Cafe Vérde

The person quoted in the previous post can be forgiven on one basis, which is that s/he was writing in 2003, before the Food Bar at Café Verde on Fourth Street hit its stride. At this point, is is a great place to get decent, cheap food, including a reasonably diverse salad bar, two or three excellent soups, and hot bar items ranging from organic roast chicken to vegan/macrobiotic dishes.

Blatantly stealing from the current-as-I-write-this version of their Web site, here is their description of what they offer at the Food Bar:

Sample Sunday Brunch Menu:

Smoked Mozzarella Frittata, Cinnamon French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes, Tofu Scramble, Herb Roasted Potatoes, plus oatmeal, granola, yogurt, cottage cheese, organic fruit salad, and more.

Sample Lunch & Dinner Menu:

Soups: Chicken Noodle; West African Peanut; Potato, Leek & Celery Root
Entrees: Linguine with Tuna,Capers and Olive Oil; Szechuan Tofu and Broccoli
Side Dishes: Organic Herb Garlic Potatoes; Brussels Sprouts; Organic Kale; Organic Brown Basmati Rice; Black Beans; Baked Chicken Pieces (Antibiotic- & Hormone-free Free-range)

Typical Salad Bar Items:

mixed greens spinach parsley red onion sprouts celery bell pepper

radish cucumber tomatoes broccoli red cabbage carrots green onions

feta cheese hummus baba ganouj pasta salad barley salad lentil salad yogurt

marinated tofu sesame sticks peanuts raisins sunflower seeds pumpkin seeds garbanzo beans

kalamata olives pickled beets parmesan cheese cottage cheese pita chips croutons

Because the food is mostly organically grown and very fresh, a meal there is not what I would call cheap. I reserve that term for meals at fast food restaurants; for example, at Wendy's you can get a junior bacon cheeseburger, medium fries and a frosty for a little over three bucks. The only problem is, after you buy it, you have to eat it.

I confess to having done so on numerous occasions, especially when on the road, and to have been satisfied with what I got for what I paid. However, when I compare this to a meal that costs a little over twice the price at Café Verde, there is no comparison. A huge fresh organic salad and a bowl of West African Peanut soup with a nice hunk of bread might set you back $7-8.00, but the quality of the ingredients is very high, the meal is both filling and a delight to eat, and it's good for you to boot.

To offset that effect, if you find it undesirable, head to the espresso bar up front and get yourself a large latté made with whole milk and double vanilla flavoring, and a completely unhealthy dessert. The coffee is all Fair Trade, soy creamer is available, and almost-completely-unhealthy vegan desserts are available.

The atmosphere is on the crunchy-granola side, which suits my taste as an aging Boomer, but the crowd is very diverse. The wireless access is free and as fast as any I've found around town. Computer geeks from the Menlo Institute next door wander in and out, including their generated and veneered leader, Rich Sheridan, who can entertain you with lengthy and animated renditions of old Firesign Theater acts. Now that's something you can't get at the $40-a-plate places. Each to his taste, but this place has everything I need in the way of cheap, healthy eats.
Click to get direction.

Comments

[blockcolors4]

This place is a great getaway in Ann Arbor, and my husband loves their cheesecake and coffee! So, we agree with Dale in so much as this is a place you should explore.