It was lunchtime and I was hungry when I saw a sign on Route 20 between LaFayette and Marcellus for a cafe in a barn. You know I had to check it out. Burrell’s Navarino Orchard, a third-generation, family-owned U-pick farm noted for apples and strawberries (and a country store with pies, jams, jellies and other treats), now offers a dining option: The Barn on the Farm Cafe. It’s open for lunch and supper Thursday to Saturday and brunch and supper on Sundays. More hours are coming soon.
The menu is casual and includes starters, like hummus and charcuterie (with and without meat), sandwiches and wraps, burgers and salads, including several vegetarian/vegan options. The Sunday brunch menu features French toast made with breads from the orchard’s bakery, quiche, a breakfast sandwich, eggs Benedict, and brunch-y drinks, including bottomless mimosas and “loaded” Bloody Marys. The bar menu features the orchard’s own hard cider, along with local and regional beers and wines. New York State spirits are used in cocktails, like mules and martinis.
Bring some patience with you when you visit: The Barn on the Farm Cafe has only been open a few weeks and just two people were working when I visited on a Friday. They were busy but didn't miss a beat. The barn itself is a 200-year-old building with high ceilings, lots of natural light and strings of twinkly lights. It’s rustic, with plank floors and wooden tables in various seating configurations, plus about a dozen seats at the bar. The bartender presented food and drink menus and took my order, which he walked to a food truck outside. Everything is made to order, one order at a time.
As a newbie vegetarian, I was happy to see a roasted vegetable wrap and a vegan burger on the menu. I went with the burger ($14), a patty made with a mix of black beans, corn and other vegetables, served on a roll, with lettuce, tomato slice and red onion on the side. I’m not a vegan, so I ordered the veggie burger with American cheese. The pesto aioli mentioned on the menu was missing, but the veggie patty was hot off the grill and the French fries on the side were crisp and well browned -- fried potatoes, my favorite vegetable. Roasted vegetables and applesauce are also offered as sides. How nice is that? A glass of peach lemonade ($3) was refreshing on a warm day.
Navarino Orchard and The Barn on the Farm Cafe are sure to be buzzing with activity as apple season kicks into gear in Central New York. Since I visited in July, the owners have added a Friday fish fry that runs all day and they plan to offer brunch on Saturday as well as Sunday. For more information on the cafe, including menus, visit the Navarino Orchard Facebook page.
Navarino Orchard is at 3655 Cherry Valley Turnpike (Route 20), LaFayette. The Barn on the Farm Cafe is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The owners plan to have the cafe open seven days a week starting in September. Information: 315-673-9181.
Interior photo of The Barn on the Farm Cafe, courtesy of Navarino Orchard on Facebook.
All other photos © Margaret McCormick.
