23 Olcott Square
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
908-766-6806
www.thecoffeeshopbernardsville.com
The Coffee Shop of Bernardsville Undergoes Major Expansion
By Kaylynn Ebner
After more than 100 years, The Coffee Shop of Bernardsville continues to delight diners with delicious made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch meals from pancakes and eggs to burgers and
gyros. With a newly expanded dining room, The Coffee Shop has tripled in size since January 2023, and it now offers seating for about 120 guests. There’s also an outdoor patio for eating al fresco under shady umbrellas in the Historic Downtown Olcott Square.
Andreas Avgousti, The Coffee Shop’s owner, says this dining spot has had a rich history as a popular Bernardsville eatery since the 1930s. The walls and decor show some of this tradition with decades-old photos of Bernardsville from years ago. The restaurant has even been frequented by local celebrities such as John F. Kennedy, Jr. and boxer Mike Tyson. Diners today can add their own pictures on the wall with a Polaroid camera that the restaurant keeps handy.
Andreas notes that some of their regular diners come into The Coffee Shop to eat several times a week, and others have a tradition of visiting the restaurant generation after generation.
“It’s so special to see parents and grandparents bringing in the kids,” says Andreas.
So, what makes The Coffee Shop continue to be a community staple after all these years?
According to The Coffee Shop’s manager, Aime, the restaurant is like a white-glove diner with impeccable service, a beautiful and clean dining room, and fresh, made-to-order meals. The cooking staff arrives in the wee hours of the morning to prep for the day.
“The food is delicious and extremely consistent,” she says. “Your favorite meals will be excellent time and time again.”
Aime says some of the most popular items come from the breakfast menu. “The pancakes are big and fluffy-and delicious,” says Aime, noting that diners can pick from traditional buttermilk or unique options like Oreo cookie, coconut, or pancakes stuffed with Nutella and fruit.
She adds that the rich, buttery French toast is amazing: “It’s made daily with Brioche bread, and we have several options to choose from.”
For diners looking for a more savory breakfast, there are more than a dozen different omelets on the menu, including the Meat Lover’s omelet, the Mexican omelet, and the Corned Beef and Swiss Cheese omelet.
When it comes to lunch, diners will have plenty of options to pick from, including crisp entree salads, fresh wraps and sandwiches, and juicy burgers. You can also enjoy homemade soups and gyros.
Another special aspect of The Coffee Shop is how it supports the local community by sponsoring events and offering discounts to local heroes like police officers. “Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we handed out water and toilet paper when there were shortages,” says Andreas. “And the community supported us in return. We didn’t even take a hit during the pandemic.”
The Coffee Shop is located at 23 Olcott Square in Bernardsville. Dining hours are Mondays to Sundays, 6:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition to in-person dining, breakfast and lunch are available for pickup and local delivery.
The full menu and online ordering are available at www.thecoffeeshopbernardsville.com.