My book club did a we can get away in Connecticut so we could come here and the service was great our waiter was so sweet and you could tell they're not used to large parties they don't combine tables but they were so nice about it however the food was pretty good average kind of diner food we did miss breakfast so we were a little sad but we were disappointed in the books collection most of the books that come free aren't even worth it most people didn't take any books with them which kind of defeated the purpose of coming here and they did have books for sale which were better books however we all already have large collections and weren't interested in buying more all in all pretty decent experience and the price is not bad read more

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I've passed by The Traveler Restaurant my whole life on road trips up north, but only just stopped in for the first time last night! There weren't too many people there, but it made for a lowkey dinner. The food arrived quickly, and everything we had was actually much better than we were expecting. Cool concept with all of the books lining the dining room, and we appreciated that you could take 3 for free. Also walked around the book cellar too. There weren't really any titles that grabbed us though. My main critique is that it was pretty dusty... we looked at one of the lights and the cobwebs on it made it look like a Halloween decoration. You have to wonder if the dining room is that neglected, how bad is the state of the kitchen? Wouldn't be in a rush to come back, but glad I can say I've been to what's considered such an iconic roadside stop. read more

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We needed to stop on the way home and decided to give this out of the way spot a try. It has the feel of a local neighborhood venue, but it is located on the busy Interstate 84 (I-84) highway near the Connecticut/Massachusetts border. They serve food, and sell books, puzzles and more. We've driven past here many dozens of times, and today was the day we checked it out. We ordered: * Reuben with fries * Cheeseburger with fries Everything was served quickly and piping hot, the burger cooked correctly and the bun appropriately sized. The fries were standard fare, but hot and crispy. The Reuben was hot and tasty, and very substantial. The venue is rustic and the menu certainly not gourmet, but it's a great spot for a sandwich or a drink and certainly convenient to the highway. read more

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Tonight was Chicken Parmesan with pasta and garlic bread. This was tasty! I LOVE that they pounded out the chicken to make it thin, the breading was delightfully crispy and cheese.. I loveeeee cheese and this was TOPPED. Pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce tasty, if I was being particular I would wish for the sauce to be not as watery/loose. The garlic bread was nicely seasoned and I chomped that all down Our waitress, who I didn't catch her name, was very attentive and super nice personality. Really, any time we've gone in everyone is always nice. It's also nice to have non sticky tables and clean bathrooms. They allow you to choose 3 free books per person from shelves that line the dining room. Each of tonight found books that were interesting and donated a handful of books to them. I really like that they do this, it's probably going on 30 yrs since I first stopped in and am happy they've kept this going. I would like to mention also, I'm super grateful with prices changing regarding food costs, they have completely made it worthwhile in the servings they give. I almost always go home with a take away box, tonight including. read more

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This was our first time here. We found out looking for a spot on the way to MA . I ordered the raven. It was really good. I believe my buddy order the red badge of courage. He said it was really good. This place is so cool. There are books everywhere. Looks like you can purchase different sets of books and it sounds like there were books downstairs as well. We definitely plan to come back when we have some more time so we can explore the place in general and try out different foods. Some of the foods are named after books. The staff was very nice as well. read more

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Amazing atmosphere and food. If you are a book lover. You have to go to this place. They let you take 3 books home with you after eating.

We went for lunch time. The restaurant was cozy, and unique. Books neatly arranged around the restaurant. It was like eating in a library but able to eat and talk! As a book lover, I loved the place! The food was delicious! We ordered the bang bang Shrimp and the Oscar Wilde Chicken sandwich. The food was fresh, hot and delicious! Our server Angela was great. For dessert we shared the Apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. After you get to choose up to 2 books to take home for free. Great place to stop after a long motorcycle ride with the hubby. Definitely recommend. read more

