Stopping for Beans or a Byte

There is delicious irony in the choice of Al Cappuccino as the name for this cozy cyber cafe, espresso bar and live-music venue.

The name recalls Al Capp, that right-wing and slightly revisionist cartoonist who gave the world L’il Abner, even to the extent that there are references to the man posted on the coffee counter. Capp, I’d wager, would have despised the Internet.

Al Cappuccino seems to be flourishing despite its awkward location between busy Harbor Boulevard and the main concourse of the large Montgomery Ward shopping center.

Space is at a premium. The only real seating is on a lone living-room-size velvet divan stuck in a remote corner of the cafe, or at two small tables near the cash register.

Performers--and the majority of customers--are relegated to the spacious courtyard in the cafe’s rear. The best tables are patio furniture, near the entrance next to a place called Juice Boost. Performers play mostly pop tunes, acoustic folk and rock oldies.

The night I visited, Clint Rusich was affably pounding out the classic rock of such artists as Billy Joel, Van Morrison and the Eagles on an electronic gizmo called the Roland A-90 Expandable Controller.

With keyboards like these--which can simulate numerous instruments and provide a rhythm section to boot--who needs backup? At the end of his final set, Rusich gave the mike to an unbilled, rustic-looking gent and his mandolin for a lively reading of “Has Anybody Seen My Gal?” That’s really what you’d call a classic.

Another option is to grab a seat in the very front of the cafe, occupy one of the three computers and sign on to the Internet. The cafe uses the latest and greatest version of Netscape (4.0), and the high-speed modems (57,600 baud) and Internet service provider (America OnLine) translate into incredibly fast response time, so much so that I got up after my half-hour swearing to junk my home system.

Sign up for computers on a sheet where you order coffee. It’s $6 an hour, or $3 per half hour, for Internet usage. It is also possible to receive e-mail here for $20 a year.

A spate of espresso drinks, exotic teas and fruit smoothies are available, as well the usual complement of cookies, pastries and sandwiches. I had a frosty iced mocha topped with real whipped cream.

After my bout with the World Wide Web, I contemplated purchasing a cigar from the cafe’s limited but well-chosen selection of stogies. But because no one was smoking outside, I decided instead to slink away quietly into the balmy night air.

BE THERE

Al Cappuccino, 1327 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton. Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. Live entertainment nightly. No cover charge. (714) 870-7588.