Roadhouse Cafe
176 Federal Street, Belchertown
(413) 323-6175
Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Full breakfast to $9.25.
We've been going to the same place for Sunday brunch for way too long. So on a recent weekend morning, feeling adventurous, we headed out of Amherst on Route 9 towards Belchertown. Destination: the Roadhouse Cafe. Ever since relocating to the Valley, we'd been hearing buzz about this breakfast joint. The Roadhouse has received praise for its baked goods, hearty breakfasts, and friendly servers, and we wanted to see for ourselves.
Full of kitsch, the Roadhouse is strikingly feminine and—dare I say it?—a bit tacky. Antique style signs for coffee and herbs adorn the walls, alongside crunchy mottos like "Simplify." An electric "woodburning" stove serves as a focal point for the small dining area, attempting to create a sense of coziness. But the long, diner-esque bar seems more appropriate—easy, casual, and with no promises of warm and fuzzy feelings alongside your morning coffee.
D?cor aside, the Roadhouse proved a welcome variation to our Sunday morning ritual. Despite the fact that our options were limited (waitresses told us they were all out of pancakes and biscuits during our visit), we found ample satisfaction in savory entr?es and filling sides.
My companion and I both ordered from the daily specials board, a fairly extensive list of full breakfasts that shakes up the Roadhouse's standard eggs, pancakes, and French toast menu. My "south of the border" omelet was packed with black beans, jalapenos, organic onions and "Mexican" cheese. The eggs were fluffy and perfectly cooked, and the whole concoction was smothered in luscious sour cream.
My homefries were perfectly browned around the edges and fork-tender, though they lacked the seasoning that potatoes need in order to stand out. Bacon was thin and tender, not at all rubbery or burnt, and came to me hot off the griddle. But perhaps best of all was the slab of cornbread that accompanied my meal. Slightly gritty with coarse-ground cornmeal, the bread was moist, buttery and sweet and toasted to a golden crisp.
My companion's omelet lacked striking flavor, but won points for being filled with fresh produce from local farms. Kale, summer squash and zucchini, onions and dill Havarti melted together to create a lighter-tasting option. A side of corned beef hash was too grainy in texture and without any substantial chunks to chew on, but apple sour cream coffee cake compensated for the other dishes' shortcomings. Sweet and moist, the thick chunk of cake was topped with a crunchy streusel.
Other offerings listed included flapjacks filled with all manner of fruits and goodies ranging from cranberries and blueberries to chocolate chips and pecans. Eggs any way you like them, homemade toast, French toast made of both savory and sweet breads, and breakfast meats from bacon and sausage to sweet baby ham and turkey kielbasa all graced the menu.
Breakfast sandwiches and homemade breads of all sorts (during our visit there were cornbread and three types of coffee cake, including pumpkin cheese, cinnamon raisin bread and banana bread) and breakfast sandwiches are options for diners on the go or those looking for a smaller meal.
For us, the Roadhouse doesn't quite live up to its rave reviews, but breakfast is a meal that has to appeal to individual taste and style. If you're as passionate about the meal as I am, the Roadhouse is definitely worth a try; you just might find your new favorite morning spot in a wooden booth in Belchertown.
