Cafetal Quilombo: Quesadillas, camaraderie on Beacon Hill

Half of the fun of eating at Cafetal Quilombo Café is watching first-timers gush to the owners about how grateful they are to have a coffee shop in the neighborhood.

“Thank you so much for being here,’’ said one happy customer, who ordered a coffee to go while a couple with three grade-schoolers in tow settled in for sandwiches and quesadillas on a recent Saturday afternoon.

The cafe, which opened about a month ago, has turned a derelict corner across from MacPherson’s Fruit and Produce on Beacon Hill into a warm gathering point for a diverse neighborhood.

The name refers to “a refuge in Brazil for escaped coffee slaves who offered shelter and safety to other people marginalized by colonization,’’ a sign inside the cafe explains.

The vibe is welcoming, and the intentions of the owners uplifting. The restaurant, they say, is “a community space welcoming to everyone. It’s a place to take a moment to relax, be present and enjoy some delicious coffee.”

The menu: Breakfast sandwiches with cheese, egg, ham and bacon served on croissant, bagel or toast ($4.99) are served all day. Also on the menu: chicken, pork and rajas-and-cheese tamales ($2.50 each); a traditional torta with ham and avocado ($6); ham or turkey sub sandwich ($6.75); and quesadillas, which come with a schmear of avocado, lettuce and salsa ($6.55 for plain cheese, $6.99 for ham and $7.99 for chicken). Full spectrum of coffee and teas, and a variety of baked goods are also available.

What to write home about: The moist, tender tamales.

The setting: A funky storefront with crimson-colored walls and seating for about 20 at six tables.

Summing up: Two pepper and cheese tamales, a ham torta, a chicken quesadilla and two sodas came to $21.99, before tax and tip.