The Orange Works Cafe

This used to be Jessup's Orange Works, and I have been eating lunch here for years. The new owners have remodeled the place, and what used to be a little packline is now seating for maybe a dozen tables, four chairs each. The walls are stock ... more

This used to be Jessup's Orange Works, and I have been eating lunch here for years. The new owners have remodeled the place, and what used to be a little packline is now seating for maybe a dozen tables, four chairs each. The walls are stocked with local olives, preserves and knick-knacks, which is a nice touch. The sandwiches remain very much the same as they always have. The rolls that the sandwiches are served on are fresh-baked, and the choices are ham, tri-tip beef, turkey or vegetarian. The veggie is by far the best, with roasted sliced eggplant taking the place of meat. Mmmmmm. I recommend against the lettuce wrap sandwich, though; it just looked too messy to deal with and besides the bread is really very good. Jessup's had always been known for the fresh-made ice cream, and the new owners have taken that to the next level. There are still the two flavors of the day (orange and a surprise flavor based on season), but now they keep quarts of ice cream of a wide variety of flavors in a deepfreeze (which, imho, is an excellent idea and one that Jessop's should have come up with sooner). The lunch combo - choice of sandwich, chips, drink, and cup of ice cream - weighs in at a solid $8.00, but is entirely worth it. A very pleasant place to stop between Porterville and Lindsay for lunch, or even only for the ice cream. less