World Ground Caf? A Wonderful New Coffeehouse

by Alan Pettit

The World Ground Caf? opened last March next to the KFC outlet on MacArthur Boulevard. Its proprietors, Uffe Gustafsson and Martha Rueca, offer the neighborhood a warm, comfortable, affordable place to drink and eat, talk, read, and relax.

The caf? consists of a large dining room painted in warm, rustic earth tones with beautiful hangings and masks on its walls. Patrons can sit at tables or recline on a comfy pillow-covered bench that takes up one corner of the room. On sunny afternoons the caf? is bathed in light from its large front windows. Live jazz is offered on Sunday afternoons.

World Ground also has two rooms in the back of the building where many community groups hold meetings. The caf? does not charge for the use of the meeting rooms; however, they do ask that the groups purchase their food and beverages on the premises.

A complete line of excellent coffee beverages is served at the caf?. The coffee beans come from the Peerless Coffee Company and from Adam's Organic Coffees. (If you wish, you can also buy fresh-ground or whole-bean coffee.) Tea, bottled water, and Wiman's fresh juices are also available.

In the morning, Uffe and Martha offer pastries from several Bay Area bakeries, including bagels, Danish, scones, a variety of croissants, coffee cakes, and almond cakes. The morning pastries are priced from $1.50 to $2.00. Among my favorites are the light, chewy almond cakes and the equally light and flaky cinnamon croissant buns.

In the afternoon, World Ground offers several kinds of cookies, bean pies, and loaf and layer cakes. These baked goods are priced from $0.95 for a small cookie to $2.25 for a slice of Chocolate Eruption layer cake a dark chocolate cake with light chocolate filling and a magnificent dark chocolate and cream frosting that can fulfill even the most serious chocolate craving!

World Ground offers five salads and four sandwiches in its regular lunch menu, priced from $3.50 to $4.95. The salads are accompanied by bread, while the sandwiches come with a side of mixed baby greens or Caesar salad.

The sandwiches we tasted were extremely fresh and flavorful. The roasted turkey sandwich contained delicately flavored pea sprouts and marinated artichokes, which did not overpower the flavor of the turkey. The tuna muffuletta sandwich came with pea sprouts and provolone cheese, with a fresh olive-and-carrot mixture that tied all the flavors together.

Both salads we tried were memorable. The Caesar salad was excellent, with a light dressing that perfectly complemented the shredded Parmesan cheese. The mixed baby greens were tossed in a silky-smooth vinaigrette and topped with crumbled blue cheese. I look forward to trying all the lunch items offered at the caf?!

Bon Appetit!!

World Ground Caf?, 3726 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619, phone (510) 482-2933. Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 6:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Catering available.