A Review of the "Higher Ground Café" in Kansas City, Missouri

In a constant whirl of customers hurrying to get out of the chilliness of the winter air, the Higher Grounds Café offers a refreshing perspective to any visitor. Located in the Red Bridge Center building, sandwiched between the iHop bookstore and 24/7 Prayer Room, the Higher Grounds Café has a nice outdoor patio for warmer days. Small tables with two to three chairs around them, wire-framed and sturdy for anyone to sit on.

However, during the winter, there is plenty of space though it fills up quite quickly with lines waiting for a seat. The café consists of two rooms. The front room is a larger room containing less tables and chairs but the purchasing counter and kitchen. Along the front window on one side of the entrance, there are tall stools to reach the higher table tops, and outlets for computer users to make themselves at home.

On the other side of the door, there is a table and outlets but no stools. There are refrigerated shelves of juice, drinks, cake slices, and more to entertain the eyes. Daily specials are written on boards, salads and wraps are pre-made and on display for the choosing. And all of the staff always wear friendly smiles that warm the chilliest of all hearts.

In the back, there is a smaller inner room filled with many tables and chairs. With walls of darker tones of red, blue, and gray and a black ceiling, the café is modern and many from all over venture within the doors seeking and receiving the contentment and comforts of home. For coffee lovers, sandwich and wrap crazy fiends, the café has many choices and the menu offers diversity and culture from all over America.

More importantly, the café offers a higher ground for deeper levels of fellowship. The calm and soothing ambience of friendship and food gives many a feeling of strong satisfaction and savory moments being shared with friends and strangers despite the blizzard of business.

Religion and politics aside, this is a very warm café that eased a city-dweller's homesickness, even if just slightly.