POMFRET, CT – Opened in 1989 as a small eatery with a simple food menu and ice cream, “The Bean” has been expanding ever since. The menu is extensive – from eggs benedict for breakfast to smoked mozzarella and basil ravioli for dinner. A house specialty is the chili, topped with tortilla chips, grated cheddar cheese and chopped scallions, and it is tasty. A cup is $4.75 and a bowl is $6.
One noticeable aspect of the menus are that prices aren’t listed in the insulting manner of most establishments that shave a nickel to make an item seem less expensive at, say, $7.95 instead of $8. Indeed, the Vanilla Bean avoids the use of pennies, nickels and dimes altogether. It charges $10, $10.25 and $10.50 for a sandwich.
Sunday morning is the best time to visit if you’re riding because that’s when bikes gather.
(Recommended by Jack Phelps)
The Bean is one of our favorite gathering spots. There are plenty of beautiful hour long routes from home.