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Worth the almost an hour drive from western Mass. The traveler is an interesting place. Looks like any restaurant in the 1980's. It's has rich wood paneling and lots of shelves and nooks crammed full of books. The wait staff is attentive and very welcoming. While you might have heard of this place as the restaurant that gives you books. Do not let that for one second make you think that the food it's an after though. I had the maple bacon chicken sandwich. The sandwich was phenomenal it was perfectly fried chicken cutlet on a bed of fresh lettuce with thick C R I S P Y bacon like the Good Lord intended. With a delicious Maple Aioli. 10/10 that sandwich has no right being that good. The fries who on most places are just plate fillets are crisp crisp crisp with a hint of salt. Now I regret not trying their state line poutine My wife had the BLT. She's a regular BLT enthusiast. So she gave it a thumbs up. I mean with that T H IC C R I S P Y bacon how could it not Slap hard? We sat by the Bird Feeder. It's probably the best window. Watch cars drive down the interstate and watch the birds eat the bird feeders. Perfect way to decompress and just enjoy what's happening around you. read more

Great food, great service, and three free books! How can you beat it. And the best who-belly fried clams!

Visited on a Saturday during dinner service. Only 4 tables were taken. Waitress was very sweet and attentive. Dinners were served quickly. Fried seafood was very good, turkey dinner was fine but didn't care for the stuffing and turkey was sliced thin like deli meat. Kids meal was boxed Mac & cheese and wasn't hot. We will stick with breakfast and lunch at Travelers both of which we enjoyed in the past. read more

This has to be the most charming roadside restaurant ever. Yes, this isn't gourmet food, but everything we had was delicious, served quickly and professionally, and it was clean and comfortable...and I mean, the BOOKS! Three books are free per person -- there were many well-regarded titles on the shelves and it was great to peruse them and clear our heads. We stopped on our way up to Boston and liked it so much, we stopped again on the reverse trip coming home. Staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We had sandwiches, soups and seafood between the two visits and they were all great. This may be a regular stop as we visit Boston several times a year. It was very easy to get on and off the highway and parking was plentiful. Who needs cheesy corporate chains with unhealthy food? Not us! Can't imagine a better place to stop while on a road trip! read more

I've lived in CT my whole life and don't know why I haven't even here before. The food was delicious and the service friendly. The 3 free books were a nice bonus!! Will definitely be back. read more

The Traveler Restaurant - Tostada special - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

Great place to stop off for breakfast and lunch I ordered the fisherman's platers the only thing they forgot was the coleslaw plus they give you the chose Of three books for free to take home read more

The Traveler Restaurant - Very nice people that runs the restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

I really like this place. The pancakes are really good. The only problem is they're not open very long for breakfast. I think only until like 11 and I think there's only like two hours that they're open during the week for breakfast. I don't know if it's a pandemic thing that they're trying to get through or whatever but their food is really good. I've been there for both dinner and breakfast and never disappoints. But if you want breakfast, get there early and their pancakes are really good. No problems here with this one that's for sure yet anyway. read more

We love coming here during road trips. It's standard diner food but everyone gets free books!

I have been to this restaurant before. A long long time ago when I lived "back east". The food was great. I only wanted something light so the clam chowder and a salad. The down side was that we sat there for about 15-20 mins before any wait staff even noticed we were there. But I will say they were pretty busy so it is understandable. The location is easy on/off from the freeway. Inside you walk in and there are books everywhere. Start perusing because you get to take one with your meal! There is a PAID bookstore down stairs read more

