Longtime Patron Refreshes Mara’s Cafe & Bakery

Mara’s Cafe & Bakery
Denville
25 East Main Street
973-625-0901

Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, daily

Price: $ BYO

Style: Uncluttered light-gray walls with white chair-rail trim and food-related art create a modern vibe. Paintings of coffee- and café-related scenery hang above a series of small tables. The kitchen opens into the main space and is visible from the entrance. 

The scoop: Mara’s started as a wholesale operation, distributing its treats and cakes throughout New Jersey for more than 30 years. The Denville location opened in 2004 and closed after 14 years. In January 2019, the café reopened under the ownership of Allison Kohler. A longtime Mara’s patron, Kohler has kept the menu largely intact and modernized the look.  

The menu: Breakfast and lunch are available anytime. Options range from French toast to a Western burger with caramelized bacon, cheddar, onion and barbecue sauce. The broccoli-and-cheddar quiche (left), featuring fluffy eggs and melted cheddar, makes a delightfully rich breakfast. Desserts truly shine. From the chocolate chip cupcake dipped in chocolate with vanilla icing to any of the house-made gelatos, you can’t go wrong.  

Heads up: Weekends are busy. Live bands or soloists play every Friday and Saturday night starting at 6:30. There is also an extensive catering menu.