By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Marlborough??”The Main Street Café is a classic neighborhood spot, the kind of place where politicians come to meet local voters, and its owners view it as part of the renaissance of downtown Marlborough.
Randy and Mary Scott offer up traditional American cuisine, sometimes with a contemporary twist, that's cooked from scratch right in the restaurant and features local ingredients whenever possible.
Randy bought the restaurant in 1984 and moved up the street to the present location three years later, providing a welcoming presence for over 30 years. He's the chef while Mary welcomes customers and runs the “front of the house.”
Over the years, “our customers have become our family,” Mary said.
“There's one family I's now serving the fifth generation,” Randy added. “For us to make it, we have to make sure our customers are happy. We can's rely on “one and done.” We need to see the same faces over and over.”
And the customers keep coming, especially for weekend breakfast starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, two meals that account for a significant part of Main Street Café's business.
A house breakfast specialty is the Devine Breakfast, named for a loyal customer, that features three eggs any style, two pancakes, home fries and toast with ham, bacon or sausage. There's the option of steak tips or corned beef hash. If that seems a bit too much, other breakfast offerings include pancakes with blueberries, bananas or chocolate chips; cinnamon raisin French toast made from homemade cinnamon bread; eggs Benedict with ham or corned beef hash or a vegetarian version; and eggs any way you's like. There's a wide assortment of traditional and specialty omelets. Most breakfast entrees are $6 to $10, with a special every weekday morning.
At lunch time, look for hearty sandwiches. Mary pointed out the café roasts its turkey, cooks its own corned beef, and makes as much as possible from scratch.
Hefty deli sandwiches??”corned beef, roast beef, hot pastrami, turkey and more–are available in whole or half portions. Specialty sandwiches such as grilled chicken; burgers with sautéed onions, mushrooms or red peppers; a Santa Fe wrap; or vegetable quesadilla provide more choices, and there are salad selections and homemade soups as well. Look for daily specials on the blackboard.
And Randy is more than willing to customize an order. “One of the reasons people come here is because we make food to order,” he said.
The café participates in the MetroWest Moves program, listing healthy options with nutritional information available. There's a children's menu with six options under $5.
For the summer, Main Street Café is going to summer hours, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch and from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday. It will go back to serving dinner on weekday evenings in the fall, until 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Main Street Café has been featuring local musicians at dinner on Friday evenings, and the Scotts hope to continue that in the fall. “It's our contribution to the cultural renaissance of downtown Marlborough,” Randy said.
They are enthusiastic supporters of that downtown, which has applied for a state designation as a historic and cultural destination, and the café helps with such events as the June Lion's Club road race.
The café features huge windows across the front with a view of Main Street, and both booth and table seating. In the rear, U-shaped counters invite diners to sit and chat and provide a view into the preparation area. There's a small bar in the rear, and the restaurant has a full liquor license, with wine, beer and cocktails available.
Art from local artists, all for sale, hangs on the walls and is changed often.
Main Street Café is located at 182 Main St. in Marlborough. For additional information, see the website, www.themainstcafe.com or call 508-485-1664.
