The Real Cafe

The Real Cafe: Homestyle Recipes, Real Ingredients

This is a familiar feeling. Upon entering The Real Cafe, it’s not the enticing aroma of savory spices that immediately grabs your attention. It’s a nostalgic familiarity that you can’t quite put your nose to. As you enter the restaurant, you’re greeted with a quote that captures the essence of the cafe: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.” The restaurant features farmhouse design motifs mixed with large pillows and comfy booths that make you feel relaxed enough to talk for hours. The design aesthetic isn’t the feature that will keep you running back for seconds at The Real Cafe. It’s the palpable feeling of home.

As autumn approaches, owner Michele Menzel is eager to release the new menu at her Edmond eatery. At The Real Cafe, there is no sacrificing taste for quality in the preparation of their made-from-scratch items. The menu features organic foods grown locally. The meals are prepared with only unrefined, nutrient-dense fats and the meat selection includes 100 percent grass-fed beef and lamb. The poultry, eggs and pork all come from animals that have been allowed to pasture. All products are also non-GMO. Opposed to farm-raised, all the fish used at The Real Cafe is caught wild from its natural habitat. These fundamentals have helped Menzel present a product that is extremely fresh and flavorful. The meatloaf has already become an instant classic. Served with a side of mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, the entree is indulgent, well-proportioned, beautifully plated and reminds you of all the nourishing comforts of home.

This feeling of home didn’t just happen by chance. It was all part of Menzel’s vision.  “A lot of the recipes are my own,” she said. “I wanted people to feel like they were coming to my home for a meal.” Mission accomplished. The menu features over 60 items like whole-grain Sourdough Pancakes for breakfast, a juicy grass-fed Classic Cheeseburger for lunch and Pan-Seared Salmon with sauteed veggies for dinner. The penne marinara features whole-grain Einkorn pasta which is seasoned perfectly and makes you feel like you’ve indulged in a carb that won’t tip the scales against you. “I will never compromise,” Menzel said. “People can be guaranteed that they won’t receive anything artificial. [There are] no processed foods and oils. That’s becoming increasingly important today.” Menzel is looking forward to expanding her services to include online meal plans. “The meals will be prepped, cooked and ready for you to take home,” she said.

In addition to providing a quality food source, Menzel is also focused on educating community members on how to eat and live naturally for life. Her location is also home to Energetic Wellness, a holistic health center which offers bi-weekly classes on healthy, natural living, as well as movement classes such as yoga and Barre. Visitors can also purchase fresh food staples in The Real Market, along with skin care products and supplements. “I want to open up the classroom. I want the community to know that we’re here and that they can use the facility.”

Indulging your taste buds at this local eatery offers all the enjoyment of a nourishing home-cooked meal without the hassle. Thanks to The Real Cafe, the taste of home is just a drive through the neighborhood.

The Real Cafe – 405-359-1245

2851 W. Edmond Rd.

energeticwellnessok.com