Restaurant in Review...

Hen House Cafe

446 Main Street, Springvale, ME 04083

(207) 850-1052

If you follow me on Facebook then you know this is one of my favorite places to meet for breakfast. This past month  I even received a coffee mug with my name on it!! It seems only fitting that I would start of my new Blog series Restaurant Review with them. 

You see if you live in a big city it is very easy to find a place that either specialize in vegan/vegetarian/allergy aware dishes on its menu or at least offers a few choices but in a small town it is like panning for gold. Here at the Hen House I struck Gold!!!!

I remember the first time I walked in I was greeted with a Friendly  "Sit anywhere but hurry we are about to have a sing along" Sing a long I am from California a friendly face would be nice but a choir of strangers singing in a restaurant what had I gotten myself into,  Of course we sat down and joined along the best we could and everyone had a great laugh then it was back to business. At that time the Cafe was under other ownership and even called something else and it wasn't always the food that brought me back as much as the people that worked there.  

Over time it came to our attention that the Cafe might be closing or changing hands. I worried maybe I would have to find another place to have a great cup of coffee but where would I ever find people who cared about their customer like these people did. That is so rare today that I almost was mourning the   "good old days"  That feeling was short lived when we learned two of the waitresses had decided to make a go of it themselves and keep the place alive. I have more respect for those women then they even know. 

In no time they had the place renamed, decorated in hens and roosters and the smiles were bigger and the food was beyond good!! They were determined to make it work and I was determined to help anyway I could. The problem was my food allergies, it limited what I could eat. That is the one thing that holds me back from eating out more then ever. Have you ever tried to ask a server to change something and watch their face in horror as they try not to tell you everything is prepackage so it cant be change. You really learn what restaurant are frozen food based fast.  So one day I got brave and said  "can I have a veggie omelet no eggs?" It took a minute to sink in but the answer was "I don't see why not" WOW!!! before I knew it I was telling them about my illness and food allergies and even told them about my gluten problems and the rest is history now. Before I knew it the girls were offering Gluten free toast on their menu and willing to remove items to fit what I could eat. I was not only impressed but the quality of the food didn't suffer and I could finally go out to eat close to home. 

Over the years I have been begging for a gluten free muffin since they make the BEST muffins in town but the cost of ingredients does not equal just me having one. So here I type not only hoping to get out the word of this great place and these great people but selfishly hoping my gluten sensitivity friends will fall so in love with this great cafe that everyone can share in what I am sure would be the BEST GLUTEN FREE muffins around!!!!

As you can see this review is somewhat bias for this Cafe but the truth be told it really is the best Cafe around. The food is consistent no matter who is in the kitchen, service is great and always with a smile and a quick story or catch up. You tend to make friends with the regulars and are greeted like family, Its not uncommon to have tables of complete strangers laughing and talking while waiting for food.  Plus where else can someone like me order a eggless omelet and not get laughed at or even told no we cant do that or we can and charge me the same but give me less food. Not to many places and they are always willing to experiment with new items on the menu.

If you are looking for great food and service this is the place for you. If you are like me and have food allergies or have been looking for a place that serves fresh food and gluten free this is the place to be.  Who knows you might even see me and if not you will see my coffee cup just hanging there waiting on me to have a cup of coffee, a eggless omlette and some gluten free toast. Life doesn't get better then that, at least for me!!!! 

You can check them out on Facebook for their specials and to see other reviews at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hen-House-Cafe 

Hope to see you There!!

I will be doing this series throughout the year so if you know any place you think deserve to be recognized for their attention to making sure they serve both Vegan/Vegetarian/Allergy aware items on their menu or if there are ones that specialize that you think are Blog worthy in the New England Area Please let me know. It's time the restaurant industry started looking to service the growing consumers that are looking for a great place to eat just like every one else!