asking if it was good.» I could already see by now that this guy was not in the mood and I’m guessing he rarely ever is.
«I already ate, I was just checking out your menu.»
«Why you come in if you already ate?»
«I was just passing by– maybe I’ll come in tomorrow. What time do you open?»
He says, «We open NOW.»
So maybe I said, «oookay.» or maybe I just was thinking, «ooookay.» in my head, but then he barks,
«Bye.»
And as I’m backing out the door, I’m wondering if he is saying ‘buy’, as in, «Please buy something from us.», or if its really just, «Bye!»
Maybe he didn’t understand that around here the guest usually says their goodbye first, THEN the host says «Bye!” — I’m thinking maybe I could take the time to explain it to this guy, but by that time I’m out the door and my main priority is timing the light on Colfax so I can grab my bike and escape clean if this guy and his posse snap when they realize that I never planned to «Buy.»
I don’t think I’ll be back to try the falafel. I don’t know if the Wi-​Fi works, but I’m guessing this place is about as «hot spot» as it is «café.»
Nine thumbs down.