The Traveler Restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

We stopped by Saturday for lunch a little before noon. I had heard about this place from a couple of internet videos as it is a diner/book store. I thought that was a pretty cool concept. Since we were heading through the area we thought we'd give it a try. Service was very friendly, we were sat near a window with an overview of the grounds and an active bird feeder to pass the time while we waited for our meal. There were may 4 other tables eating as well, so I wouldn't say it was very busy. Well, I can say we watched a lot of birds while we waited, and waited. I'm not sure exactly how long we waited, but it was an uncomfortable at least 30 minutes. At one point the waitress came over and said the kitchen had a busy morning with breakfast. So I assume that meant they were on a break. I'm a patient person, and understanding of the need for a break. But this was a little too long. I had the $18 "Godfather" burger which came with a few fries. We also got some mozzarella sticks and some fries. The food tasted ok, not great, but not bad. Fries were cooked well, and my burger was well done when requested medium-well. Other than the price which was steep for the quantity and quality, tasted ok. The restaurant is definitely on its way down and doesn't look like it is going to last too much longer, honestly. The interior is in sad shape, dusty, and needs some paint. The men's room was out of paper towels, and the electric blower dryer didn't work. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think i'd go back. It's just kinda sad when you can see that the owners don't care anymore. The place has a unique concept, and with some promotion I think could do quite well. read more

Excellent food and books! Been there so many times. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

For an easy on and off the highway we got The Godfather Burger and Chicken Parm dinner. Good prices, and tasty food - plus 2 free books! What more could one want ? read more

Stopped here for lunch on a recent road trip with my daughter Kira. I ordered the catcher in the rye (a reuben sandwich) and Kira got the mac and cheese and fries from the kids menu. My sandwich was really tasty and just the right size for me, though others may find it on the small side. My daughter enjoyed her food as well, though it was really just kraft mac. Her meal also came with a "chocolate sundae" - really just a tiny prepackaged ice cream cone, which she enjoyed. Our chairs were quite wobbly, perhaps not a furniture issue, but a problem with the uneven tiled floor. The door to the family restroom was stuck and difficult to open. So there's a few minor issues. Of course a big attraction of the restaurant is the books. Apparently each diner can take away three books from the many shelves scattered around the restaurant. Mainly library castoffs, though - nothing crazy. I was a bit bothered that so many of the bookshelves were kind of inconvenient to browse - next to tables filled with other diners, so you felt awkward just sort of standing near them, as well as right at the entrance. But it was cute and fun. Two more things - it was difficult to find information on the menu anywhere online as the restaurant has no actual website. On the other hand, it was very easy to physically locate the restaurant coming off the highway, that was a huge plus for me. read more

Great food for the money. At least a full half pound of meat in the burger. Cooked perfectly. Super friendly staff. You get free books with each purchase. Books are donated so when you go consider taking some books. They also have puzzles, shirts and some books for sale. Go and enjoy. read more

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Generous portions, amazing service, always on top of things no matter what time of day you're there, very friendly and patient. Cute atmosphere and you never really feel like you're on top of everyone else, plenty of space and good variety of offerings! read more

Who knew this is all about Food & Books?!? Yes, there's that unique place called the Traveler's Restaurant, located in this small town in New England. While you enjoy the food, you can browse through shelves of books and then take up to three books at a time for FREE (sorry, upstairs only!). Down there, there's the Book Cellar, which allows customers to browse through another load of shelves worth of books (fee allowed on each & every book bought from downstairs). Want a bit of history?!? Certainly, this restaurant has been around since the early 1970's. This eventually became a popular must-stop destination for travelers in the late 80's once they started selling all kinds of books. The original owner of the restaurant had no room for anymore books in his house. He decided that he would give away as many books he wanted to the hands of travelers at his restaurant. Since then, over several hundreds of thousands of books have been sold here. This restaurant is so iconic it had been featured in Connecticut Magazine, Yankee Magazine, among others. It was recently featured on the Today show on NBC. If you're a traveler looking to venture somewhere between NYC & Boston, it's your opportunity to visit this one-of-the-kind restaurant with a library inside. Bonus: their food was very good (A Badge of Courage burger & french fry poutine). The restaurant here was tremendously good, and in terms of interior, atmospheric. We've been here numerous times over the last several years. We really enjoy their food every time. Will come back soon. read more

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Was looking for a place to stop for lunch while driving from CT to Maine and saw some reviews from Yelp friends had reviewed this place favorably so we decided to stop. It's a neat little place with lots of books and as other reviewers note, you can get some free books when you order a meal. We were seated and had our orders taken quickly. I got the Book Lover burger, which was decent. The only issue was it took almost 30 minutes to get our food, but once it was served, it was fine. Bathrooms were clean and paying the bill was easy. Service was friendly, just slow. I love any place that is fond of books so I'll err on the generous side and give this place four stars. read more

