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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Woman dies after apparent fall off overpass onto I-5 ... Voters could give property-tax exemption to spouses of fallen officers ... 32 vehicle windows shot out in Medford ... Woman dies after apparent fall off overpass onto I-5 ... Voters could give property-tax exemption to spouses of fallen officers ... 32 vehicle windows shot out in Medford ... Hot, fresh and fast fare at Central Point Perk Comment By Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune Follow @@thewholedish MailTribune.com By Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune Follow @@thewholedish Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune Follow @@thewholedish Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Coffee is just one aspect of a multifaceted identity at Central Point Perk. The new Central Point business nearly attains restaurant status with a menu that goes far beyond snacks. The downtown storefront at 117 E. Pine St. doubles as a showroom for the owners’ industrial-meets-Americana décor. Eclectic seating arrangements — from bar-height stools to patio tables to comfortable couches and armchairs — evoke a community-gathering place and appeal to a diverse clientele. Variations on breakfast sandwiches, paninis and flatbreads ensure there’s something for everyone. It’s a straightforward lineup, but the preparation of roasted potatoes, french toast, frittatas and waffles is nothing short of impressive in Central Point Perk’s tiny galley kitchen wedged next to the espresso machine. The short distance from the cash register, where customers order, and the front door tends to make for crowded conditions when Central Point Perk is at its busiest. But food orders fairly fly out of the kitchen. Curiously, drink orders aren’t quite so speedy. Both times I visited, I had to ask for my beverage after the meal arrived. Hot, fresh and fast were my initial impressions of Central Point Perk’s breakfast and lunch items. From five iterations of breakfast sandwiches, which come with fresh fruit, I selected the sausage, egg and cheese ($6.50). Because it was closer to the lunch hour, I settled for a 12-ounce hot tea ($1.50) and tacked on a raspberry cheesecake bar ($2.50). Desserts and other baked goods are custom-made for Central Point Perk, and coffee is custom-roasted in Eugene. The attractively presented plate belied the strangely prefabricated quality of my sandwich’s sausage patty and egg, both formed in precise circles with uniformly dense textures. But the “biscuit-inspired bun” was delicate, and the dish as a whole was delicious. I appreciate Central Point Perk’s use of Swiss cheese on its breakfast sandwiches, rather than the more common cheddar. Blue cheese from nearby Rogue Creamery adorns Central Point Perk’s house salad of mixed greens and pickled onion tossed with berry-maple vinaigrette. Served on its own for $11, the salad also comes as a side to paninis and flatbreads, priced from $9 to $11. The “Perk Plate,” an assortment of white-bean hummus, tapenade, cheese and fruit with pita ($15), tempted me on a return visit. But I balked at the platter’s portion size (for three to five people) and instead ordered a flatbread topped with fresh tomato, basil, mozzarella, garlic oil and shaved Parmesan ($9.50). Like the breakfast sandwich, the flatbread was nicely toasted with bubbly cheeses that didn’t overwhelm the tomato and basil. I didn’t detect much garlic, but the salad’s pickled onion was a standout. Next time, I’ll order the tender, piquant onions on a flatbread with bacon, pear, blue cheese and arugula ($10). Such sophisticated combinations no doubt arise from co-owner Gustavo Pardo’s formal culinary training. The chef also fabricated much of Central Point Perk’s furniture from repurposed wood and metal fixtures. DIY touches, such as folded license plates framing a menu board and flea-market finds, echo the building’s quirky layout and uneven floors. Before the coffee shop opened in May, the building had housed a gamut of enterprises, including a dress shop, record store and collection agency. Central Point Perk is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 541-363-7375 or see www.centralpointperk.com By Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune Follow @@thewholedish MailTribune.com By Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune Follow @@thewholedish Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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