Bridge Street Cafe and Eatery - Friends Food and Good Times

I grew up in the small city of Wetumpka, Alabama during a time when you could count all the restaurants in town on one hand. Times have changed and now you would need both hands and most of your toes to do the job. While there's more variety around town than in days past, it's still quality that counts. And that's where the Bridge Street Cafe & Eatery comes in.

Owned and operated by Dave and Teresa Cameron, Bridge Street Cafe came to downtown Wetumpka just in time to ring in the New Year of 2011. Located on a site where thirty years ago I took my car in for maintenance, this formidable pair have created something that just may help revitalize Wetumpka's city center in ways no one dreamed. The reason is that Dave and Teresa know how to combine a simple but tasty menu with a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere in a way that is nothing short of the best example of Southern hospitality.

The Atmosphere - What to Expect

If you're looking for haute cuisine and uppity surroundings, you can forget Dave and Teresa's place. What you get at Bridge Street Cafe is a casual dining area loaded with comfortable chairs gathered around a pleasant and eclectic mix of tables. When necessary, those tables can quickly be rearranged to accommodate a larger group, or separated to create a nice intimate dining experience for two. During the pleasant spring and fall weather, dining outside is also a treat, harkening back to days gone by when folks would sit on benches outside the barber shop and people watch half the day.

There's no pretense when you come through the front door of Bridge Street Cafe. You get smiles and greetings, and I don't mean the fakes ones found in other venues. Regular customers at Bridge Street are asked about the kids, how work is going and whatever other tidbits they may have shared with Dave and Teresa from time to time. It doesn't matter whether you are in an Armani suit or a pair of old jeans and your favorite T-shirt, everybody is made to feel at home.

Beverages - What to Drink

Since you are in a cafe, expect to see coffee selections, and lots of them. Go for some fresh hot coffee with cream and sugar to taste, iced coffee drinks, mocha coffees and several others. Not in the mood for coffee? That's no problem. Go for a chai latte, some hot chocolate, or a selection of ice cold soft drinks. You can also enjoy a relaxing cup of herbal tea if that's more to your taste.

mmmmmmmmm -- ..Salads -- ..mmmmmmmmm

You may not be expecting to get a really good salad at a coffee shop, but the fact is that Teresa knows how to put the greens together. Bridge Street Cafe offers several, including my personal favorite, a wonderful chef salad. I still don't know exactly why Teresa's salads satisfy me in a way that nobody else's can. Maybe it's in the details, how she tears the lettuce rather than cutting it, or the careful way the ingredients are arranged to perfection. Whatever she does, it works.

You can also get a top-notch Greek salad at Bridge Street, or indulge with a wonderful Chicken or Turkey Caesar that will make you want to come back again and again. For days when you are not in the mood for greens, ask Teresa about dishing up some chicken salad or her signature Bacon-Ranch pasta salad. You won't be disappointed.

Don't Forget the Sandwiches

The sandwiches at Bridge Street Cafe are made with the same care and love that go into the salads. Customers can choose from a selection of breads, toasted or not, always to perfection. My personal favorite is a Turkey Club on toasted wheat, with all the fixings. You can also get a great BLT, chicken and tuna salad sandwiches, and even a line of paninis with a range of toppings and fillers that you would never expect in a little cafe near the Coosa River. Sandwiches are made to order, so if you need to leave something out, just say so. They don't mind.

How About a Dave's Hot Dog?

You haven't lived until you've had a hot dog prepared by Dave Cameron. On sunny days, you can find Dave manning the hot dog cart outside the restaurant, whipping up some of the best all-beef dogs to ever grace the city. One word of caution: if you tell Dave you want the dog with everything, be prepared to end up with the messiest and most enjoyable hot dog you've ever tasted. Ask for a fork; you're gonna need it.

The Final Word on Bridge Street Cafe

If you need a break from a hectic workday, feel a little down, or in general just need to get out of the house for awhile, give these folks a try. Expect to get a smile when you come in the door, routed to a table as soon as one is available, and be checked on from time to time to see if you need anything. Chances are once you go the first time, you'll find your feet heading back again and again.