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What a fantastic concept for a restaurant. I love to read and when I heard about this place, I just had to make a trip. With every meal purchase, one can choose three used books to take home. Searching the shelves made waiting for the food go by much quicker. The burgers my girlfriend and I ordered were delicious. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. We can't wait to go back again, this time with some books ready to find a new home. read more

The Traveler Restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

Basic American restaurant with a very interesting concept where you get 3 free books with every meal!! The Traveler Restaurant has been in the same spot on the MA & CT border since 1993, so it gets a lot of its visitors from people who are on their way to Boston. The books are all donations, but they also have a bookstore in the basement with both books and puzzles for sale. The space itself is pretty cozy, as there is a pine dining room and a glassed in porch, which provides it with a warm look and feel I got the steak tips to eat and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them! The waitress was very friendly as well 9 read more

The Traveler Restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

My last review for this restaurant was back in 2015, and I decided to update it after returning to the area and trying it again. The quality is much better! Not sure if there was a change in management or just new chefs or whatever, but every meal I've had this past year has been quite good. It's not a 5 star restaurant but I have no complaints and would recommend it if you're traveling on I-84 and need a place to stop for a bite to eat or even a small gift for someone. Around Christmas-time they had these "mystery book" packages that are wrapped in brown paper and say the genre and maybe a couple other things about what's in the mystery book. I bought a few to give away as gifts since I thought it was a cute idea and they were a big hit read more

Easy access from highway We had chicken and pesto sandwich as well as a burger Both were delicious Service was great also. read more

Good food, quick and efficient service, and good books as a treat afterwards. We liked the sandwiches in particular.

Such a cool place! If you love wandering used bookstores and if you love comfort food, this is the place to be. You can even bring home some books from the restaurant section as part of your meal! You can eat those words! Ha! Sorry..... Great place to stop if you are heading to or from Boston area from CT. read more

Absolutely loved this restaurant!!! Easy to find. Plenty of parking. All the food looked delicious. We went with pancakes, hash, eggs, bacon and toast. My son is not a big eggs fan but he loved them!!! He said its the only place he will eat the eggs again! Everything was delicious! Waitress was friendly and attentive. Ambitions was a book lovers dream. Books everywhere!!! Really great spot to stop! read more

The Traveler Restaurant - The Special - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

After passing by this place for years I finally stopped in for lunch. Though not super-crowded I wound up waiting 45 minutes for my food. At first things started well, the server took our order right away. Time went by and at the 30 minute mark she said the food would be out soon. At the 45 minute mark the food arrived. The server joked that they had to catch the chicken (we ordered a breaded chicken and a chicken cutlet sandwich). No explanation for the delay. My sandwich caused the roll to fall apart, I had to use a fork. The food was about average diner quality. They name menu items after authors but the food itself is really not that imaginative. The server came back and wanted to know if we wanted dessert, we declined. She thanked us for our patience but did not say what caused the huge delay. The decor is a hodge podge that looks dated. They are trying for a literary theme but it does come off as well as it could. In the dining area patrons can take three free books but you must pay for the ones downstairs. Check with the server for details. The parking lot is ample, easy on and off the roadway. Be careful, in the lot sometimes three cars were seen parked in a row, meaning the middle car could not get out. All in all perhaps a novelty for book fans but I'd rather go to a nearby diner. read more

Traveler Food and Books is a bit dated but charming. Our welcoming server explained we could each choose three used books. By the time we found our books the food had arrived. We were seated at a table with a view of the birdfeeders and enjoyed watching and identifying the birds while we ate our breakfast. The Novel Omelet was novel. I couldn't imagine apples and cheddar with eggs, but it was surprisingly delicious, although it didn't have enough cheese. The home fries were lightly seasoned, the way we like them. The blueberry pancakes were fluffy and full of berries, and the homemade apple muffin was delectable. Coffee was bitter. Service was friendly and efficient. We will surely return the next time we're in the area. read more

