Brewster is now the home of one of the most original, tranquil and creative cafés! Quaintly called a relaxed food joint, Moonlight Café located at 850 Route 22 in Brewster, NY opened its doors on December 14th. Owned and operated by Neal and Dawn Hirsch, Moonlight Café has an innovative, unique and affordable menu. When you walk into the casual and comfortable environment with it’s comfy couches, book corner and café seating, you feel like you’ve walked into Central Perk in an episode of “Friends”. Sure, you can get a great cup of coffee, featuring the smooth blends of the local Candlewood Roasters, but you’ll want to expand your horizons with their amazing menu.
The menu that is described as real food for real people, includes sandwiches, soups, tacos, pizza, over 10 side dishes and a wide variety of tasty baked treats, is not your typical deli fare. All of the menu items are different from anything else you’ll experience in the area. Their sandwiches include:
- Turkey Club on Grilled Rustic Bread with Thick Cut Maple Bacon
- Pork Loin Sandwich on Bread with Crispy Apple Slaw and Double Cream Brie Cheese
- Tongol White Tuna on Multi Grain Pita
- Bourbon Molasses Flank Steak Sliced Thin with Caramelized Onions, Chipotle Aioli, Provolone Cheese on Brioche and Dipped in a House-made Onion Au Jus
Moonlight Café’s menu contains some solid staple items but their specials change daily. They have New England Greek Style cheese pizza plus at least 3 other pizza options. Each slice is one quarter of a pie! Everyday is taco day but this isn’t your everyday taco. OH NO. At my visit, they featured fresh farm-raised rabbit taco with blackberry chipotle slaw that was absolutely marvelous. Regardless of the ingredients, the tacos are only $3 each or 2/$5! Grab one of their high quality drinks and you can have a nice lunch for $7.50. Looking for a soup? You can choose from two different options made fresh daily. Of course, they offer green salads – from their Garden and Caesar salad to the Specialty salad of the day. Don’t be afraid to ask for a bit of customization, the staff is happy to oblige.
At least 5 entrées are offered everyday including vegan options; TASTY vegan options that even carnivores will enjoy. Entrées change daily but may include Chicken Parmesan, Blue Claw Crab Cakes, Stuffed Eggplant and a fan favorite Vegan Lasagna. While I was there, they were preparing a thick cut pork with blackberry tequila sauce. “When we find an ingredient, like these sweet blackberries, I have to incorporate it into the menu!” states Neal. These daily specials allow their clientele to try something different from their regular core menu.
Another feature that makes the Moonlight Café unique is there eclectic and plentiful side dishes. You are sure to find something that will appeal to your palate because they offer a minimum of TEN sides daily such as Crispy Apple Slaw, Turmeric Roast Cauliflower, Beet Salad with Feta Cheese, Persian Potato Salad, Raspberry Carrot Slaw, Butternut Squash and Basil, and Quinoa & Kale with Smoked Gouda. For a mere $1.99 you can add any one of the sides to your meal.
Starting with a 30-day challenge 18 month ago, Dawn has adopted a vegan lifestyle that has helped her lose weight and feel fantastic. However, she found it difficult to find a place where she could eat and enjoy a meal with her husband and two children. When they decided to open their relaxed, family friendly café, Dawn and Neal decided that they would include vegan and vegetarian selections in their menu. “I take recipes I love and ‘veganize’ them,” explains Dawn. With the availability of better products, Dawn finds it easy to make the delicious food that she shares with their customers. Besides the desserts, Dawn also makes nut-based cheeses for the recipes like their vegan lasagna. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you won’t be stuck ordering a salad – well – unless you want to! 70% of their sides are vegan. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the variety of options.
Chef Dan contributes his culinary talents to help create these edible masterpieces. He has worked with Neal for the past 20 years. They know how to work with, and take advantage of, fresh and local (when available) ingredients. They insist on using only the highest quality ingredients and try to incorporate at least one special ingredient to turn a typical recipe into something special. Their easy camaraderie adds to the pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.
More hospitable touches including a book corner fondly named the Fred Hirsch Memorial Library in honor of Neal’s father who loved to read. You can read a book while your chilling out; mark your place to pick up where you left off on your next visit. You can even grab a board game to play with your companions while you’re enjoying a meal or a cup of coffee.
By the end of the month, they will have completed an adjoining room that will be used for birthday parties, private events, corporate meetings and additional seating when not in use. Neal, who originally studied to be an architect, has been hands-on working on the café’s design. From the creative use of ladders as bookshelves to the semi-exposed brick walls, the café has an appealing charm. They also offer offsite catering for banquets, weddings, work luncheons, corporate functions, backyard parties, andother special events
Other exciting plans will be announced in the coming months. So stay tuned. Opened Monday – Thursday 10am – 7pm and Friday & Saturday from 10am – 10pm, they have already established a steady stream of customers. While there you can catch a family sharing a meal, ladies playing mahjong, high school students connecting, local merchants grabbing a cup of coffee or individuals relaxing after a hectic day. Neal and Dawn have realized their dream of creating an authentic place where people can go to decompress. As Neal stated, “The details take things from good to great.” And great is just one way to describe the unique culinary experience and warm, friendly atmosphere of the Moonlight Café.
For more information visit their website, Facebook page or call 845.279.9000.
Twitter: @Moonlightcafe22 Instagram: moonlightcafeandcaterers
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