Perfect Day Cafe — Restaurant in Frenchtown

2 1/2 stars

It's unusual for me (and I suspect most others) to go to a coffeehouse and have a negative experience. They practically specialize in good vibes, and they're giving you caffeine, often in a big mug - what could go wrong? This was an odd visit. For the sake of the primarily tourist contingent (every single person who came in while I was there was from out of town), I hope it was an aberration, but it was heavy on mediocrity and light on execution.

I stopped by yesterday (Thursday) in the mid-afternoon for a latte and a light bite during a quick cameo appearance in the Kingdom of Hunterdon. Full disclosure - I grew up one town over in Milford, so I'm very familiar with this area and there's honestly a reason why locals tend to avoid the Frenchtown downtown area like the plague. It can get very congested, especially on the summer weekends, and it's full of overpriced tourist traps. In some ways I'd argue it's worse than the more famous Lambertville to the south because it's not nearly as big as that town so everything is just condensed into about three blocks worth of insanity.

Perfect Day is located in that cute corner of Bridge St where it turns in toward Route 12 and becomes Race St, on the former site of Buck's. Despite the fact that it wasn't even the weekend yet, the town was pretty bustling and a number of tourists were milling about. When I walked in, there were no other customers but that seems to have just been luck - a line of three or four people materialized shortly after I sat down, and there was never another time when I had the place to myself. So at the very least, it's getting a ton of foot traffic; it must be a madhouse in a nice Saturday.

The man behind the counter (who bore a strong resemblance to character actor Saul Rubinek) was friendly to me and everyone else who came in, but unfortunately didn't seem to have much of a barista skillset or customer service background. I ordered a rose latte, along with a blueberry crumb cake-like pastry at his recommendation. The rose latte didn't contain any rose flavoring (he'd clearly forgotten it), and the crumb cake was just okay, a bit on the dry side. I think it would have been significantly better if it had been warmed up; arguably that's on me for not suggesting it, but he also didn't provide it as an option, which I think a coffee place should be doing with those types of baked goods. Also a little odd (not necessarily a negative), but when I was asked for the size of my latte, small or large, and picked small, I was told it came in the same cup as a large. That strikes me as a pretty obvious inventory addition/upgrade - why would you want the optic of a coffee mug that doesn't look full?

The other weird part of this was the interior of the coffee place. I actually assumed based on my visit that this was a VERY new establishment because it didn't look completely unpacked/moved in. There were plenty of obligatory set pieces that you'd associate with a coffee place, including local art on the walls and a random typewriter on a table, but there was also a pile of magazines under a chair. That just looked sloppy. There were a few areas like that with items that just hadn't been put away, which wasn't the best optic. The bathroom could be a potential issue for them too. Per my attached picture, I didn't even realize until I'd used the facilities that the window was completely open and there was an unobscured view should a peeping tom have been lurking nearby. Hopefully my activities were unnoticed.

The price point is actually pretty good, given what you're offered and the area. My total came to $14, which included the latte, the pastry and a $7 greeting card (which means the piece of cake and latte only would have been $7 total; it's not unusual to encounter a $7 latte by itself in this day and age). That's probably the biggest selling point by far here.

There's another coffee shop just down the street. The next time I'm in the area, I'm going to give that one a shot instead. Hopefully their bathroom is a bit more...

This place was great. I stopped by Memorial Day weekend with my son and husband since my son wanted coffee. My son got a Latte and I got a matcha since it was too late for me to have a fully caffeinated drink. My son said it was the best latte he had ever had - only to then find out that Lenny roasts, mixes, and grinds his own beans! Lenny shared that he does this so it is fresh and flavorful since he designs the blends. When I asked him about his chai, he said that he makes that himself. He sought out and asked experts for their recipes for authentic chai. He tried it, and they helped him perfect the recipe. Now, I love chai and have tried every brand I can find and have even tried making it myself many times, but can’t get the flavors right. He asked my husband what he wanted to drink, and when my husband said he didn’t want anything, Lenny said, “You can’t be the only one without a drink, go get a water, on me.” We didn’t move and went to pay. Lenny walked away, got a bottle of water and gave it to my husband and didn’t charge for it! As we walked around Frenchtown, I kept thinking about the chai. We stopped back at about 6:45pm to use the restroom (which was clean and neat), and I asked what time he closes because I wanted to get a chai to take home and reheat for the next day. He said he was closing in a few minutes. We then talked about his chai ingredients (I am obsessed with the stuff) and he poured me enough concentrate to make two and a half servings and wanted to charge me for one. I insisted on paying for 2, so we split the difference. I made his chai the next 2 days and it was delish- not too sweet. I highly recommend his coffee and chai. Next time we visit Frenchtown, it will be the first...

A Family Affair in Frenchtown

Pulling into Frenchtown on my motorcycle, I wasn't expecting much from the quaint coffee shop I stumbled upon. I braced myself for overpriced coffee and snooty service, but what I got was the complete opposite. The moment I walked in, I felt the warm, friendly vibe that echoed the Sly and the Family Stone song "Family Affair."

The staff, some of whom are related to their owner, made me feel right at home. The coffee was reasonably priced and delicious, and the service was genuinely friendly. But what really blew me away was the vintage, fully functional typewriter they have set up for customers to use. While sipping espresso, you can clack away on the keys, and write a letter or anything you like. Just keep it PG-Rated! ;)

The coffee shop also has good of parking, even for motorcycles, and a lovely shaded outdoor seating area. I'm already looking forward to my next trip back to New York City so I can...