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Book thing was cute. Just Not cute enough to overcome a 45 minute wait for a few overcooked burgers. The coleslaw had wayyy too much mayo, like a small soup with floating cabbage (And i love mayo lol). Then another really long wait for the check, in a half empty place. Wouldn't stop again. Meh read more

When you walk in you get the feeling of comfort and charm. Don't come here if you are a yuppie looking to make a video. The staff is polite and the food is good. Prices are just a tad high for what you get but the taste makes up for it. Each guest gets three free books to take with them. My last visit was 35 years ago. Not much has changed. Worth the stop. read more

The Traveler Restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

Spectacularly interesting ambiance! Wonderful staff! Interesting menu items! Clearly caring was a priority during food preparation! Hot items were served piping hot and fresh! Cold items were served ice cold! Generous portions! We enjoy taking 1-3 hour country drives to independent unique places! Worth it, incredibly pleased, and highly recommended! Thanks for the superb service and lovely visit! Bravo!!! Arrived around 1pm on 3/17/24! My guy loved his St Patrick's sandwich! I adored my meal as well. We look forward to trying a more items! We should have gotten a piece of pie to go! As Arnold would say--"We'll be BACK!" read more

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Such a cozy restaurant with great food and even better service. We stopped for a bite on our way from South Windsor CT to Portsmouth NH

Travelers is a very nice place. We all experienced a great dinner meal and quick service. Note that this place is a mini bookstore which gives a cute lil ambiance. 4/5 stars due to the dated dining room section and wide open dining area (no privacy) read more

The Traveler Restaurant - American Near Me - Union, Connecticut

Have seen this bright yellow roof beckoning from the highway for years. Today we stopped in. Interesting....much more natural and less kitschy then I thought. It's a homey type place, friendly staff. Books everywhere the eye lands! Each customers gets to choose and take 3 books! How nice, everyone left with books! They also sell used books in packs of three, by author for 3.oo. !! We ordered Poutine. It was their version of poutine basically. crispy fries, gravy, melted cheese, bacon, herbs on top. they were good but very salty. my bf had the fried scallop plate and said the scallops were very. very good. I had a burger that I ordered medium. It was well done and therefore dry inside. Its unfortunate cuz otherwise it was tasty. the onion rings were yummy. I'm going for a 4 because of the unique character of the place. read more

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STOP HERE!!!! If You've never been here before you must stop at least once!!! I struggled between 3 or 4 stars because it really is a fun place, but I probably won't ever come back (unless I'm bringing a child or something ‍). I've been traveling past this place that's just off Rt 84 forever. When traveling north on 84, just before you reach the state line with Massachusetts you see this sign from the highway "FOOD and BOOKS". I always said we need to stop there someday. We were in the area and we yelped where to grab a bite to eat and this came up as 6 miles away...so we headed over! We arrived and there was quite a few cars in the lot and I'm guessing a lot of travelers stop here. We went in and there were bookcases all around, lots of books, greeting cards and puzzles everywhere! We were seated by our hostess in a lovely quiet nook with a big window looking out at the highway and a view of most of the dining room. There are authors pictures lining the walls and I was lucky to be seated by one of my favorite inspirational authors (Dr Wayne Dyer). Our waitress informed us that instead of the usual one book free for each customer that there was a special and we could choose 3 free (used) books. Yay! Our meals were brought out in a short time. We ordered a rueben and a hot turkey sandwich (we planned to share). The rueben was delicious with a generous portion of meat and the turkey sandwich was fair (could have used some seasoning), but the mashed potatoes were delicious. Our bill for both meals and a beer came to $30.38. We really weren't looking for any more books so we decided to pick some for the little people in our lives as they had a decent selection of children's books. If you're passing through or never been give it a visit. I'm glad I finally checked them out! read more

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