Archive: Around Town

King Ferry Bakery and CafeReview

Here we are back again in King Ferry. I have meant to spill the beans about this delightful eatery for a while, but haven’t quite ‘got round to it’. I attribute this serious lapse to a subliminal judgment that my husband, dear friend Wanda, son Tony and I will find it hard to obtain our usual seat during our regularly appointed, Saturday morning visit. Apologies both to my readers and the proprietors of this delicious little gem. I have been remiss.

The King Ferry Bakery & Café is situated in the building at the NE corner of the Rte. 90/ 34B intersection. This building also houses a used clothing shop and an antique store. As you are driving north and come to a stop at the junction, you will be unable to see the King Ferry Bakery & Café behind the large municipal sign, but proceed on faith and pull into the parking lot just behind.

Phyllis and David Stevens currently run the K.F Bakery & Café. Two years ago Phyllis leased the café and started baking her fresh breads and the other goods and serving the public with the help of her daughter Louise. The restaurant had come with some recipes, but Phyllis felt there could be improvement and has worked hard to fine tune her bread recipes (Just like mom’s!) and create new cookie and muffin sensations. When daughter Louise had a baby, she wanted to spend more time at home, so David decided to retire from 25 years at Emerson as a machinist, and join the family business as the grill- miester.

“Who should stop there”, you may ask? Well, anybody with a sweet tooth, in need of a tasty snack, a hearty breakfast, plentiful good coffee, fresh made lunch, or fresh bread to take home for the week. They will also bake special things to order for any occasion you might have. Recently they rose to the task of 257 dozen scones for a special event (65 lbs of butter ...) This little eatery is a perfect stopping point for any seasonal birders heading up the lake. Start with their hearty breakfast that includes unlimited refills on coffee, and while you’re eating have them pack you a lunch for a picnic later at Montezuma. Perhaps you might buy a glazed cinnamon bun, or cappuccino muffin would be good to fight the chill as you meander back around the lake.

The restaurant itself is warm and cozy, brightly lit with many interesting items of past and present decorating the walls. An old wooden bakery case is straight ahead with an open window behind that allows you to look right in on David hard at work flipping eggs and delicious cinnamon swirl French toast made with their own fresh home baked bread. The case is piled daily with fresh cookies, muffins, brownies, cupcakes, and cinnamon buns (nuts or raisins). There are 12 kinds of cookies and 13 kinds of muffins that show up on a rotation during the week. The coffee is to the right and is self-serve. Walk right up, grab your coffee, and catch yourself a seat without hesitation because the Café seating area is modest.

 

It is not just the food I recommend at its exceptionally low price to high taste ratio, but Phyllis and David will treat you as if you are family and they are determined to make your visit a happy one. They count on customer loyalty, “Word of mouth is the best advertisement there is. If you give them value, they will come back”. When I asked him why the prices were so low, David replied, “I couldn’t sleep at night, if I charged people 4$ for a muffin and a coffee”. The only price they have changed since they started two years ago is they now charge for the first cup of coffee with your breakfast. Muffins are still .75, cookies .50, loaf of white or wheat bread $2.50, cinnamon, cinnamon wheat, and cheese (cheddar) swirl are 2.75/loaf.

Breakfasts are from$2.25- 5.00 and include all the standards with fresh baked bread as the kicker. Lunch staples include: Burgers (2-5$), subs ($3.50-4.75), sandwiches ($2.25-2.50), and chef salad ($3-4). All sandwiches are made with their own bread and as a result theirs is the best grilled sandwich in town. Unbelievably, tuna, egg, and potato salads are made to order. Because of this you can request miracle whip or mayonnaise to your taste. In my experience, the mayo people despise Miracle Whip, and the Miracle Whip people despise mayonnaise. Elegant solution, and boy did it taste fresh!

 

The King Ferry Bakery & Café is open for business Monday 9-2pm, Tuesday thru Friday 6-3pm., and Saturday 7-Noon (except Saturday 8/26 and Labor Day). Even though business slows they do not shut down in the winter. “Where would our regulars go?” Come in and check them out, and save some room in your dessert leg.

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