On the Road to Metuchen
Wedged between the larger townships of Woodbridge and Edison, Metuchen serves as a suburban oasis no larger than three square miles. Like me, you’ve probably passed through Metuchen a dozen times zipping up and down Route 27, but this small town is on its way to becoming a prime food and drink destination.
Two very apparent things are woven throughout the fabric of Metuchen: family and community partnerships. No matter which generation is leading the charge, you can bet that the businesses or restaurants you visit will invite you to share in something very personal to them: recipes, reputation, and tradition.
“Our menu is inspired by our family,” says Andrea Perez, owner of Hatch 44 Café. “I used to love watching my grandmothers cook; everything they made was fresh and full of flavor! We aim to bring that same sense of belonging to Metuchen by bringing family and friends together to enjoy home-cooked meals.”
Metuchen’s businesses also understand the common goal; instead of operating in silos, they find ways to build each other up through collaboration and cross-promotion. For Perez, this quaint neighborhood is more than just the place of her business, it is home. “It’s so special to have our restaurant here. There are a lot of small businesses in this town, so we understand the meaning of shopping small and support local whenever possible.” Not surprising, a number of new businesses have arrived in recent years, including Soul Bowls and Cinnaholic who opened this past summer. Spend a day with me as I explore Metuchen and plan a return visit soon to experience its other businesses, old and new. You’ll never underestimate this quiet town again.
Cai’s Café
8am
Sit + Sip
To kick start the day, there’s no better place than Cai’s Café. This cute coffeeshop is perfect for a hot beverage and a light bite in a comfortable, casual setting. Depending on the time of day, you might find solo diners with their laptops working remotely at one of the tables, or small groups and pairs chattering on the couches near the fireplace. Affectionately nicknamed “Metuchen’s living room,” Cai’s has established itself as an ideal hangout spot for locals and visitors because everyone is greeted with a friendly face. On warm days, take advantage of the outdoor seating and large Adirondack chairs that have been painted by local artists as you sip on your cup of coffee.
Metuchen farmers’ market
9am
Prowl for Fresh Produce
At the heart of this charming borough is the Metuchen Town Plaza. During the week, the public area is rather quiet, with passersby occasionally sitting on one of the many benches or walking through headed to the train station. But on Saturdays from 9am-2pm, late May through mid-November, it’s home to the Metuchen Farmers’ Market, a bustling block of makers, growers, and purveyors lined beneath tents from corner to corner. Here, you’ll find vendors that specialize in plant-based cookies, fresh cheeses and meats, herbal teas, local honey, and artisanal bread. It’s the perfect opportunity to scope out some parsnips and pumpkins, among other in-season produce.
Café Paris
10am
Cappuccino + Crêpes
Transport yourself to the most romantic city in the world at Café Paris, a family-owned French restaurant. If I told you I could see the Eiffel Tower from my seat, you wouldn’t believe me, but the charming bistro’s walls are decorated with beautifully intricate paintings, murals, and figurines that will have you wanting to book a flight to Paris. I could have kept it simple and gone with a homemade butter croissant, but my sweet tooth was calling—and although the French don’t typically eat crêpes for breakfast I had to go with a banana, strawberry, and Nutella crepe. It was just what I needed to pair with a cappuccino. If there was more time, I would have loved to get a hearty slice of spinach quiche, but I had to be on my way.
(top left) Main Street storefront, (top right) Terrace Plant Shop, (bottom left) Papillon & Co., (bottom right) Wood Stack Pizza
11am
Brunch
The colorful brick building at the corner of Durham Avenue always catches my eye. If you can get a spot in the parking lot, more power to you because Hatch 44 Café is always packed. Yes, there will be a wait. Yes, it will be worth it. The cozy family-owned restaurant is very Instagram-worthy; with pastel walls, bamboo-woven lanterns and beautifully plated dishes, this place is an influencer’s dream. There’s also plenty of greenery, courtesy of a business collaboration with Terrace Plant Shop located a short distance away on Main Street. (I made a mental note to visit there afterwards.) Hatch’s menu is inspired by their family, with many of the items fashioned after the children’s favorites. Each time I’ve been here I tried something different: the lox avocado toast, the salmon burger with mango salsa, the cinnamon-brushed Belgian waffle. And I’ve never been disappointed.
1pm
Shop + Stroll
Metuchen’s Main Street is home to nearly 30 restaurants and small businesses, from barber shops and nail salons to more unique offerings like a local bookstore and tobacco shop, all within an easy stroll.
Since opening in March 2021, Terrace Plant Shop has been a place to dust off your green thumb and where there’s always something new to find. It’s reminiscent of a greenhouse, with leaves and stalks popping out at you at every turn, but at the same time it feels more personal than that. Homey elements of a bicycle affixed to the wall and a coffee table holding a bowl of fresh lemons and deck of cards make you think this is someone’s living room. And that’s the whole idea that owner Peter John Dario wants to achieve: to seamlessly infuse plants into our lives and homes. Plant keeping isn’t solely reserved for the gardening gurus of the world. I greatly appreciated the staff’s suggestions as they helped me pick out a low-maintanence starter, a lovely potted Peperomia for my desk.
