On the corner of West Michigan Avenue and Washington Street stands Bona Sera Café, with its twinkling lights in the windows and brightly colored chalkboard listing today’s specials outside.
Inside the restaurant is a wide range of art and décor, like an Elvis bust lamp resting on the cashier counter and a blue velvet lamp lighting a sitting corner with Victorian-style sofas. With local art resting on the brick walls and a mannequin in the window waves at passersby, one gets the feeling that this would be the ultimate place to play “I spy.”
The restaurant gives a fun, relaxed vibe. This might be the reason why Ypsilanti residents keep coming back.
But it’s not. The food at the café is what keeps drawing dwellers back. The mix of cultural all-around comfort food is what makes this establishment.
One of the restaurant’s most requested dishes, the grits, a southern dish normally served with shrimp and cheese, gets an upgrade at Bona Sera. Served with your choice of protein, the dish has a Thai twist to it.
To some who grew up under the Mason-Dixon line, this is just wrong. But the dish is so good it could convert any southern belle or gentleman.
Another hit at the café is the bánh mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made with a little bit of an Italian feel. However, the traditional stemmed bun, which the sandwich is known for, stays intact and truly makes these sandwiches.
The menu is also vegan and vegetarian-friendly with most entrees having a tofu option.
A wonderful thing about Bona Sera Café is everything is made in house, and all the produce is from local sources. The restaurant is big on this point. Bona Sera Café wants the genuine freshness of every dish to be tasted in every bite.
A prime example might be in the café’s agua fresca, a drink made from all fresh ingredients, and depending on the day, you may get to try the cantaloupe and basil combination. To a thirsty college student, this tastes heavenly.
Bona Sera Café is very involved with the community, and it can be felt in the atmosphere. This is because the restaurant is part of the Suspended Program, a non-profit community based program to feed homeless families in the Washtenaw County.
Also, local artists are welcome to display their artwork on the first Friday of every month. On most nights of the week the place remains calm, which makes it an ideal place to study.
Bona Sera Café opened its doors as an official restaurant a little more than a year ago. Good food and a fun atmosphere are why people first started going and will likely continue for years to come.
