Red Onion Cafe transcends name

red_onionBretton Cole

Editor-in-Chief

There is just something about quaint cafés that attracts my attention, and Red Onion Café was no exception to that trend. The small restaurant on East 4th Street in downtown Joplin offered a welcoming environment filled with great service, ample portions and affordable costs.

While the name suggests an emphasis on red onions, the restaurant offers much more than the namesake vegetable.  The restaurant is neatly arranged and has a wide variety of menu options, ranging from traditional clubs and sandwiches, chicken, steak and even seafood. It’s a typical menu consisting of a healthy variety of styles. While I was there, they had a promotional menu of Irish dishes in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

One of the things which stood out to me were the size of the portions. For the price, there was a lot of food. The side salad was a full plate, filled with plenty of greens and a piece of garlic bread. My entrée, which came out fresh and hot, included a good-sized piece of chicken and a tall pile of seasoned fries.

The service was prompt, courteous and the waitress got our orders correct. They made me feel welcome and made me want to come back to try some of their other very affordable menu choices. The warm, cozy building makes a great place for anyone ready to relax after a long day at school or a place to take your date.