{media_1}1. Bonnie Day

2. Nola

3. The Tallest Poppy

Bonnie Day is a good idea. It’s now a democratically backed statement.

Rachael King, co-owner of Bonnie Day, says it “means everything” to win in the category, especially as the anniversary of their opening lands on Dec. 1.

“We created this space for (the community). To have all of that hard work and heart put into something and have it be received with such gratitude is really humbling.”

A major inspiration for Rachael and the other co-owners was rooted in the values their late uncle, playwright David King, imbued: creativity, joy and community.

“We talk about having a legacy of joy in our family. We hope that translates to people’s experience there, breaking bread in our family way and experiencing joy in the process,” King says.

As legend has it, Bonnie Day’s namesake was David’s famous catchphrase, a double entendre of the French bonne idée (good idea) and the Scottish phrase bonnie day, meaning beautiful day.

The menu, carefully designed by executive chef Pamela Kirkpatrick and Brian Johnson (co-owner and general manager), is, as Rachael says “at the heart of it all. It’s an assembly of people that are the best at what they do.”

The menu is inclusive for people who are gluten-free, vegan or omnivores, all serving up “nourishing comfort food in a cozy milieu.”

Staff members show off their creativity through the cocktail menu, where “everyone brings something different to the table.”

“I think whenever we do anything, it’s never done unilaterally. It's always done as a team, and we really value all of our staff that work here,” King says.

Soon, Bonnie Day will expand their hours to include a café and coffee to go (managed by Jordan Cayer from Never Better Coffee) during the day.

“The goal is to keep building and leveling up and listening to the community and taking it with us,” King says.

Published in Volume 77, Number 12 of The Uniter (December 1, 2022)