Mara's Cafe & Bakery — Restaurant in Denville

If you like slow service and overpriced, mediocre food, this is the place for you.

As a local resident, I like to support all my local businesses. With that being said, I cannot support Mara's any longer. Before even moving to this lovely town, I randomly went to Mara's on the way to the Poconos. I saw it on my gps and it had great reviews for a local bakery. Got some coffee, cookies and a few baked goods...all very delicious. I ended up moving here and was happy Mara's was now 5mins away.

Fast forward several years later; they close up shop and I was disappointed, along with many of the residents. They ended up reopening and undergo a renovation. Gone was the old school hometown bakery, and in was the modern trendy cafe. After the grand reopening and things settled down, I went back to try the "new" Mara's. Each time my fiancé and I have went, we felt like the food and service has always been mehhh.

It's now 2021 and I have purchased my last item from them. While picking up dinner from the delicious El Lechon de Negron, I decide to get dessert from Mara's. I order a slice of their chocolate chip cookie pie to go. 5 minutes pass and I could see the 2 girls behind the counter were working on the other tickets, no big deal. 10 minutes pass and I still don't have my order. At this point, my food was starting to get cold. 15 minutes pass and another gentleman who ordered after me got his stuff before me...guess it helps to know the cashier. I ask what was taking so long, but all she could say was sorry they were backed up. Finally, after 20 minutes I get my dessert...my dinner was now cold and I still have to drive home.

I understand that things get busy from time to time, but waiting 20 minutes to get a slice of pie to go is crazy. I don't know if they are understaffed, but waiting that long for a simple order was not worth it. To make matters worse, this wasn't the first time I've experienced this slowness from them. I keep giving them chances to right their ship, but I cannot any longer. Although close to home, I'd rather go...

Happend to stumble upon this place which happens to be having a grand re opening. I was on the receiving end of a great experience with some great people, food and desserts. To start, you need to have a plan when it comes to parking. There are a few spots out front, but the main parking is located behind the building. The entrance is inviting and welcoming with the inside featuring new tables and chairs. Everything is new. Now depending upon what you are looking to order, you can go right or left through the doors. You go right and you can treat yourself to an amazing layout of authentic homemade gelato. More flavors than you can imagine and it is made on site. Apparently one of the new owners went to Italy to learn how to make Gelato. The time was was well spent because the gelato was amazing. If you go to the left side of the cafe, you have seating for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I selected to have breakfast for lunch with some eggs and home fries. Now a little confusing is the ordering system, especially if you have not done it before. But you do it once and you will know for the next visit. You place your order at the front, they call your name and you pick it up at the counter. The desserts are off the charts, fresh cupcakes, pies, cakes, bars. Anything and everything to satisfy your sweet tooth. Ordered the penut butter bar and it was outstanding. If this is a sample of what is to come, Mara's is going to do very well in Denville. Nothing better than a small business doing well on Main Street USA. Best of Luck. I will be back really soon to start sampling each dessert, one at a time....

Ordered pics/cheesecakes for Thanksgiving three weeks in advance. Upon arriving there was a line, not very long and moving quickly. I gave my information and seemed everyone was getting their order but me. The workers just kept looking at me like something was wrong but everyone was afraid to say something. Finally someone said they were having trouble with a cake of mine. Then a older woman came out to tell me that she had to give me a larger cake b/c something happened to the one I ordered. I said that wasn't a problem and was responded to with "it's a problem for us b/c we're giving you a bigger cake and not charging you" She made it seem like the situation they had in their kitchen was my fault. A little ticked off at the comment and the long wait, it was at least 30 minutes. Their cheesecake is ok, not the best I've had, their other items are really good. I would have given 4 stars if not for the comment from the worker and after that experience, decided to order my cakes for...