We stopped into Shipwreck News, Books & Café after checking into the James Newbury Hotel because it…read morewas the only place open for lunch. The café is very small, with just four counter seats and four small tables, and it's undeniably cute inside. I was especially excited to see a vegan sandwich on the menu. After we were seated, our drink order was taken. Unfortunately, they didn't have iced coffee, lemon for tea, or any diet soda, so we settled for a regular soda and a black tea. Once our drinks were ordered, we were told we had to get up and order our food at the bar, which felt a little odd after being seated and waited on initially. I ordered the vegan sandwich, and my husband had the biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs. The food took a while to arrive. As soon as I saw my sandwich, I knew I'd made the wrong choice. It consisted of sautéed kale, a chickpea patty, vegan cheese that looked and tasted like Velveeta, and a single slice of tomato that cost an extra $2. The sandwich was completely flavorless and honestly disappointing. My husband's biscuits and gravy weren't much better. They were so overloaded with black pepper that his nose ran through the entire meal. It's too bad some of that seasoning didn't make its way onto the vegan sandwich! When we finished, we had to get up once again to pay the bill. Overall, the service felt slow and disorganized, with an awkward mix of table service and counter service. It's a very charming little spot with plenty of potential, but the food and service both need significant improvement to create a better customer experience. Unfortunately, this isn't a place we'd be eager to return to.

Lovely little place that has books and coffee! It's a bookstore cafe. Friendly staff and patrons…read more People talked with us, asked if we were local, etc. Cart outside with free books. Good coffee!

The cinnamon roll was easily the best I've had in a while! The frosting was smooth and creamy, the…read moresweetness was just right, and the texture was incredibly soft. I honestly could've eaten two in one sitting because it was that delicious. The coffee was just alright. My daughter enjoyed her iced tea, but I personally like my drinks on the sweeter side, and it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The sandwiches were good, but they didn't really stand out. I think adding some type of spread or sauce would have elevated the flavors. The sourdough bread was really good--light and airy--and the combination of fried egg, spinach, and cheese paired nicely together. My daughter's egg sandwich, however, was a little bland. Overall, it's a very cute café with both indoor and outdoor seating. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. The only downside was that the bathroom was a little dirty. People really need to learn how to use the toilet properly or clean up after themselves!

This is a tough review because I genuinely wanted to give this place a 5/5…read more I worked with the team to cater brunch for my fiancé's birthday and the planning process was fantastic. Communication was seamless, they helped create a custom birthday cake with flavors I requested, and the entire ordering experience was smooth and stress-free. The food was outstanding. From the bread and cinnamon rolls to the focaccia and cake, everything was fresh, delicious, and a huge hit with our group. Every item felt thoughtfully made, and it was clear why so many people rave about their bakery. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is the pickup experience. I had a prepaid order of over $250 scheduled for 8:00 a.m. pickup, right when the café opened. We arrived about 15 minutes early.. because it was raining and simply hoped to wait somewhere covered until pickup time. We weren't expecting the order early or asking anyone to rush. Given the size of the order, the custom cake, and the fact that I had brought someone with me to help carry everything, we just wanted to avoid standing outside in the rain. When I knocked on the door, I could see several staff members inside. One employee looked at us and gestured toward the clock, essentially pointing out that they weren't open yet. I completely understand that we arrived early, and I respect opening hours. What bothered me was how the situation was handled. A simple "We'll be open at 8" or "Sorry, we can't let anyone in until opening" would have been perfectly reasonable. Instead, the interaction felt unnecessarily cold. Even once we were inside, the employee helping us came across as dismissive and unwelcoming. It was especially disappointing because every interaction I'd had over email leading up to the event had been so thoughtful, friendly, and accommodating. The food was exceptional, and the planning process was excellent. I just wish the same level of hospitality had carried through to the pickup experience. Had that interaction been handled with a bit more warmth, this would have easily been a 5-star review. Ratings: * Food & ambiance: 10/10 * Communication email: 10/10 * Pickup Experience: 4/10

I first went to Mr. Bumbles Cafe when they originallh opened and had a fantastic experience…read more Now, after a several year time period of living out of state, I have returned to try them out again and I was not disappointed. The service was warm and friendly. The food was outstanding, utilizing fresh sourced produce and baked goods. The cafe was spotless, as was thd rest room. The decor is friendly and inviting. I will definitely be back!

Mr. Bumbles had been on my radar for a while, so when I had an appointment not too far away, I knew…read moreI had to visit. I can find a lot of good words to include here: Cozy, charming, unique, friendly, welcoming. I could taste the freshness and quality in my made-to-order breakfast sandwich. That was a small coffee?!?!?! The decor is fun. Street parking is very convenient too. Similar types of stuff I could get at fast food places closer to my home just can't compare. If I lived closer, I'd be here all the time. Even with a slightly longer drive, I still want to come back here more often.

A lovely gift shop that also serves breakfast and lunch. They offer grocery items, beer, and wine,…read morealong with art for sale and live music. The space is beautifully decorated, and the service was friendly. It has a great vibe -- hip, artsy, and quaint.

