Brian serves breakfast

When you sit at one of the tables  in the front alcove of Brian Hilberg’s restaurant, Marie’s Cafe, you are surrounded by two walls of murals representing the east and west sides of Medina’s 1870’s- era Square.  Gaze out the front window and you see the real thing.

This winter morning with snowflakes drifting out of a steel gray sky onto the Square filled with ice sculptures that suddenly have the forlorn look of abandoned toys, and with gas logs glowing in the fireplace — Brian’s corned beef hash made with carmelized onions, roasted red peppers and shredded potatoes sauteed in garlic butter and topped with two poached eggs comes off as the ultimate comfort food.

It is a casual, cozy place which will celebrate its fifth anniversary on March 19th. At lunch time it is likely to be filled with ladies’ book groups and professionals from law offices and businesses around the square.  The most popular item this frigid winter continues to be the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich — Swiss Cheese, avocado, tomato and red onion with hot sauce on 9-grain bread.

Brian, a self-taught cook, is creating a complete new menu for the cafe’s fifth anniversary.  “It will include ethnic items, including Lebanese dishes.  And for the first time, we’ll offer appetizers and entrees,” he says.

( Hopefully, the chicken dumpling soup made from a recipe perfected by his wife, Mary’s Hungarian grandmother — a perennial favorite — will remain.)

Marie’s Cafe is open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM. For a glimpse of the menu, go to www.mariescafe.net.