Smart Monkey Cafe: Smart Choice

When can going out to dinner be good for the planet? When you dine at Smart Monkey Cafe. Since they use local and organic food sources as you dine you are helping to reduce pesticides as well as lessening food miles (the distance a food travels before it is consumed) in addition to helping your neighbor, the farmer just up the road, earn a living.

The food is very tasty, with organic freshness exploding out of every bite. They put a lot of care into their meals, so preparation time can be a bit longer then normal, but once the food arrives your wait will be rewarded. We recommend the Organic Burger as it will give the Glenwood a run for best burger. The fries are from local potatoes and are hearty and have a unique texture (fried on the outside, chewy in the center.) We devoured our side of homemade organic appleasauce.

The Cafe is set in a beautiful space that hearkens to nature, with Tree Bark coverings and an earthy plank staircase coupled with wide open spaces and super large windows, you feel as if you are outside while being in. The service is casual with a friendly vibe; you order up front and often it is the owner who takes your order - the food them comes at you in waves according to what is ready. The building matches the mission of Smart Monkey Cafe, with low energy CFL bulbs and super efficient radiant floor heat, these guys practice what they preach. Be sure to make sure all of your food is delivered as we missed out on a side of Cucumber Salad; perhaps a wild animal lost in the nature of the place ate it on its way to our table - ah, such is wildlife in the splendor of nature.

The prices are steeper then a regular cafe, but you are paying a premium for organic and local food; even their ketchup is organic. We find the prices to be in line with Organic costs. Besides, you are what you eat, so why not spend a quarter or two more and put the best in your body? Don't believe us, do a taste test comparison like the Smart Monkey's behind the cafe's name did and we bet that Organic will win.