Why: South Pacific Cafe, which also caters, has become one of the constants amid the ever-changing restaurant options in Battle Ground. The company had another location in downtown Vancouver, which was first a cafe and then a rum bar, but that has since closed. The Battle Ground restaurant’s menu was recently modified to include some new dishes, along with tried-and-true favorites.
What I tried: My dining companion and I settled on the Cuban Sandwich with beer-battered fries and the Muscle Man Pizza. For dessert, we had the Hula Pie.
The sandwich consisted of house-pulled pork, a thick cut of ham, smoked Gouda cheese, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard on a pressed Kaiser bun. The result was very appetizing. The pork was tender and juicy, and some of it had crispy edges. It did not contain any fatty pieces, and the ham was likewise tender and lean. The two cheeses complemented each other and brought a rich flavor to the sandwich while taming the saltiness of the meat. The pickles and mustard were just a bit tangy, and the pressed bun made a perfect foundation. I would definitely have this sandwich again.
The pizza was topped with jalapeño cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, Italian sausage, bacon and pepperoni — all drizzled with a chipotle raspberry glaze and topped with fresh, thinly sliced jalapeños. The crust was sturdy and of medium thickness, soft and not overly crispy along its edges. This pizza was very original, in my experience, and I found the flavors to be bold and satisfying. I appreciated that the bacon pieces were free of excessive fat and the pepperoni was not greasy. The sweetness of the glaze, the spiciness of the peppers and the flavorful meat toppings created a scrumptious combination.
