17 West Cafe

17 West Café was a surprise for me. Located in downtown Monroe I hadn’t expected to find such a well kept place focused on good food and music. I enjoyed the décor of the place as soon as I walked in. It is pleasantly colored and the lighting is provided to a great degree by the natural light pouring into the place from the front and side windows. If you care to watch pedestrian and motor traffic it is easy and fun to do at any of the tables near the windows. There are good views from anywhere within the restaurant. As for the interior it is freely accompanied by paintings from a local artist who had depicted various musicians with their instruments and some of them performing. One last note about the design of the place – I know people in construction and architecture who would go to this restaurant just to see the tin ceilings. They are in excellent condition, have first rate installation and are painted in a luxurious and rich gold set off by flat red walls. Extraordinary! Take my word for it. The food is great. It is well made, fresh, hot and tasty. I enjoyed a short plate of ribs, barbecue baked beans (that were infused with some sort of chili meat – Yowers!) and greens. I could have used some vinegar and/or hot sauce – and they had it – but I’m waiting to add that in the next time. What I had was enough and I wasn’t going for sensory overload. The presentation is a little unique – I received my meal in a Styrofoam box with plastic utensils – but, whatever. It was a great place to have lunch and I’ll be back for dinner. Get there early or be flexible because sometimes they run out of stuff (WHAT? No cornbread!). It wasn’t as bad as running out cornbread but I could hear the obvious disappointment in the voice of another diner when told they had run out of green beans. (WHAT? No green beans?). It was okay. I know better now and will get my order in early. They are great for take out to eat back at the office, at home or on the sweet streets of downtown Monroe, Michigan.