Ampleby’s Bakery & Cafe — Even if you haven’t tried it yet, you’ve probably heard the name. Maybe you have a friend who works there, or maybe you’re a parent and a student took you there for lunch last weekend. Or maybe this little shop on South Street has been on your bucket list. Whatever your relationship with cafes, I’m excited to review it for you and give you a little peek at one of Hanover’s favorite spots.
Located on South Street between Red Kite Candy and Chew & Co. Design, Umpleby’s invites you in with its rustic atmosphere. The charming country town feel you get as you walk down Main Street continues when you open the wooden doors and enter the bakery.
Ampleby’s has something for everyone, especially sandwich lovers. The restaurant offers a variety of breakfast sandwiches to choose from, a wide selection of lunch sandwiches, and other foods for those who enjoy unconventional dining. Coffee, tea, and other beverages are also available, along with a pastry case for those who want to pick up a sweet treat.
Local art is also displayed and available for sale inside, and indie music plays in the background. As you enter, tables are lined up on either side of the room. If it’s full (as it often is), the cafe also offers outdoor seating for those who can brave the summer heat.
The staff are friendly, and most of them are students, so the atmosphere is cozy and familiar. Tourists from Hanover and Dartmouth also frequent the restaurant, and you can feel their anticipation as they decide what to order. The queue gets long during the lunch rush, but I’ve never seen anyone give up their seat, which is a sure sign the food is good.
Speaking of food, let’s talk about it.
I went with a group of friends, so I can comment on some of the items on the menu. One of my friends ordered the Martha’s Quest, a chicken salad that my friend described as “everything you need on a hot summer day.” Another ordered the Bertie Worcester, a sandwich with turkey, bacon, sliced apples, lettuce, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise. This dish was a “perfect” mix of the sweetness of the apples and the saltiness of the turkey and mayonnaise. Another ordered the house salad, which is said to be delicious on its own, but was made even better by topping it with the chicken salad they requested. Another ordered the Howard Roark, which has a twist. This dish is usually served in sandwich form, but my friend requested the option to change it to a salad (which is possible). It comes with roast beef, lettuce, tomato, and Ump’s signature horseradish mayonnaise. They left full and happy.
I ordered the “Sherlock Holmes” and everyone I know has positive things to say about this sandwich. With two eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato and cheddar cheese, who doesn’t love it? Who doesn’t love a good breakfast sandwich? So I thought it best to review it.
First bite: The avocado was tasty, the bacon was crispy, and my immediate favorite was the toasted sourdough bread (come early if you want sourdough). This sandwich is an upgrade on the traditional breakfast sandwich. I added Frank’s Hot Sauce, which is available on the condiment table. It’s a sweet and spicy hot sauce, and as someone who likes things a little hot, it was a really nice experience.
I would recommend being careful when using hot sauce containers as it can splatter everywhere and even get on your clothes…obviously that never happened to me.
The sandwich was tasty, but it was missing salt and pepper. When I mentioned this to my friend, she explained that apparently Umps doesn’t salt the eggs in the kitchen, so you have to salt them yourself. I think it’s fair to hold off on salt and pepper until you’ve mixed the eggs with the other ingredients, especially the salted bacon, but make sure you remember to grab the sprinklers from the condiment table.
The sandwich wasn’t stuffed with anything, the cheese didn’t cover the whole sandwich, the avocado was only in the middle, etc. These are minor complaints and certainly don’t ruin a good sandwich from a good place, but there may be some room for improvement.
Overall, you can nitpick on the improvements as much as you want, but at the end of the day, going to Ump’s with friends, family, or alone won’t stop you from having a good time. You might want to avoid finishing work at lunchtime, as you’ll be distracted by a delicious meal, a full belly, and good conversation and laughter from those around you.
Rating: ★★★★
