Like the name implies, the Feel Good Café in Custer was created with one goal in mind: to give its visitors a chance to give their mornings a positive start.
“We purchased the building a few years ago with the intention of creating an upgraded, uplifting morning experience for our Bavarian Inn guests,” said Sherry Wahlstrom, co-owner of the café and the adjoining hotel.
While the menu is fairly simple, the food and drink options are quality creations to suit any mood. The café features classic baked goods and breakfast options such as the Croissant Sandwich and the Coffee Cake with cinnamon streusel.
The sandwich is a croissant with cheddar cheese, a fried egg, and choice of bacon or breakfast sausage.
Lighter options include a Rainbow Fruit Cup with various fresh fruits and a Yogurt Parfait with Upstate Farms vanilla yogurt, berries, and Swiss granola.
“We love the hospitality industry and are striving to create unique and memorable experiences that bring out the best in People.” – Sherry Wahlstrom
“Nothing fancy at this time. It’s quick serve, fresh-product with quality ingredients and excellent coffee and tea,” said Wahlstrom.
The café has quite a few coffee options, from features to more classic cups.
The Honey Bee Latte is made with organic honey, espresso, and steamed milk. Another option is the Abraham, which is made with dark chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, hazelnut syrup, espresso, and steamed milk.
Fun and Games
The café has board games and books available for guests, including a larger-than-life chess game in the middle of the dining room. A few of the tables are even made from vintage, still-playable arcade games.
Non-coffee drinkers can find tea, soda, juice, and Fruit and Cream Smoothies in either blueberry or mango.
The café itself is also an inviting sight with colorful petunias blooming on the grounds around the building. The interior is also decorated with live plants, and the huge windows and inspirational quotes throughout provide a calm, relaxing atmosphere to early morning patrons.
“The café is filled with things to raise the vibe,” said Wahlstrom.
Several dream catchers hang from the ceiling, including a giant one by the entrance made by a local Lakota artist, Tracy Harrison.
Wahlstrom says even the music they play inside is a carefully curated playlist meant to inspire good feelings in the morning to start the day.
The café also uses local building materials that add to the overall atmosphere.
On The Menu
Breakfast
Biscuits and Gravy
Two biscuits with peppered gravy and breakfast sausage.
Oatmeal Bowl
Oats in steamed milk, brown sugar, sliced bananas, and blueberries.
Baked Goods
Scones
Blueberry, apple cinnamon, or white chocolate raspberry.
Muffins
Blueberry cobbler, cinnamon walnut, or strawberry rhubarb.
Coffee
Zebra Mocha
Espresso with dark and white chocolate sauces and steamed milk.
Black Elk
Dark chocolate sauce, raspberry syrup, espresso, and steamed milk.
“The white quartz out front and the white quartz built into the coffee bar is a locally mined stone and is said to clean up the energy,” said Wahlstrom.
While the café is only open from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. right now, Wahlstrom says they would like to expand their hours soon.
“We hope to continue to develop the menu and the team and move into an all-day café,” said Wahlstrom. “We know our guests would support it, as well as our community.”
