This
coming week marks a full year since I made my move up here to West
Lafayette from southern Indiana. I have learned so much about the area
in such a short amount of time and have truly made myself at home. I’ve
hit the majority of the main attractions and visited many parks;
however, I have yet to explore the vast amount of local restaurants and
shops.
Although I haven’t been to many restaurants, I think I started out my tasting adventure in just the right spot, the
Red Seven Bar & Grill.
I had always passed by here and thought to myself how nice and trendy
it looked, and my expectations were certainly met. I ventured in to meet
a welcoming hostess who guided Sara and I to a table. Once I sat down, I
was really able to look around at the design of the building. It’s like
each section has their very own vibe to it. The area we sat in had an
upbeat feel with vibrant artwork, hanging colorful lights, and open
space. When I headed to the next section, there was a grand bookcase
that covered two walls, and it sat directly by the windows facing Riehle
Plaza. It was a very cozy atmosphere. Then the other side of the
restaurant featured a bar, colored stain glass, and a view of downtown
Lafayette with a lively ambiance. With this fabulous location and
contemporary design, the spirited personality of downtown Lafayette is
expressed through this single restaurant.
Honey Ancho Glazed Chicken Sandwich and Fries
The architecture of the building was astounding, but the most
important part of course is the food, which was even better! The menu
featured a good variety of foods to choose from. It had everything from
salads, pastas, pizzas, and about every type of meat you can imagine.
It is a good source of just all-around good American food and more! I
personally ordered the
Honey Ancho Glazed Chicken Sandwich
with a side of french fries and caesar salad. My salad came out first,
and it was an excellent way to start out my meal and a wonderful first
impression. Sara had mentioned that
it was the
best caesar salad
she has ever had, and she was not exaggerating! The cheese and dressing
they used were absolutely superb! It was just the right portion and
made me anxious to taste the rest of the food that was coming, and my
Honey Ancho Glazed Chicken sandwich did not disappoint. The sandwich
includes grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, bacon and housemade honey
ancho chili glaze. The sauce on the sandwich was one of a kind. There
was a kick of spice to it as well as a sweet taste that mixed together
for the perfect combination. The bacon added a nice crispy texture to
top it all off. And of course, no American meal is complete without
delicious french fries. I must also say that along with the excellent
food and ambiance, the service is very hospitable.
Beautiful dress from Juniper
Downtown Lafayette shopping is another unique aspect of the town that
I have yet to experience. I love clothing stores, candy shops, home
décor stores, and cute, cozy coffee shops that are all featured
downtown. I will definitely be making my way over there, but there are a
few wonderful shops I’ve had the pleasure of shopping at,
Von’s and
Juniper. Von’s is a fantastic store that incorporates so many different
crafty and creative items. In one single strip mall, Von’s has a dough
shop, bookstore, boutique clothing store, and a huge collection of beads
(the largest collection in the Midwest)! My favorite parts of the store
are the
book
and clothing sections. They carry a range of books from classics to the
newest best sellers. It’s an excellent store to discover a new read for
great prices. The clothing section is very beautiful. The clothes are
all classy, elegant, and fashionable. These are clothing items that you
certainly cannot find in any ole store or shopping mall. You can find
the perfect style that fits you best with these original designs.
Juniper
features similar clothing types with a variety of name brand clothing
as well as new hip lines that are on the rise. The workers there are
extremely nice who are always willing to lend a hand and even give you
an opinion on different styles. Every woman knows how important that
second opinion is when it comes to shopping for a new wardrobe, so why
not get the advice from women who know retail best?! You have to keep
your eye out for their amazing sales as well! You can really snag some
stylish clothing for great prices. Both Von’s and Juniper are in great
locations. You can grab a new read from Von’s and head to
Greyhouse Coffee
across the street to begin your book with a nice cup of coffee, and
once you find a chic new outfit at Juniper, you can head over to
Starbucks for coffee or the
Wabash Landing movie theater to show off your newest purchase.
The amounts of new experiences in the Lafayette area seem endless.
There is always something new to try, which always leaves me wanting to
explore more! I have started my restaurant and shopping adventures on
the right foot by discovering a few great finds. I am excited to venture
further and see what else the area has to offer!
Kaley, Visitor Information Specialist and Purdue Student shared this blog.
