Getting to Know Vancouver WA: Mon Ami Cafe

"If you don't like change, leave it here" is the message posted on the tip jar at Mon Ami Cafe.

Mon Ami is a quaint but quirky shop in Uptown Village that offers specialty coffee drinks featuring fresh, locally roasted Stumptown beans, a selection of fresh crepes made with organic white and buckwheat flour from Bob's Red Mill, all in a comfortable, casual environment in the Uptown Village area of Vancouver.

Our favorite is the triple mocha, served in an oversized mug with artfully decorated foam topping. The varied crepe selection includes cinnamon & sugar (my wife's favorite), jam crepe, PB&J crepe, PB, Banana, Cinnamon & Honey crepe, ham, pear & brie crepe, ham & swiss crepe, and a salmon & tomato crepe, among others.

Another sign in the restaurant playfully states "Unattended children will be given a triple espresso and sent home with a free puppy". Gotta love 'em!

The cafe walls proudly display varying collections of artwork. Mon Ami also has a selection of beer and wine, and offers live music every Saturday from 5:30 - 7:30p.

Mon Ami is an important part of the Uptown Village community and definitely worth checking out. The restaurant is located at 1906 Main St in Vancouver. Their phone number is (360) 750-5693 and business hours are Mon-Fri, 7:30a - 5:00p; Saturday 8:30a - 7:30p & Sunday, 9:00a - 2:00p

The Story of Mon Ami

Entrepreneurial ideas brewed while Juliana Viveralli and Claire Ghormley lived, worked, and socialized in their favorite Vancouver neighborhoods. In 2003 Claire opened Twisted Shots Espresso on West McLoughlin, the first business in Downtown Vancouver to feature Portland's Stumptown^TM Coffee. Since then she has honed her skills as an expert barista and baker. Juliana grew up with a family tradition in the restaurant business working for her grandparents and learning from her father who is a chef and entrepreneur. Juliana received her MBA (with focus in Small Business) from WSU in December of 2006. The idea to team-up and open a creperie sparked one day over some espresso.

In French, Mon Ami means "My Friend." The cafe opened in June of 2006 after remodeling the space at 1906 Main using as much recycled materials as possible. The cafe is one of the first restaurants in the area to compost all their paper waste. Claire and Juliana share a distinct interest in the arts, cooking, good wine, micro-brew beer, and top-notch coffee, not to mention fervent enthusiasm for Downtown and Uptown Vancouver.

Patty & Scott Carroll - RE/MAX Equity Group, Vancouver WA