Wednesday dinner can sneak up on a household.

One minute, everyone is busy.

The next, someone asks what’s for dinner and the refrigerator offers no useful comment.

Connie’s Cafe has a plan for that.

The Vista breakfast-and-lunch spot advertises Wednesday dinners for pickup. Call ahead, choose an entrée and arrange a pickup time between 3 and 5:30 p.m.

Dinner still requires a decision.

The cooking is Connie’s part.

Two Choices, Then You’re Done

Connie’s says its Wednesday selections change each week.

One recent announcement listed chicken Marsala or cheese lasagna with meat sauce. It named cream of potato as the soup option.

The meat sauce is worth repeating. Anyone hoping the cheese lasagna is vegetarian should choose another meal.

Connie’s advertises the dinner for $15. That includes an entrée, soup or salad, and a homemade cookie.

Soup or salad is a decision.

Cookie is settled.

Those Marsala and lasagna choices came from a recent announcement. They are not a standing menu, so check what Connie’s is offering for the Wednesday you plan to order.

A little menu-checking beats spending the afternoon thinking about lasagna that is no longer on offer.

To place an order, call 760-597-1700 and arrange a pickup time. Connie’s is at 1688 S. Melrose Drive in Vista.

A Daytime Café’s Dinner Shift

Connie’s currently lists breakfast and lunch hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. It says the café is closed Mondays.

Wednesday dinner pickup has a separate window: 3 to 5:30 p.m.

This is a take-home offer. Connie’s announcement does not describe a nighttime sit-down dinner service.

Useful information if your dinner plan involves showing up after dark and asking for a table.

The advertised price has also changed.

Connie’s September 14 post listed a $14 Wednesday meal. Its newer post lists $15 and calls it new pricing.

The recent posts agree on the pickup window.

Older search results may still show a different price or time. Search engines have long memories. Dinner, unfortunately, happens in the present.

A Small, Useful Vista Routine

The setup is simple.

Connie’s posts two changing entrée choices.

Customers call with an order and pickup time.

The advertised meal includes soup or salad and a cookie.

That is the story’s appeal.

No grand opening. No complicated reservation system. Just a local café making an extra meal available in the middle of the week.

Check the current menu before ordering, especially if you have a particular entrée in mind.

Then make the call.

The refrigerator can take Wednesday evening off.

Questions About Connie’s Wednesday Dinners:

Where is Connie’s Cafe?

At 1688 S. Melrose Drive in Vista.

What comes with the advertised $15 dinner?

An entrée, soup or salad, and a homemade cookie. Connie’s has not specified whether tax is included.

When is Wednesday dinner pickup?

Connie’s lists pickup from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

How do I order?

Call 760-597-1700 to confirm the current choices and arrange a pickup time.