My first semester at BU, I liked to complain a lot about how Binghamton was void of any cute, aesthetically pleasing cafes or restaurants downtown, especially since the city is so small and vacant. My life was pretty much changed (seriously), when I stumbled upon The Shop on Washington Street. Imagine walking into a small, cozy bistro in the middle of Brooklyn or NYC, with a full brick wall, pipes running all along the ceilings, and everyone's favorite: hanging bulb lights. The Shop is essentially the quintessential hipster cafe for anyone that misses the vibes of a big city while living in, basically the opposite.
My first time here, I came for Restaurant Week to write a review for my college newspaper, Pipe Dream. A worker at The Shop told me the entire place was a "work of art", and he really did mean it - every single thing in the room had a purpose and was built by hand or restored. I just love when cafes have actual meaning instead of them just absentmindedly placing decorations to attract as much people as possible. The interior of the cafe was inspired by the two owners, who both traveled to different cities around the world before coming to Binghamton to create their business.
Aside from how much I love the interior (which I could go on raving about), the food was a nice break from the processed, flavorless college food I pretty much eat everyday. Not only was my meal delicious, but it was also fairly healthy since the ingredients were whole and made on the house.
Hummus and Chips, Three Cheese Roasted Chicken Flatbread, Apricot Crepe:
Honestly, I had the best crepe here and it wasn't overly sweet, like most desserts at a typical chain restaurant. The whipped creme was so fluffy and had a cooling effect, while the dough of the crepe was warm and doughy. My flatbread was also not salty at all, yet had so much flavor with every bite. None of the toppings slipped off, which is what usually happens when I order a flatbread from anywhere else. Lastly, the hummus and chips had a nice kick to them since chili sambal (hotsauce) was added to keep the appetizer from being too plain.
If you're ever in the Binghamton area and want to treat yourself to a nice meal, stop by at The Shop and get to know the waiters, who love to talk about the cafe and their inspirations. If you're lucky, try and meet the owners too!
Until next time,
➵ KW
No comments: