Hi friends, welcome back to the blog! The sun is shining here in Amherst Massachusetts, and as I sip my Dunkin’ iced coffee like a true New Englander, I’m really enjoying the spring energy in the air. As you have probably noticed, we are back this week with another addition to my brunch series! For this week’s roundup, I’m going to be talking about some spots that Dakota and I have more recently discovered in an attempt to branch out from our old favorites (yes Coronation Cafe I’m looking at you). Enjoy!
Skinny Pancake
First up on the list, we have a brunch spot that is not only new to Dakota and me, but new to the area as well! The Skinny Pancake only opened a few months ago, but as the only crepe place nearby, we knew we had to try it out. To be completely honest, their menu is sort of random. Aside from crepes, this restaurant also serves breakfast sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and a variety of interesting sides including pasta salad, beer cheese dip, Thai salad, and Hash Purples (whatever that means). That being said, their crepes are quite yummy! They have a nice selection of both sweet and savory crepes, and when we went Dakota got their “Lovemaker” crepe with strawberries and chocolate hazelnut spread and I got the “Deja Vu”, which was crumbled local breakfast sausage, egg, apples and cheddar cheese with a side of maple syrup. While my crepe’s filling was a little bit strange, it was still pretty delicious. Their menu is honestly quite inventive, and if/when Dakota and I return I’ll have to try their breakfast burrito made out of a crepe instead of a tortilla. Overall, while Skinny Pancake isn’t among my favorite go-to places, I’ll still give it a very solid 8.5/10.
Cushman Market & Cafe
This next spot is actually one I discovered with my parents when they visited earlier in the semester. While Cushman Market is not in the town of Amherst, it’s a short drive away in an adorable little standalone building that sort of feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. After walking through the market in front, you’ll find a cozy restaurant in the back. While the menu is essentially just breakfast sandwiches and bowls, their “Right-O-Way” bowl with sausage, potatoes, and kale (among other things) was delicious. They also have a nice drink menu and a couple of yummy pastries that seem to sell out quickly, and it’s evident that this is a favorite spot among the locals. This is absolutely an example of a place in Amherst that feels like a complete escape from college, and I’m really appreciative of the fact that I so readily have access to spots like these. The vibe of this place very much encapsulates the vibe of this area in general, and I really love how much character it has. Overall, i’ll also give Cushman Market & Cafe 8.5/10.
Roadhouse Cafe
Guys. Can we just take a minute to admire this pancake. Roadhouse Cafe is the absolute newest addition to our brunch list (considering the fact that Dakota and I went for the first time today), but it has already become one of our new favorites. The adorable little diner is the cover photo of this blog post, and trust me when I say the interior is even cuter. The cafe makes all their breads and pastries fresh everyday, and not only are they famous for their coffee cake but you can have any bread be made into french toast including their cornbread and banana bread. However, since I woke up this morning with a pancake craving, I opted for trying their “plate-sized” blueberry pancake with a side of scrambled eggs. And may I just say, it was one of my better decisions. First of all, I don’t think I understand the logistics of how they manage to flip a pancake this size. But regardless, this blueberry pancake legitimately healed something within me. This diner was another spot that was full of locals, and while the drive is a little bit longer at around 15 minutes, it is so so worth it. As a bit of a side note, when my friend ordered an iced coffee, we had the magical realization that the drink had ice cubes made out of coffee to ensure that it didn’t become watered down!! Anyway, Roadhouse Cafe was a delightful start to my morning, and I give it a resounding 9.5/10.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed this week’s episode of my brunch series. While I do absolutely love this brunch tradition with Dakota because of all the yummy food I get to eat, I’ve also had a lot of fun exploring this local area and meeting so many lovely townspeople. For lack of a more eloquent phrase, this area is truly just such good vibes, and I’m so grateful to Amherst for making it so easy to feel right at home. As always, if you have any questions about my Amherst College experience, feel free to email me!! My email is eknauer27@amherst.edu. Bye for now!