Main Street Café & Deli — Restaurant in Town of Pawling

Driving North pulling a trailer and hitting every backroad imaginable to avoid toll roads and highways when hunger struck us. I searched along the route and we discovered Main Street Cafe' & Deli. A spur of the moment decision landed us with a great wide open parking area and short walk across the street into the restaurant where we were greated by a very helpful and social man. He helped us place our orders and chatted as we found a table in the excellently decorated dining area. We told him we were tree Climbers from Virginia and heading to Mt. Washington before volunteering at a competition in Boston. The kind man graciously explained about the local culture and other neighboring businesses and restaurants. They don't get a lot of traffic and some of the restaurants started closing for breakfast because it wasn't cost effective to stay open. We are so grateful that Main St. Cafe was open and serve breakfast and lunch all day! Once our food arrived it was quiet for a short while as we shoveled in the deliciousness before us. We grabbed a couple tamales to go and drooled over the amazing artwork on the walls. This artist has an eye for merging so many different aspects into his work. Upin a quick glance we saw the tree, but under closer inspection you found so many more elements that the artist poured his heart and soul into his work. Just an absolutely incredible experience and saved on out map so hopefully we can return again if ever passing through on the...

This is one of those "hidden gems" that will only blossom and prosper with time. When my wife placed an order, I thought that she had not ordered enough food, so when I walked in to pick it up, I asked for an additional item. The birria was HUGE, with assertive and spicing (not only hot, but flavorful) not at all diluted for American tastes. The tacos fritos (which some call "flautas") were flavorful and crisp, with generous sprinkling of cotija cheese, and the carne asada succulent and enormous. The owner, Amando, was extremely hospitable, kind and welcoming. When I wished aloud that he had tamales, he pointed it out on the paper menu (it wasn't listed online), explained the differences between Mexican and Guatamalan style, and when he realized how excited I was, he included, not only an uncooked tamale (advising that I boil, not microwave it, but also insisted that I try his flan, of which he was deservedly proud. It's a joy and an honor to have him and his family (his son is at the Naval Academy in Annapolis) in Pawling.

Followup visit 5 days later, this time trying the camarones al la plancha, flavorful by themselves, and boosted over the top by a lively salsa verde, and a simple dish of fried cauliflower, the batter crisp (even after the trip home) and studded with complementary spices. Never had a cauliflower this satisfying. Amando's wife knows exactly what she's doing, and Amando himself was generous of spirit and soul. Can't get enough of this...

Main Street Cafe & Deli is one of the newest additions to the Village of Pawling!

Serving up a variety of Mexican and Guatemalan inspired dishes they have all kind of delicious plates. From huevos rancheros for breakfast, sweet fried plantains for antojitos, batidos de fresa, to sopes and burritos.

I have to say, it was a huge bummer see the previous business no longer be there but these guys sure are making it all worth it and came in ready to feed us!

We ordered a vegetarian burrito all made with fresh ingredients (I mean that pico!), a side of sweet plantains and a shockingly incredible rolled up fried cheese taco insert hand gesture emoji here.

Great spot to go to, they do also have little snacks like chips, drinks and even mexican paletas. The food tastes like if you went over your favorite Mexican/Guatemalan aunt's house and she served you with her heart. It's food that feeds the S O U L here at Main...