Potager Cafe in Arlington, Texas - Delicious Slow Food Prepared With Principles and Served On The Honor System

Next time you visit Arlington, Texas, go downtown and enjoy a real "slow food" meal at Potager Cafe. Why?  There are SO many reasons, but let's keep it short and simple.  How about 10?

Top 10 Reasons To Dine at Potager Cafe



REASON #1

You deserve better. 

As a true opposite of the typical fast food franchise, Potager Cafe offers something better. Folks, this is the good stuff.  They call it "Slow Food". You will like it. Trust me. 

This definition for Slow Food  is from a link found on Potager's site:

Why the name Slow Food?

It’s a way of saying no to the rise of fast food and fast life. Slow Food means living an unhurried life, taking time to enjoy simple pleasures, starting at the table.

REASON #2

Potager has tasty food prepared with principles.

Try the green salad and some tomato soup.  It is lovely.

Okay, so the food is good, but food with principles? 

Yes, it has principles. 

The proprietor has principles that shine brightly through the food on each plate.  Her menu is full of "local" varieties and options. Here is a quote from the homepage:

"Get to know where your food comes from.  As much as possible, what we serve you comes from small, local farmers and ranchers ... our friends.  Get to know them too ... they are very loveable!"

REASON #3 

Potager Cafe has fair prices.    

The Price List is given only as a suggestion for payments. Each patron determines the price to be paid based on his or her own assessment of fairness. What a splendidly unorthodox concept.

REASON #4

Potager has friendly, talented chefs.

Even though they serve "slow food", you'll have a plate filled with it in a jiffy.

REASON #5

The atmosphere at Potager Cafe is mellow and relaxing.

WiFi, television sets, blaring music, and self-service soft drink machines are NOT part of your dining experience.  

 

Their standards and principles are so high that Potager doesn't allow soft drinks on the menu. In their own words, this is why:

Yes, we are BYOB, but please, no nasty soft drinks!  We want you to be healthy!!  

I fell in love with this groovy lighted peace sign over the door.

Is it possible that they value people more highly than profit?

REASON #6

The menu is easy to read and has plenty of options.

For me, eating at Potager almost like going back in time and enjoying a meal with Nanny and Papa. 

Please note that the menu changes daily.

REASON #7

They have a working garden.

The exterior of the cafe surrounded by a garden.  Seeing it will make you smile.

Some of the lovely herbs and veggies in these photos will become part of future menu selections.

Did you know Potager is a French word that means kitchen garden?  

There is something very comforting about eating food that is freshly picked from the garden - another little reminder of happy times spent with Nanny and Papa.

REASON #8

You need a reality check. 

Potager offers:

REAL water (the kind that doesn't come from a plastic bottle)

REAL glass water pitchers on each table

REAL glass glassware

REAL metal utensils

REAL cloth napkins

REAL food

REASON #9

Siri says so. 

Yes, Siri suggests dining at Potager Cafe. In fact, she introduced me to Potager.

This is how it went down:

I was driving around during lunch break using Siri to search for an eating establishment where a suitable meal might be found.

Me: Siri, I'm hungry.  
Siri: These 5 restaurants are fairly close to you. 

She offered me McDonalds, Wendys, KFC, etc. I didn't really want any of those options, so I  drove a bit further, pulled over, and tried once again.

Me: Siri, I'm hungry.  
Siri: These 5 restaurants are fairly close to you.

Once again, she kept offering me no choices other than fast food franchises.  

Not to be dissuaded, I drove a bit further, pulled over, and told her I was hungry.

Finally, she broke her streak of corporate food chains and suggested Potager Cafe.  Push Siri hard enough, and she'll show you the good stuff.



REASON #10

They follow the Honor System.

Potager did away with the need for outdated cash registers and credit card machines.  Those relics were replaced with this handy Watering Can.


See the payment slot in the top?    

Because your remittance is done with the Honor System, there is no need for a cashier.  They trust everyone to pay fairly.


After you're finished eating, select one of these sweet little handmade envelopes from the bowl, tuck the payment inside, and drop it in the slot. 

I hope you try Potager Cafe.  Just remember to bring cash or a check.  They don't accept plastic payments. Here are the details on location and hours from their website:

Our Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday:  11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday:  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (limited menu between 3 and 5)

Sorry, we don't take Credit/Debit Cards.  Cash or Cheques only.