Before the menu change, I ordered a vegan tofu reuben with their delicious slaw, called a "Cosmos."…read more It was so good, I ordered it again, thinking it was impossible for them to get it right two times in a row. They did. So I came back a THIRD time and ordered it AGAIN, just to see if they can still keep their vegan cheese melted just right on top. It was incredible, AGAIN. Now that I've gotten this out of the way, ask where it is on their new menu as it is under revision--I don't like the tempeh version as much. Onto the rest of the atmosphere of Cushman.
One of the most pleasant features of Cushman Market and Cafe is that it is nestled at an important corner in northeast Amherst. You need to travel further west to get to The Mill District and not much opens there early, and there's little else I can recall in the other cardinal directions. It's a pleasant trip, with plenty of parking in front, behind, and in a strip of side road across the street. I've never been in the market, so let me keep talking about the Cafe.
The atmosphere of the Cafe is wonderful, with locals, safety officers, and regulars all visiting at each meal hour from breakfast to lunch. Nestled inside what looks like an old barn, complete with doors still hanging, Cushman has memorabilia from decades of music, sports, politics, and news frozen under acrylic, different for many of their tables. The café seems to have at most 20 chairs, and the staff behind the counter will deliver it to your table, call your name, or leave other orders by a stand near the back entrance.
Cushman Cafe offers a variety of meals, alongside baked goods and freshly mixed café drinks. While I'm not a fan of the switcherels, I have enjoyed their dirty Chai lattes, iced teas, fresh coffees, and free water if I recall in a pinch. They have gender neutral bathrooms--which is great if you're tired of waiting in line for one of two as they are large but single occupancy. They offer cold panini sandwiches, hot panini, all sorts of eggs, egg sandwiches, and egg breakfasts, vegan and vegetarian options, alongside a seemingly visible carnivorous focus for their new menu's default.
If you had a chance to hop on a bus and travel around Amherst, or you were passing through to the highways, Cushman Cafe is worth a quick stop. I've rarely had to wait long for my meals even in busy hours, and this is because of the large and competent kitchen, who--if you'll remember--can get a delicious sandwich right any day of the week. I hope cell service returns there!
