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New England

Café restaurants in New England

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of 3

  1. A

    Dutch Pancake Café

    Located within the Grey Fox Inn, this Dutch-owned eatery decked in Delft tiles makes more than 80 kinds of pannekoeken (Dutch pancakes); some have a Southern American twist with sausage and gravy.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Coffee Country Cafe

    This informal place attracts everyone from tongue-studded teenagers to 65-year-old farmers. Drop in for some good java and hot baked goods.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Kookoo Café

    Kookoo is a sooper-cute café serving delicious soups and salads – most with some hint of the magic of the Middle East. The sandwich rollups are all fresh, healthy and vegetarian, including the signature Kookoo rollup (parsley, spinach, coriander and minty yogurt). The tiny space is crowded with an eclectic display of knickknacks, with a quaint seating area in the back.

    reviewed

  4. Woodman’s

    This roadhouse is the most famous spot in the area to come for clams, anyway you like ’em. The specialty is Chubby’s original fried clams and crispy onion rings. But this place serves everything from boiled lobsters to homemade clam cakes to a seasonal raw bar. Friendly, family service and tried-and-true seafood make it one of the classic New England eateries. It’s on MA 133 on the way to Ipswich from Rockport (exit 14 from MA 128).

    reviewed

  5. D

    Other Side Cosmic Café

    The ‘other side’ refers to the other side of Massachusetts Ave, which few strollers crossed before this place opened. ‘Cosmic’ alludes to its funky, Seattle-inspired style and 20-something crowd. The 1st floor is done in cast iron, while the 2nd floor is softened by velvet drapes, mismatched couches and low ceilings. Vegetarian chili, sandwiches, fruit and veggie drinks and strong coffee are the order of the day.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Café D

    This fun and funky 'global kitchen' borrows from all corners, including Asia (ginger and soy marinated chicken breast), Africa (Moroccan spiced lamb), Europe (risotto with asparagus and mushrooms) and the Americas (Baja fish tacos). What these items have in common is that they are perfectly prepared and easy on the palette. Set in a playful space - wallpapered in newsprint with colorful splashes - this JP cafe is artful and adventurous.

    reviewed

  7. River Garden Cafe

    This place is true to its name: you’ll enjoy the back porch (open year-round) and summer patio within earshot of the river. This local favorite offers salads, pastas, filet mignon and stir-fried dishes served in a casually elegant atmosphere. For lunch, try the Green Mountain pizza ($7) topped with Vermont goat cheese, mozzarella, pesto and tomato sauce. As you might have guessed, breads and desserts are homemade.

    reviewed

  8. F

    Sorelle Bakery Café

    Sorelle's has earned a loyal following of regulars who take coffee at the counter, devour fresh sandwiches and scones, and bus their own tables. The original location (open only for breakfast and lunch) retains some charm in its cramped quarters and central location on Main St. But the new, more spacious location on City Sq trumps with its contemporary interior, outdoor seating area and free wi-fi access.

    reviewed

  9. Meli-Melo

    For a quick and delicious bite, you can’t do better than Meli-Melo. Meaning ‘hodge-podge’ in French, Meli-Melo serves salads, soups and sandwiches, but its specialty is undoubtedly buckwheat crepes. Try a wild combination like smoked salmon, chive sauce, lemon and daikon ($9.50). The French onion and French lentil soups are, appropriately, superb.

    reviewed

  10. Met

    Just north of Schouler Park, this small coffeehouse is the best place in town for a cup of coffee or a pastry. You can sink into a plush sofa, or grab a table out front in the summer and enjoy the passing people parade. Artwork (all for sale) decorates the walls and baristas play an eclectic mix of world tunes and jazz. High-speed internet connections and computers are also available.

    reviewed

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  12. Polly’s Pancake Parlor

    Attached to a 19th-century farmhouse 2 miles west of Franconia, this local institution offers pancakes, pancakes and more pancakes. They’re excellent, made with home-ground flour and topped with the farm’s own maple syrup, eggs and sausages. Polly’s cob-smoked bacon is excellent, and sandwiches and quiches are also available.

    reviewed

  13. G

    June Bug Cafe

    Dressed up like a June bug, this bohemian café's green-and-purple walls show off the work of local artists. Big, comfy couches (not to mention wi-fi access) invite surfers to settle in for an afternoon, sipping bubble tea or noshing on well-stuffed sandwiches. Vegetarians are well catered for, especially if they indulge in imitation meat.

