Susan's Upstate Caffeine Tour- Stop One
This is Hoppie's. It's in the little town of Oxford, overlooking the village square. It's a cafe/diner/community gathering spot.
It's great. Let me explain why:
First, let's talk about colors.
Hoppie's gets colors. They have got the most glorious selection of blue and red and etched glass I've seen in a long time. And they augment with some very cool blue light bulbs. So right off the bat, you know these people have a personality.
Next, let's talk about pies.
I really like pie. A lot. I don't eat a ton of it, because I'm always trying to be conscious of what I'm eating (and is that ever tiresome!) but I never fail to delight in a place that has an assortment of pies. Look at that picture. Hoppie's does pies.
And then let's talk about the setting. Oxford, NY.
This is Chenango County, between Binghamton and Albany, northwest of Delhi, for you Hudson Valley types. It's not booming. But this town square is something really special, the setting for the Oxford Academy, their town school, is glorious, and there are little parks and boulevards scattered all over town. It has charm.
Yes, reader, I am smitten. If I wasn't already madly in love with my own town (Franklin) and my childhood crush (Cherry Valley) I'd be wondering why we didn't live there.
Prices are incredibly good, too. Good news for buyers, even if it's a bit sad for sellers. But we know where we are, here in central New York. Brooklyn, for the most part, hasn't found us yet. They're going to be wild about us when they do.
Now -- on to the coffee and the food. Breakfast all day, people. Need I say more? My sweetie ordered a pancake and was warned that it was as big as a plate. "Bring it on," said he, and proceeded to polish it off along with eggs and home fries.
The coffee comes in a mug that the waitress dubbed "too small", so she visited frequently for free refills. And we sat at a table by the window and played peek a boo with a toddler who found us pretty intriguing.
Hoppie's rates a five out of five on the Caffeine Tour rating system I just invented. Hey, it's my tour, I get to set the system and do the scoring.
Ambience, friendly folks, great setting, great coffee and good food. The stained glass put them over the top. I admit it.