A big, warm hug

I enjoyed lunch with two of my Agape friends last Friday. Carolyn, Christy, and I get together every two to three months to catch up with one another at the A2Z Café in Indianapolis.

Carolyn introduced us to this lovely restaurant last spring, and I’m grateful. It’s one of those places where you feel like you’re getting a big, warm hug right when you walk in. Owners Gina and Tom have owned this “comfort food with a Pacific Island flair” brunch spot for over 10 years. They love talking to their customers.

We all want good service, atmosphere, and of course, food when we go out to eat. A2Z consistently delivers all three. The dishes are a mix of traditional and Pacific foods, so even the pickiest eater is satisfied.

Gina greeted me by name last week and the three of us had a good chat with her. The family feeling is so strong at A2Z, other customers often stop and speak with us without hesitation.

As I left the restaurant, I felt a warm glow in my heart and soul. I thought about other places that consistently give me this feeling.

One of my favorites is Noblesville’s Ginger’s Café. I’m blessed to have this restaurant practically next door to me. Ginger’s started in a small spot in 2010 before moving to their South 10^th Street location in 2019. Owner Mikki, with the help of her trusty sidekick Monica, runs this homey restaurant which is open for breakfast and lunch.

I’ll never forget the first time I dined at Ginger’s. We were seated at the same kitchen table and chairs my sister had when I was growing up. I immensely enjoyed the memory and food that day, along with the pleasure of meeting Mikki. She or Monica have greeted me warmly ever since.

My husband John and I have been excited to have our Airbnb running with multiple guests going over to enjoy Ginger’s. I know they’re getting the same “warm hug” feeling.

Our columnist always gets that “warm hug” feeling at Ginger’s Café. (Reporter file photo by Quinn Matthews)

Another exceptional restaurant is the Chatterbox Cafe in Bradley, Ill. It became a second home for my father-in-law, Ron, years ago. Owner Debbie and her crew loved on Ron, and later, our own family when we visited up until he died in 2024. We had his celebration of life there that summer.

Homey décor with added holiday touches throughout the year always made me smile. The breakfasts and lunch are top notch, and you always hear happy conversation between the staff and the diners.

Debbie is not only a friend, but we also consider her to be family. We keep in contact with one another through text or Facebook.

Readers, I hope you have a restaurant like one of these you regularly go to. Not only is it wonderful to feel the big warm hug – it’s great to support a small, local business. May we all have a spot like A2Z, Ginger’s, or the Chatterbox to call our second home.

Amy Shankland is an empty-nester, writer, and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John and two dogs. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.