A Better World Café, located in the Reformed Church at 19 South 2^nd Avenue in Highland Park, is a community kitchen whose purpose is to create a sustainable world where all may eat healthy and great tasting food at a fair price. A Better World is open Mondays through Fridays from 11am to 3pm. The café has been bringing the neighboring communities together through food and is paving the way to a healthier lifestyle for young and old alike. Eating there is a laidback experience where all worries of regular restaurant eating don’t exist.

When I first walked into the Better World Café it had a scent that smelled just like home. The decorations are simple and it is not too bright or dark. The room that the café is located in on all days besides Thursdays, which is the entertainment day and is located in another room, is warm and easy to get settled into. Everything is neat and organized- volunteers and sous chefs are constantly working to keep the space clean. There is as much variety in the menu as in the individuals dining there. There are mostly vegetarian and some vegan options offered. Usually, at least one dish with meat served, and diners have the option to add meat to any vegetarian sandwich. The menu always has soup(s), salad(s), sandwiches, and desserts available. Their vegetables are always fresh, seasonal, and from local farms. All of the food is colorful and vibrant and makes it as enticing as the scents do.

The atmosphere is pleasant thanks to the effort the chefs put into their food and their customers, welcoming each individual personally and trying to get to know him or her to the best of their ability. At A Better World there are no secrets: the chefs and volunteers will answer all of your questions about the ingredients and even give you some cooking tips. The people behind A Better World do more than stick to their motto; they go above and beyond. For everyone involved in the café it is all about giving and helping while building a better community that will hopefully spread to others as well.

You can either pay the suggested price for the food or pay more to help for someone else’s meal(s). You can volunteer an hour of your time for a meal and if you can’t pay or volunteer you can have the complimentary community entrée free of charge. The suggested prices for all the food are fair and worth the price for healthy and fresh food that tastes homemade. Watching the cashier you can tell that there is only love at A Better World Café; there is no guilt ever shown on the faces of the cashiers, only thanks.

I spoke with Rachel Weston, the head chef and manager, about the food and where A Better World Café’ hopes to be in the near future. Produce, Rachel Weston said, “does not come from further than 50 miles away.” All coffee and teas are fairly traded and served in cute mugs that make you feel as if you’re at home. Most diners are satisfied with the mostly vegetarian menu though Rachel Weston said that “We’ll continue to bring chicken on and we’re experimenting with different proteins before going gung-ho on the meats.” The café composts food scraps and don’t use any plastic, paper, or Styrofoam utensils in order to reduce waste. Rachel Weston also brought to my attention that “the takeout containers are biodegradable including the cutlery, which are made from a cornstarch type product” which is comforting for environmentally aware customers on the go.

The café brings in people of all ages: Rachel Weston pointed out a mother who was serving her young child the soup of the day since it was so natural and healthy. There are high school students, college students, families, and senior citizens. Mary Laurano, a junior at Highland Park High School, said that she and her friends try to go to A Better World Café for lunch as often as possible. “Their food is amazing,” Mary Laurano said, “It’s really good and has really good prices.” The communal set-up also attracts people to keep coming back for more. “It’s really good for conversation so you can talk to people [across from you],” Mary Laurano agreed. Rachel Weston reiterated that the communal tables are “a great way to get connected.” There is always a connection being made at the café, whether it is between one of the customers and the chefs or volunteers or between two people eating at the same table.

I bought a meal of a whole sandwich, a salad, and a cookie for less than seven dollars [at the suggested price]. The portobello and mozzarella sandwich tasted extremely fresh and homemade. The highlight was that the mushroom was the best portobello I have ever had: it was soft, well cooked yet not too juicy, with the perfect “meaty” texture. The root vegetable salad with lemon dressing was refreshing and had just the right amount of tang. It was made with carrots, onions, and rutabaga, all roasted to perfection with all the flavors intact. The cookie seemed to be all the kids’ favorite. It’s always made fresh but it’s best to get there early when they first come out of the oven.

A Better World Café offers numerous healthy dishes that don’t sacrifice taste, as their “sustainable” label might lead most to assume. Their prices are fair and bartering is always acceptable. The food tastes home-made but with love zested right on top. It’s the perfect place to go for healthy food at great prices and/or to volunteer at and give back to the community.

For more information visit www.betterworldcafe.org