Bertha's Cafe in Phoenix: A Sandwich Shop with a Sweet Twist

Beth Goldwater's cheesecake is easily one of the best in town. Crafted from a recipe she took a year to perfect, it is bulky in appearance, yet lighter and less dense than you might expect, and its dark brown, thin cookie crust serves as a buttery and crumbly base for...

By Laura Hahnefeld

August 22, 2013

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Beth Goldwater's cheesecake is easily one of the best in town.

Crafted from a recipe she took a year to perfect, it is bulky in appearance, yet lighter and less dense than you might expect, and its dark brown, thin cookie crust serves as a buttery and crumbly base for a creamy sweet filling with a golden brown coat and a seriously airy layer of whipped cream.

You get a taste of Goldwater's cheesecake at Bertha's, her eight-year-old cafe in Phoenix. But sweet satisfaction isn't all you'll find -- Goldwater serves up some fresh and flavorful sandwiches and salads as well.

Here's an excerpt from this week's review:

"The best sandwich on the menu is the asparagus and Havarti panini. Between thick slices of chewy ciabatta bread with a delicately crispy crust, its oven-roasted asparagus is tender, but not mushy, and its companions of buttery Havarti, peppery arugula, roasted red peppers, and a zingy pesto mayo make it pretty much perfect. As a friend of mine correctly quipped, 'There's a reason it's in a box on the menu.'"

Hungry for more? Read my full review of Bertha's Cafe. See Also: Behind the Scenes at Bertha's Cafe (Slideshow)

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