John's Cafe — Restaurant in Woodbury

I don't live far from Woodbury and ride right by this place on my motorcycle on most every trip. I've noticed on their open days, there's always plenty of cars in the lot while local competitors' lots appear mostly empty. On Friday afternoon I finally decided to check it out and see why.

I enjoy alfresco dining and they do have multiple tables outdoors in a porch type configuration, but also a lovely and more classy inside dining area. The staff was friendly and quickly had a server stop by, provide my options and take my order.

It was lunch time and while they have a exquisite lunch menu, on Thursdays and Fridays, you're able to select a dinner entree (à la carte of course) for five bucks off to dinner price.

While tempted with the dinner entrees and other lunch specials, I selected the chicken piccata with sauteed spinach, cherry tomatoes, and capers, including a very tasty and unique version of au gratin potatoes.

The lunch included a bread basket with several different types of bread, and was severed with two dipping sauces. A red sauce was quickly determined to be tomato basil, the white sauce turned out to be crushed white beans with olive oil and a little bit of garlic.

I generally try to avoid bread due to carbs and fat content, but that did not apply to this visit. I had to make a conscious effort not to eat it all as the bread selections as well as the two sauces were superb!

Just as I was reeling from the delicious bread and dipping sauces, the chicken piccata arrived. Moist, tender, cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning, it was one of the best I've ever had and I've had many.

While not the loveliest overlook of the parking lot and route 6, it was still a pleasant spot to eat and server attentiveness did not suffer as it often does when dining Al fresco at some restaurants.

One of the best parts was for a relatively higher end restaurant for this area, which is how I would describe it, I got out of there for 25 bucks including tax and a 25% tip. I don't know about you guys but I spent a lot more than that at my local pizza joint and gotten nowhere near the quality of food nor of the service.

I would highly recommend John's Cafe with its eclectic lunch and dinner menus (at least compared to what I've been eating since COVID), great service and very good prices. I intend to dine here again soon and will make a shot at trying most everything on the menu cuz it all looks so good! Check this space for updates to my review!

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John’s Cafe is tucked inside a charming old house on Main Street in Woodbury. The staff is warm and welcoming, and Chef/Owner Dennis has been at the helm for years, creating a sense of familiarity and community. There's a lovely outdoor seating area in front, and the interior is cozy—perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a solo lunch. There’s also an upstairs room available for private party rentals.

To start, I was brought warm bread with a white bean purée—comforting and flavorful.

I ordered the Roasted Beet Salad with goat cheese, radicchio, arugula, and pancetta. If you’re a beet lover like me, this is a must-try.

The Crispy Rice Arancini were perfectly light and crunchy on the outside—delicate and delicious.

The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread was another standout. The in-house crust was crisp and flavorful, with the sweetness of the fig beautifully balancing the salty prosciutto. A touch of arugula on top added freshness. Gluten-free options are also available.

Next, I tried the Pasta with Pea Pesto, made in-house. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the peas and lemon created a bright, fresh flavor—ideal for spring or summer.

For dessert, the Profiteroles were light and crisp—generously portioned and perfect for sharing. Sweet, but not overly so.

I also tried the Berry Shortcake special. The biscuit was spot-on, and the berries were incredibly fresh—a lovely seasonal treat.

My favorite dishes? The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread and the Berry Shortcake special—both beautifully balanced and bursting...

John’s Cafe is a great place to eat. I was thoroughly impressed! It’s SO hard to find restaurants like this.. Everything is a chain, old and boring. My word to describe this place is FRESH. Everything is fresh, flavorful and delicious. After the food we ate I was so full but not in a “need to go nap” way. There are only two things I don’t recommend but glad I tried! The chickpea fries were not great, the flavor was bland, but the sauces made them better. There was also a gritty texture to them which threw me off.. I hate sand in seafood so much and it reminded me of that. Maybe it was almond flour?? Not sure but it was crunchy like sand and I was not a fan. The other one was the key lime pie- sorry but that was also just not good. It did’t taste like a true key lime pie. It was more of a hint of key lime cheesecake? It had this delicious raspberry sorbet on the side which I did like. Otherwise, the veggie sandwich, gnocchi, sausage and peppers sandwich, brownie dessert, and meatball app was DELISH!!! Will definitely find myself back...