**DISCLOSURE STATEMENT** I find aspects of writing this…read morereview difficult due to being an Amherst College alum and, therefore, eschewing, forever, all things "Williamstown." You have been informed. :) I have passed The Store at Five Corners to attend my sons' sporting events for years. Today I broke down and tried it for lunch en route to a track meet. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have visited, and how disappointed I am to have wasted a decade not frequenting this place. It's a Normal Rockwell-esq, quaint and rustic colonial country store. The staff was simply outstanding. Local, authentic, attentive, personable yet professional and added to my experience (I wish I had gotten their names). They have delicious looking treats and baked goods, an array of interesting dry goods and unique drinks in a cold case - but the main focus is their breakfast and lunch sandwich, salad, and coffee menu. The list of offerings does not go on for days. It's efficient, and clearly allows them to be good at 12 things - rather than meh at 30. I ordered possibly the greatest plate of food I've ever had in Berkshire County with the white miso hummus and pickled vegetable salad. WOW. It was tasty, well proportioned and conceived, and balanced well beyond my expectations. I did add chicken at the suggestion of the staff - and even the chicken was additive. Perfectly cooked (I suspect wonderfully sous vide), tender, all natural, and tasty. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as my first plate was cleared (yes, you heard that correctly), I ordered a second!!! And, for the record, it was not due to a skimpy portion. It was due to how much I enjoyed my lunch. It's menued at $15 before chicken addition - call it $21 all in with protein and tax. So so worth it. I literally cannot wait to find an excuse to come back to *GULP* Williamstown. I believe our spring sports schedule has us back relatively soon. The staff made me promise to try the falafel next time. I certainly will (very likely with another one of these as well). Fantastic.

Great, hand made with care food. Friendly service. Mellow environment with a "Women & Women First"…read morevibe. Highly recommended

The starving artist Café makes decent food for the Berkshires. But it is not a place that has…read moreamazing crêpes by city standards or French standards. I'm not sure what is missing, but it feels very suburban or country which it is and there's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it doesn't taste like authentic crêpes. I really do like the fact that it's a cute spot decent coffee and decent breakfast in small town USA with friendly service and you feel like you're supporting a local business. We will keep coming back, but I do wish some of the crêpes for me being more authentic versions of what they are today.

Really love this place but they are literally never open. They treat this place like a hobby and…read morenot a real business. The inconsistent hours are so irksome and disruptive. And the reasoning for being closed is always "short handed". Why don't any of your staff stay? As a business owner myself, I'm literally shocked that this place has existed this long. Which sucks because where else can I get a vegan breakfast sandwich? (Also, the owner left a condescending response on my Google review so definitely doubling down)

I didn't realize this was a vegan coffee shop. Which is fine but I like my coffee drinks with…read moreregular milk and not alternative. So I didn't end up getting anything. My son got a matcha and avocado toast. The toast was pretty good. Its made with local sourdough. Not sure why but there seem to be bees and flies, flying around inside the place. There's plenty of parking.

This is a tragedy. And that is not a word I use lightly either…read more What kind of person buys a gem like Mrs. London's and doesn't take the time to learn the recipes, master the craft, and maintain the standards of what was once arguably the best boulangerie and patisserie in America? Seriously, there is someone here to blame. What is their name? I want to know. Sure, it's not a civil or criminal offense. But it's a crime against food. It's a crime against the people of Saratoga Springs. And it's just plane offensive. I regret if anyone was driven to try Mrs. London's based on my previous glowing reviews. I am so sorry. I had no idea. But I was just there this morning. I gazed into the pastry case at the croissants, and my heart sank. I felt sick. The croissants looked like something you would see in an airport. I think the croissants at Costco might be better. These were flat, flabby, and pale things. Far from the perfect, golden, flaky, structured, glistening beauties of the past. And this isn't about fond recollections. I have receipts. Photos from the past and pictures of the present. It's night and day. If the new owners aren't going to preserve Mrs. London's food, they should have the decency to put someone else's name on the joint. I too asked about the breads, and was told "their baker retired". Fortunately, Michael London taught other people to bake amazing artisan bread, and his legacy lives on elsewhere. Unfortunately, nobody at the shop bearing his name bothered to pick up the torch. What a shame. It is so sad. I am literally heart broken. This was one of my favorite bakeries in the country. I went out of my way to make a special stop in my limited time passing through the region. But I suppose nothing lasts forever, and this is a valuable reminder of that unfortunate fact. My days visiting Mrs. London's are over. I can no longer recommend it in good conscience. Perhaps the hot chocolate is still good, and the decor is still lovely. However, if you look closely at the glowing reviews, they all point back to a time that has now sadly passed.

This was a 3.5 star experience. Yelp needs to get with the program here. Let's start with the…read moreambience, it's super cute inside! I loved it! Both the pecan pastry and the raspberry cheese danish were great! No complaints! Where this place falls right off the cliff is service. It's cold and rude. No if's ands or but's about it. And after my experience, I went and read all the reviews. This is a thing apparently. And to make it worse, the owner, instead of apologizing with humility and concern to the guests that keep him in business instead writes entitled zero accountability messages back to patrons after leaving bad reviews. Honestly that's immature and short sighted. The good will of the public doesn't last forever. But on the other hand, if you desperately miss the rudeness of Europe then this is truly the place for you!

