To the untrained eye, there’s not much in Idalia, Kansas. As you drive through, all you’ll really see are a few abandoned store fronts, a gas station, the grain elevator, and a couple of vintage trailer houses.
But for the seasoned traveler and/or the lucky (I’m in the latter category), there’s a gem of a place located on the main drag known as the Prairie Vista Cafe. Run by people who rise early and work hard, the Prairie Vista has a menu that’s hearty and probably heart-stopping. But with the kind of food and service you’ll get at this cafe, it’s pretty easy to rationalize the fact that we all have to go some time.
Greeted by a smile and a steaming cup of coffee, you’ll get a piece of a warm cinnamon roll before you even look at the menu. If you have any trouble deciding what to order, your waitress will gladly make the call for you. The food is hot, plentiful, and overwhelmingly good. When finished, you get a bill scribbled on a green and white ticket that makes you think that you’re living in 1964. And when it comes time to settle up, you’ll get the opportunity to roll the dice to see if you get the big discount.
In age of excess and hubris, The Prairie Vista Cafe reminds us that simple moments are the things that bring the greatest joy and the best memories.
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