The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 46

IN Good TASTE Restaurant Review Photos by Darren Vanoen Berge Berkshire Eagle Staff One of the lunch specials last week was grilled London broil with bleu cheese, bacon, sweet potato fries and beer-battered onion rings on a bed of sauteed onions and snow peas. Aura Whitman, chef and owner at Cafe Reva in Pittsfield, serves only breakfast and lunch so she can spend more time with her children. Sophisticated dining on Tyler Street If you go Cafe Reva Where: 238 Tyler St, Pittsfield Hours: Open for breakfast and lunch, Wednesday through Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Takeout and catering available.

Price category: Inexpensive Ambiance: Casual, informal Credit cards: Not accepted Telephone: (413) 442-6161 Parking is available at the back of the restaurant off Burbank Street Our ratings: Four chefs hats -excellent Three hats recommended Two hats not bad One hat maybe not The dining room at Cafe Reva is compact but comfortable. on English muffin halves, smothered with Hollandaise sauce, and a mini-mountain of home-fried potatoes on the side. The eggs were poached properly and the sauce was a lovely pale yellow color, creamy and light. The ham was grilled before it was layered under the eggs without a bit of greasiness. I soldiered through about half the food on my plate this might be a good dish to order for two people.

The home fries were flavorful with a nice crispy crust on one side. My husband ordered huevos rancheros two eggs, beans and rice in a flour tortilla, spicy sausage, cheddar, salsa and sour cream for $6.50. It came beautifully plated on vintage-style china, the rice mixture rolled in the tortilla and sliced on the diagonal, each piece fanned out on the plate. The salsa, cheese and sausage were artfully arranged on top. The rice and beans had a wonderful smoky flavor, not too spicy, and the salsa was homemade, with chunks of ripe tomato and crunchy bits of pepper.

This breakfast was enormous, as well and we usually finish everything on our plates! Other menu offerings include breakfast burritos for $5.50, a breakfast sandwich called the Phat Pat Melt for $5, and pancakes or waffles with a variety of toppings. Cafe Reva is well worth a visit, for the family-friendly, casual atmosphere and the elegant, accessible food. Lesley Ann Beck can be reached at lbeckberkshireeagle.com or (413) 496-6244. By Lesley Ann Beck Berkshire Eagle Staff For great eggs Benedict, try the Cafti Reva in Pittsfield a comfortable, casual little restaurant on Tyler Street that offers sophisticated dishes for breakfast and lunch. On a recent visit, the lunch specials included a portabello mushroom melt on grilled sourdough bread with goat cheese, pesto, tomatoes and spinach with eggplantzucchini fries, or a salad of Bosc pears, duck breast, almonds and Camembert cheese with a raspberry vinaigrette.

It's not your typical diner food. Owner Aura Whitman is an accomplished chef who chose to open Cafe Reva so she could have more time with her family. The compact size and casual atmosphere of her restaurant belie the complex dishes and attention to detail evident on every plate. The cafe seats a dozen or so at the counter. There are 10 tables, seating two to six.

Sometimes there is a short wait for a seat. The decor is a cheery blue and yellow scheme, with checked tablecloths and fun tchotchkes on the win-dowsills. My lunch, eaten perched at the counter on a well-upholstered stool, was a sumptuous Greek salad of fresh mixed greens, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers and artichoke hearts for $6.50. I asked for grilled chicken as well, feeling the need for a little more protein, an extra $1.50. The proportion of greens to the "stuff" peppers, olives, chicken, etc.

are made at the cafe and the choices change often. Last weekend, we hit Cafe Reva again, this time for breakfast. Arriving at 8:30 a.m., we had our choice of tables. By 9:30, the place was busy. The breakfast specials were stuffed French toast with sweetened cream cheese, pineapple and lemon curd and grilled chicken sausage for eggs Benedict for and an omelet with brie, bacon, tomatoes, spinach and avocado served with toast and home-fries for $10.

Breakfast is served all day two eggs, any style, with toast and homefries, is an affordable $3.50. Order the quiche of the day or that morning's special frittata with fruit or salad. The breakfast meats are bacon, sausage, ham, kielbasa, andouille or hash. I ordered the eggs Benedict two poached eggs with ham slices tions extend to burgers and wraps, as well as yummy eggplant or sweet potato fries, $3.50. The California burger comes with avocado, bacon, bleu cheese and onions, for $6.50.

Whitman cut a slice of the raspberryalmond tart and added whipped cream, crunchy almond slivers and a sliced strawberry before placing it in a to-go container for me. Eating the dessert back in the newsroom was a pleasure the raspberry preserves had the perfect berry taste, and the thick almond filling underneath was rich and nutty, like good-quality marzipan. The crust was crumbly and delicious, as was the glazed topping. Did I mention that desserts are my area of expertise? The other dessert choices were a chocolate espresso torte, caramel cheesecake, lemon cheesecake, and triple berry crumble. The desserts was perfect.

Every bite had a bit of cheese, crunchy vegetable or chicken mixed with the greens, and the dressing, served on the side, was an excellent vinaigrette. I couldn't finish the whole bowl. Even my club soda came with a thin slice of lemon without having to ask for it. There are several vegetarian choices for lunch, including the fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto on French bread, $6. Reva offers a more traditional club sandwich as well as turkey pastrami on focaccia.

The lunch selec www.beritshiresweek.coin Berkshires Week, March IS, 2007 7.