A few paces down the block, I ended up in front of Papillon & Co., a gift hunter’s haven. This lovely boutique honors craftsmanship and skill through its collection of one-of-a-kind gifts from original pottery, decor, jewelry, self care, apparel, and vintage furniture. Like Terrace, this shop is also a relative newcomer to Main Street, having opened in 2020, and I quickly realized this was no ordinary shopping experience. Once you cross the threshold, Papillon becomes a place for exploration—and wonder, with many items coming from local handcrafters within 1–20 miles of the store.
You’ll likely find items that model a New Jersey logo or fashion the town’s zip code. “More than ever, people have developed a need to connect to their community, so anything that represents town, state, or national love is very much desired,” says store owner Edna Epelu. “Metuchen is special, though: It is located in a small geography and the kids who grow up here develop deep bonds—many choosing to take root here themselves or give back in some way with their talents.”
Papillon also serves as a place for people to connect. It is a hub for independent artisans, musicians, producers, and entrepreneurs in the community. Taking the short flight of stairs will put you on the upper level, which is used as a gallery to showcase featured artists and a social space to host poetry events, comedy acts, and musical performances.
(left) Halibut with roasted corn, zucchini and roasted peppers at Metuchen Inn; (top right) Wood Stack Pizza; (bottom right) DiCosmo’s
2pm
Grab a Slice
This isn’t another run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant like those found on just about every corner in New Jersey. Wood Stack’s open kitchen concept is inviting and relaxing; in the center of it all sits an authentic Pavesi wood-fired oven imported from Italy. This is the secret to their New Neapolitan– style pizzas with perfect char and crispy crust. Local ingredients are the name of the game, as the fresh dough, mozzarella, and burrata are made in-house. Not only does Wood Stack churn out over 1,200 pies each week, but they also have a robust pasta menu. The Pappardelle Bolognese has been a home run for the restaurant for years.
4pm
Satisfy a Craving
Continuing an Italian trend, I stopped by DiCosmo’s for a dose of nostalgia. My family’s springtime tradition is to grab a cup of the flavored shaved ice on the first day temperatures reach 65 degrees, and repeat the tradition regularly through the warm days of fall. I knew I made the right choice because at DiCosmo’s, family is everything. With recipes handed down from generation to generation, the DiCosmos have been making hand-crafted Italian ice at their Elizabeth shop since 1915 and opened this new outpost in Metuchen in 2021. By use of natural ingredients like fresh strawberry, recently- picked mint, and real lemons, as opposed to artificial syrup flavoring, you truly get a delicious burst of flavor. Watermelon, mojito, and peach-mango are among the most deliciously refreshing!.
Metuchen Inn
7pm
Dinner with a Side of History
Since 1843, Metuchen Inn has been a neighborhood landmark. The restored mansion continues to please customers with a quality dining experience that offers an Old World feel. Its white tablecloth seating, wooden trim detail, and live fireplaces signify that this is a place for a special occasion, but to my credit, I’ve made a personal commitment to celebrating the little things in life. So I think a weekend exploring this little town warrants an elegant dinner. Their expansive menu has a variety of meats, seafood, and pasta entrees, but you can’t go wrong with the seared jumbo sea scallops, a signature dish that Metuchen Inn is known for.
The Parlor at Hailey’s
9pm
Nightcap at The Hangout
To end the day, I headed to a local favorite. Hailey’s Harp and Pub is front and center on the Main Street strip, but I wanted something a bit more lowkey. Around the corner, you’ll find The Hangout at Hailey’s, a former-arcade-turned bar. While the place has been stripped of most of its 1980s video games, The Hangout still pays homage to its roots by keeping a full-size Pacman machine and darts available upon request. But what I found most endearing was the relationship with Brainy Borough Brewing, an idea born from Metuchen residents who shared a love of brews and wanted to put their town on the map as a destination for craft beer. (P.S. The Hangout is the only place where you can currently enjoy Brainy Borough brews.)
Most people come here for a standard beer or relatively simple cocktail and friendly conversation—after all, the place only seats 10 to 12 people, comfortably—but through the saloon double doors lies The Parlor, another Hailey’s entity that offers a more sit-down setting with live entertainment, a great spot to wind down at the end of the day.
1 Brainy Borough Brewing
15 Station Pl.
brainyboroughbrewing.com
2 Café Paris
439 Main St.
732.487.3603
thecafeparis.com
3 Cai’s Café
420 Main St.
732.243.9925
caiscafe.com
4 DiCosmo's Italian Ice
20 New St.
732.243.9328
dicosmos.com
5 The Hangout and Parlor at Hailey's
5 Station Pl.
732.515.9767
haileysharpandpub.com/the-hangout-at-haileys
6 Hatch44 Café
(currently under renovation)
140 Durham Ave.
732.662.7200
hatch44cafe.com
7 Metuchen Farmers’ Market
Sat. 9am-2pm; June – mid-Nov.
33 Pearl St. at Town Plaza
metuchenfarmersmarket.com
8 Metuchen Inn
424 Middlesex Ave.
732.494.6444
metucheninn.net
9 Papillon & Company
418 Main St.
848.260.0810
papillongifts.com
10 Terrace Plant Shop
416 Main St.
848.260.0543
terraceplantshop.com
11 Wood Stack Pizza Kitchen Metuchen
259 Lake Ave.
732.372.7398
woodstacknj.com
