In Pennington, a Quaint Staple for Light Fare

Style

Appealing lunch place with a modern farmhouse aesthetic. The wood tables are each set with a few flowers in a small vase; lush plants preen in the brightly lit front window. Two outdoor tables face the street, which runs through the historic downtown.

The scoop

Owners James and Emily Matticoli—both have restaurant backgrounds—opened the café in 2004. They also run a popular catering company.

The menu

Pick from seven panini, such as the prosciutto (left) with tomato, shaved Parmesan and arugula on house-made focaccia and a side salad in a balsamic vinaigrette. Apart from panini, there are a crab cake sandwich on brioche bun and a turkey reuben on rye. Wraps—served with tortilla chips and pickles—include a BLT in a spinach tortilla and a grilled vegetable–and–hummus number in a whole-wheat wrap. For something a bit lighter, try the café’s take on Cobb or Caesar salads. There are daily soup, quiche, entrée and side specials. An assortment of house-baked cookies and dessert bars are available at the counter, where you can also get a cup of locally roasted coffee and espresso-based drinks.

Heads up

The café—open 11 am to 5 pm weekdays, beyond strict lunch hours—is often bustling with customers. To save time, call ahead for takeout.

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