905 Cafe has our number with juicy burgers, creamy desserts

A storefront on East Ocean View Avenue just east of Chesapeake Boulevard has seen restaurants come and go.

The latest entry takes its name from the address: 905 Cafe & Grill.

I hope it stays. The name is nice and simple, and so is the food.

I went there with Jim Haag, Virginian-Pilot features editor, to talk about a project for later this year.

Word was that 905 scored a 10 on burgers, so Jim ordered the black and blue ($8.99), topped generously with blue cheese crumbles, as well as lettuce, tomato and onion.

He heartily approved, calling it "one of the better blue cheese burgers I've ever had." The burger was juicy, the blue cheese not dry, and the bun nicely toasted.

I went with the citrus-grilled chicken sandwich ($8.99), topped with "island pepper sauce," lettuce and tomato. (No onion for me, thank you.)

Our friendly waitress said the island concoction was a mix of chipotle sauce and mayo. I'm usually not Mr. Hot, but I would have liked more of a kick to the chick. Nevertheless, the fowl was fair - tender and moist - and I liked the sandwich.

Both the burger and sandwich were sided with a heaping of thin, nicely crisp fries, which Jim and I rated as supreme.

However, we didn't agree on everything.

Jim passed on dessert. Throwing caution to the wind, I ordered the chocolate mousse cake ($3.99). And here's where the disagreement began.

Knowing it's always wise to make editors happy, I offered Jim a cut of the cake. (Not a big piece, though. I like my desserts.) He declared it pretty good but not rich enough for him.

My take: It didn't make my top 10 list of most chocolatey mousse cakes, but its creaminess and richness still lifted me into chocolate heaven.

Feeling a bit bloated from all that food, I kept half of my slice for a nighttime dessert. I liked it even more the second time around. Definitely a winner. (Sorry, Jim.)

The restaurant also serves breakfast 'round the clock. Owner Keith Wygant said the customer faves include the "OV Original," a three-egg omelet with shrimp, crabmeat and Hollandaise sauce ($10.99), and "That Darn Benedict Arnold!" ($7.99), two poached eggs and bacon on an English muffin topped with Hollandaise, accompanied by hash browns.

I think 905 might be Keith's lucky number.

Philip Walzer, 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com