    reviewed

  14. H

    Panificio

    It’s not easy to snag a spot in this cozy, sun-filled bistro. By day, regulars stop in for fresh soups and sandwiches, buttery pastries and piping hot coffee. In the evenings, the menu expands to include homemade pastas and hot meat dishes. Don’t miss the weekend Italian brunch, featuring toasted bread with decadent toppings.

    reviewed

  15. I

    Julian’s

    A messy combination of neon, exposed brick and ductwork, come here for tattooed cooks preparing a stellar brunch (served until 5pm) with changing blackboard specials (goat cheese, caper, tomato and mushroom hash) along with several benedicts and lots of vegan options. The dinner menu offers seared yellowfin, small sides and alcohol.

    reviewed

  16. J

    Smokejacks

    No argument among locals as to the best burger in town – it’s Smokejacks Big Bold Burger, made from local Angus beef and flipped over an oakwood grill. Fresh fish and specialties like applewood-smoked duck breast are also available, while the cheese list features some of America’s finest small-farm cheeses.

    reviewed

  17. Sweet Leaves Tea House

    Brunswick’s most charming address opened in 2006. The bright and cheerful café-bistro serves delicious soups, salads, panini and desserts with a menu that changes daily. In addition to some 30 teas, Sweet Leaves serves beer and wine, which pair nicely with live acoustic nights and other weekly events.

    reviewed

  18. K

    Lucky’s Cafe

    Inside a sprawling brick manufacturing complex begun in 1831, this modest joint’s remarkable soups (white bean escarole with tomato) would cost twice as much in another city. A loyal lunch crowd fills the dozen tables, though weekend BYOB dinners (pork chops, Portuguese fish stew) have recently been added.

    reviewed

  19. L

    Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant

    This centrally located, ever-popular place has a huge menu of snacks, sandwiches, bar food, Mexican specialties and a salad bar, as well as Newport’s most elaborate drinks list. A large patio holds many yellow umbrellas and brightly colored Adirondack chairs. The pub is not a chain, but it feels like one.

    reviewed

  20. A1 to Go

    In laid-back Gardiner, A1 to Go is a charming modern café serving unique and flavorful wraps (curried chicken salad, smoked salmon with capers), granola with yogurt, mango lassi and other organic options. The small deli and grocery is a good spot for a picnic assembly (good wines, salads and cheeses).

    reviewed

  21. M

    Tapas

    Crowds pack this storefront bistro at lunch and happy hour for good reason. You can sit at high tables or stand at wall counters and rub shoulders with three neighbors while eating blackened chicken tapas ($8) or souvlaki ($7). They brag that their food’s so fresh, they don’t even have a freezer.

    reviewed

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  23. Lady Killigrew Café

    Though the Montague Bookmill is the biggest draw in the vicinity, several other ventures make it even easier to while away day and night. The Lady Killigrew Café, featuring amazing riverside views, offers affordable sandwiches, particularly eggy breakfast ones, coffee wine and beer.

    reviewed

  24. Lickety Split

    Though the rest of town appears to be largely a culinary wasteland, the MASS MoCA campus offers two fine spots to grab a bite. Lickety Split, a pretty café near the main lobby, serves breakfast, sandwiches, espresso and hot dishes. It stays open late when there is an evening show.

    reviewed

  25. N

    Kitchen Little

    Join various staff of Mystic Seaport Museum for breakfast and grab a seat at one of the tables on the back patio overlooking the water to trawl through the lengthy, egg-heavy menu. Try the Mystic Melt, featuring crabmeat and cream cheese scrambled with eggs on raisin toast. No credit cards accepted.

    reviewed

  26. O

    Aloha Café

    Inside the old brick Seaman’s Church Institute, locals and fishermen sit at one of a few tables or at the bar to enjoy dirt cheap coffee, eggs, meatball sandwiches, BLTs and soup. The wood-paneled room has a map mural of Narragansett Bay from the 1930s with iconographic rabbits and whales.

    reviewed

  27. Café Nouveau

    Tucked down a side street, Café Nouveau is an elegant wine bar that also serves tasty, creative fare. The menu features warm duck salad, lobster bri­oche, blackened salmon quesadillas and other seafood choices. The wine and cheese shop next door is great for assembling a picnic.

    reviewed