Purple Onion

Oh how happy I am to have found this place!  Recently relocated to the area from Boulder, CO and thought we'd never find this kind of fare here.  Salads and pizza just the way we like them.

Came here for an early lunch and an so glad I did. Our waiter, who also cooks, told us that there was a pot of Gypsy Vegetable Soup waiting for us. Needless to say, we wanted to know more. He told us that he and the head chef had harvested the vegetables for this soup from a local garden themselves and that it's been slow simmering since 5 a.m.! He looked tired but seemed very proud and passionate about the soup. We agreed to have a couple of bowls.

The soup was full of tomatoes, kernels of corn, and okra, all of which are in season right now in the area, so the flavors really popped. There were also the additions of potatoes and carrots to make the soup hearty.

As I ate the soup, however, I kept imagining Mr. Water/Chef dozing off and falling into the hot, steaming pot. 5 a.m. is early. I digress...

The way he served it was interesting. He brought the empty bowl to the table, then brought an actual vat of soup and served it right in front of us. Maybe I'm easily amused, but this was cool :)

At any rate, the bowls were big and hearty servings. Definitely worth the $5.00 each. We shared the cheese plate which went well with the tomatoes in the soup. I'd definitely come back.

I have dined here three times since moving to the area 3 months ago.  Definitely, this place is a favorite already in the area.  The cuisine is unique, world class, and the atmosphere is great.  The outdoor dining area is very nice.  There is a nice selection of microbrews, and the wine list is good, too.   I would give this place a 5 star rating, except that our experience with the wait staff has ranged from superb, to poor.  Hopefully the Management will weed out the slackers.