In the heart of Concord, New Hampshire, a culinary revolution is brewing. At 42 N Main St, The Works Café is changing how we think about food. This gem isn’t just serving meals; it’s dishing out a new way of eating that’s good for you and the planet. But what makes this spot stand out in Concord’s food scene? Let’s dive into the tasty world of The Works Café and see how it’s becoming a big part of the community.
Key Takeaways
– The Works Café in Concord, New Hampshire, focuses on serving healthy and sustainable food.
– The café uses organic and local ingredients from New England farmers, supporting the community and reducing environmental impact.
– Popular menu items include organic quinoa bowls and hand-baked bagels, made with care and high-quality ingredients.
– The café offers a variety of meals, such as the Sunrise Burrito and Smoked Salmon sandwich, along with smoothies and coffee drinks.
– The Works Café is committed to eco-friendly practices, like composting and using recyclable materials.
– The café’s friendly staff and clean environment enhance the dining experience.
– The Works Café began in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988 and now has eleven locations across New England.
– The café’s mission focuses on people, the planet, and profit, setting a positive example for other businesses.
– Dining at The Works Café supports local farmers and promotes mindful eating, making it a meaningful part of the community.
A Taste of Downtown Concord
When you walk into The Works Café, you’re hit with the smell of fresh bread and the warm glow of brick walls. The cozy booths with cow-print headrests make you feel right at home. It’s clear this isn’t your average café – it’s a special place that cares about quality and community.
The Works Café has found its own special spot in Concord’s food world. It stands out for using organic, local ingredients and having new menu ideas. While other places might focus on old-school New England food, The Works Café brings fresh, healthy options to the table. This draws in locals and visitors who want good food that’s good for them too.
Farm-to-Table Philosophy
At its heart, The Works Café is all about local and sustainable food. This isn’t just talk – it’s a big part of who they are. By getting ingredients from New England farmers, the café makes sure its food is fresh and tasty. It also helps local farmers and cuts down on pollution from long-distance shipping.
The café works with many local food makers. From cage-free eggs to natural meats, every ingredient is picked carefully. They use hormone-free cream cheese from Vermont farms and milk without antibiotics from nearby dairies. This focus on local food isn’t just good for the earth – it’s good for the whole community, spreading support far beyond the café itself. For those looking to extend their local food experience, Spacious Skies French Pond in nearby Henniker offers a chance to camp and enjoy New Hampshire’s natural beauty while supporting local businesses.
Signature Organic Quinoa Bowls
The star of the show at The Works Café is their organic quinoa bowls. These healthy bowls are packed with good stuff and show how the café comes up with new ways to eat well. Each bowl mixes flavors and textures perfectly, making your taste buds and your body happy.
Take the Cold Smoked Salmon Bowl, for example. It has cold-smoked Kosher salmon on top of organic quinoa. It also has creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a local cage-free hard-boiled egg. Pesto and lemon dressing tie all the flavors together. If you want meat, try the Bacon Avocado Power Bowl. It has natural bacon, quinoa, egg, baby spinach, and spicy sauces. For veggie lovers, there’s the Autumn Harvest Veggie Quinoa Bowl. It has roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and toasted almonds, proving that plant-based food can be filling and yummy.
The Art of Hand-Baked Bagels
While quinoa bowls are popular, The Works Café’s hand-baked bagels are also amazing. These aren’t your average bagels – they’re made with real care and skill. The bagels are boiled and baked in small batches. This makes them crispy outside and chewy inside.
There are many bagel flavors to choose from. You can get classic plain and sesame, or try something new like “works” or multigrain. But what really makes these bagels special is the cream cheese. It comes from Vermont farms and has no fake hormones. The café mixes it by hand with fresh fruits and veggies. This attention to detail means every bite shows how much The Works Café cares about quality and taste.
Beyond Quinoa and Bagels
The Works Café offers more than just quinoa bowls and bagels. For breakfast, try the Sunrise Burrito. It’s a big wrap filled with eggs, cheese, and your choice of meat or veggies. At lunch, the Smoked Salmon sandwich and Thai chicken salad mix flavors in a fun way, showing off the café’s cooking skills.
If you’re really hungry, go for the Spicy BBQ Chicken Melt. It has tender chicken, tangy barbecue sauce, and melted cheese. To drink, The Works Café has smoothies and coffee drinks that are just as good as their food. From regular lattes to fresh fruit smoothies, there’s a drink for every meal and every craving.
The Works Café Experience
What makes The Works Café special isn’t just the food, but the whole experience. Customers often say the food is fresh and healthy, showing how much the café cares about using good ingredients. Many people like that they can eat food that’s tasty and good for them at the same time.
The people working at The Works Café are usually friendly and quick, even when it’s busy. They know a lot about the menu and can help if you have special diet needs. This makes eating there even better. The café is also clean and well-kept, making it a nice place to sit and eat or grab something quick on the go.
Sustainability in Action
The Works Café doesn’t just talk about helping the environment – they do it every day. They use many eco-friendly practices that show they really care about the planet. From cups that can be composted to paper products that aren’t bleached, everything in the café is chosen with the earth in mind.
One big thing they do is compost and recycle throughout the company. This cuts down on waste and helps return food scraps to the earth. The café also lets customers refill their own mugs, which helps use fewer throw-away cups. These practices are good for the planet and make customers who care about the environment feel good about eating there.
The Works Café’s Journey
The story of The Works Café is about growing, coming up with new ideas, and sticking to what’s important. It started in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988. Now, it has grown to eleven places across New England. Each one follows the same ideas about quality, helping the environment, and supporting the community that the first café had.
As it has grown, The Works Café has always focused on three things: people, the planet, and making money. This big-picture view has helped the café grow without giving up on what it believes in. It sets a good example for other food businesses. By caring about more than just money, but also about people and the earth, The Works Café has created a way of doing business that customers love and other business owners want to copy.
Conclusion
The Works Café is more than just a place to eat. It shows how powerful mindful eating can be. Every meal there is a chance to help local farmers, be kind to the earth, and feed both your body and your community. From quinoa bowls to hand-baked bagels, The Works Café has become an important part of Concord’s food scene.
If you haven’t been to The Works Café yet, give it a try. It’s not just a meal – it’s a way to be part of something bigger. As you enjoy your food, you’re helping create a better way of eating that connects people. In a world where what we eat matters more than ever, The Works Café shows how good food can make a real difference. And for those looking to extend their New Hampshire adventure, consider visiting Spacious Skies French Pond campground in Henniker, where you can continue to enjoy the state’s natural beauty and local hospitality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes The Works Café special in Concord?
A: The Works Café is special because it uses organic, local ingredients and offers fresh, healthy menu options. It focuses on quality and community, making it stand out in Concord’s food scene.
Q: What are the main food items at The Works Café?
A: The main food items include organic quinoa bowls and hand-baked bagels. They also offer breakfast items like the Sunrise Burrito and lunch options like the Smoked Salmon sandwich.
Q: How does The Works Café support local farmers?
A: The Works Café supports local farmers by sourcing ingredients from New England farms, which helps ensure fresh food and reduces pollution from long-distance shipping.
Q: What eco-friendly practices does The Works Café use?
A: The café uses compostable cups, unbleached paper products, and encourages customers to refill their own mugs. They also compost and recycle to reduce waste.
Q: How has The Works Café grown since it started?
A: The Works Café started in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988 and has grown to eleven locations across New England, focusing on quality, environmental care, and community support.