The Italian chicken Capri wrap with pesto mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes is just one of the unique offerings at the Picc-a-Deli Café. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Westlake’s Picc-a-Deli Café moves into the spotlight
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published March 26, 2008

One of Westlake’s best-kept secrets is now out in the open. Picc-a-Deli Café and Catering Company, situated in the back of the King James office complex for the past five years, has moved to a new front-and-center location in the King James Plaza at 25022 Center Ridge Road.

Trish Koodrich of Picc-a-Deli shows off her restaurant’s beer battered baked cod with seasoned baked fries and homemade cole slaw. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Owners Trish and Rich Koodrich, self-proclaimed “serious foodies,” say the inspiration for their new restaurant came from their extensive world travels. Rich also works for a major airline.

“We want people to feel like they have crossed the Atlantic and stepped right into England when they come in here,” Trish said. “It’s like a little piece of London.”  She noted that they worked extensively with an architect to create a décor that is both unique and comforting.

The menu is based on foods that the Westlake couple has enjoyed in other countries. The Argentinean beef wrap sandwich starts with a combination of roast beef and potatoes, both hugely popular in Argentina according to Koodrich, with sun-dried tomatoes, sliced English cucumber, romaine lettuce, spinach, mozzarella cheese and homemade chimi-churri sauce ($6.45). French turkey starts with smoked turkey breast and melted French Brie cheese, topped with lettuce, tomato and apricot honey mustard ($6.25). Another sandwich specialty is the Gateway grilled cheese, made with your choice of American, Cheddar or Swiss cheese on Italian twist, rye or multi-grain bread, with spinach and onion jam ($4.50).

“It’s all about freshness here,” Trish Koodrich said. “We offer healthy foods made from scratch, served in a place where it is okay to pull up a chair and stay for awhile.”

Picc-a-Deli’s pick and toss salad is unique in the fact that it offers the customer 30 seasonal items to choose from when creating a salad. Guests have their choice of lettuce, cheeses and dressings, as well as ingredients like alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, calamata olives, cranberries, Mandarin oranges, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and pepper rings. A four-item small salad is $4.25, while a five-item large salad is $5.50.

House-made soups are served daily. Chicken noodle and chicken rice soup are always on the menu, along with chili in season, and a soup du jour or international soup.

The restaurant also offers pastries and breakfast items, and a children’s menu. Koodrich said a large portion of their business is devoted to corporate lunches, customized catering and event planning.

“We will do as much or as little as you want to make your event special,” Koodrich said. “Whether it is a business breakfast for 10 or a wedding reception for 200, we work within your budget to design a menu that is unique.” She said they can do a platter of homemade cookies for a small gathering, or everything, including centerpieces, linens and silver, serving, tents, valet parking, bartending and clean up.

“We want to bring back the personally owned business, like the ones we grew up with,” Trish Koodrich noted. “This is a neighborhood place to dine. We know people by name.”

Picc-a-Deli offers a 10 percent discount to senior citizens. All major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant has wheelchair access. Hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Phone (440) 808-3354.

Picc-a-Deli also operates the café at Westlake’s Porter Library.

On the Net:

• Picc-a-Deli Café and Catering Company