Friends and I have had numerous meals here and each one has been delightful. The mezze platter is…read moreto die for, as is the bread and butter--fabulous small loaves and European style butter--to start. Every pasta dish, and we have tried them all as there are six of us, has been perfectly prepared and sauced. The steak and the chicken dishes are always delicious and the discussion every time is "do I order what I got last time--it was SO good--or do I branch out?" The desserts are sublime, by the way. We usually get four and share. Great service, beautiful surroundings, best in Rhinebeck!

Little Goat How do you cap off a magical month of Mozart at…read moreBard College at Annandale-on-Hudson? By heading to the charming Little Goat at 6380 Mill Street in Rhinebeck, NY! We have been meaning to try it since our neighbors raved about their Thanksgiving meal there last year. We entered and were immediately greeted by a basket of baguettes from Sparrowbush of Hudson at the counter. The browned crust reminded of us of our holy grail of bread from Balthazar that a guest had brought to our home 30 years ago. We've been unable to find a comparable baguette until we found one at the recently shuttered Fletcher & Lu's. We'd make monthly pilgrimages to stock up, and were saddened when our bread fix was no longer available. We snapped one up to test it out (had it for breakfast and it's glorious!) The interior is painted a warm butter yellow, the shelves house white ironstone pitchers, and baskets of wildflowers abound. Simple, but homey, yet at the same time elegant. The table settings are understated, and much like those I grew up with my grandmere from the southwest of France, who settled in the Napa Valley. My cousin Thérèse runs a restaurant in Beauregard in the Lot department that reminds me greatly of the Little Goat. We were in good hands with our server, Lennon (yes, named after THAT Lennon!) She was attentive, animated and very charming. We started with a Churchtown Dairy (Hudson) Copperwaite, local honeycomb with spelt bread appetizer that was on point. For our wine we had 4 glasses of Gamay, Coeur de la Reine, Loire, France 2023 (nice and plummy, but recommend getting a bottle rather than by the glass for a better value!) I had the Roasted Petite Filet, with Smoked Pepper Butter, Tallow-Fried Onions and Bernaise on the side. Tender, flavorful, and a generous portion that was enough for another meal. With that I had the barbecue-spiced crispy potatoes, a perfect combination. My husband had the Rigatoni Pork Ragu, Sourdough Soffrito dusted with Parmigiano. (Disclaimer: after 50 years together, if this dish is on the menu, I know he will order it. He did...and loved it, ranking it among the best he's ever had ), pairing it with Braised Romano Beans, Sofrito, and Smoked Pecorino. For dessert, we "shared" (ok, he had one bite and I devoured the rest) the Chocolate Budino,* Creme Fraiche, Oats dusted with Fleur and topped with a crisp Tuile. * A budino is what you get if a pot de crème hooked up with crème brûlée for a steamy night and had a baby! What is so charming about this restaurant is that it is so family-friendly. Several tables had babies and toddlers galore and it gave the room a welcome liveliness. Definitely not stuffy, and a welcome relief from snooty dining establishments. Kudos to Erin Winters and Taavo Somer for bringing such an extraordinary dining experience to my beloved Hudson Valley. You excel at what you do. And Five Toques to Chef Paragas...you slay!

It's been so long since I've visited the Daily Grind. I really cannot say why I stopped going. It…read moreis a local gem that has served the area for decades. The breakfasts and coffee are solid. The staff is helpful and courteous. I showed up for breakfast recently. I ordered the Chorizo. Two eggs, two chorizo sausages with pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo on a sandwich roll. It was as good as I remembered. I also enjoyed the coffee included in the $11.45 price. I took the meal upstairs where there's additional seating. I ate it while seated inside the picture window, which is a good place to the activity along Lark St. The eatery is as eclectic as ever. There are signs and artwork on the walls from different eras that don't go together. The place is old and perhaps a bit musty. Still this place had so much history with the area and its mismatched decor is a part of its charm. Change may be good. But in the case of the Daily Grind, I'm happy to still be able to get a delicious meal at a reasonable price from a nice staff after all of these years. Comfort food at its best.

Still thinking about this sandwich!! Daily Grind is definitely going to be my new go to spot for a…read morebreakfast sandwich and coffee! It's no wonder why they are so popular and also one of the oldest cafes in Albany and still doing so well today! The cafe is a cute spot, with stool seating indoor and some tables outside. It's a bit unassuming but the bustle of the place definitely reflects how popular it is. They have so many options of sandwiches and to create your own and it is delicious!! The rolls were perfect and not tough at all, the sandwiches were so well done, I highly recommend the Lark street, the eggplant was so crispy and yum! They have fun specialty lattes and coffee as well. The girls working were welcoming and nice. While there was a bit of a wait, it's worth it and the do have an order ahead option too.