Hamburger, With A Side of Style

Benji's Restaurant brings a new taste to traditional comfort foods

Story by Allen Kirmss

It was a cold February night, during a late night stroll through downtown Plattsburgh, when a little shop grabbed my attention.

Maybe it was fate, or maybe it was a good marketing strategy by the stores owners, but for some reason Benji’s Bakery and Café caught my eye. The next day, I made sure to head down to this restaurant which seemed to pop-up overnight.

What I did not expect was to be wooed by the mysterious restaurant. The aura was magnificent. At first, I wasn’t sure if I had entered a restaurant or an antique shop. But sure enough, when I was greeted with a warm smile and hello I knew I was in the right place.

The small but quaint bakery/restaurant is semi new to town; standing its ground at its home located at 103 Margaret St. for two years now. They offer an array of both reasonably priced breakfast and lunch meals, as well as pastries for people who are on the go. This reporter has frequented the restaurant a few times, and I’ve had the chance to taste both sides of the spectrum.

The restaurant itself was timeless. The tables were bright white and made for a comfortable experience. In a weird coincidental St. Patrick’s Day way, the walls were outlined in a bright green hue, which caught me off-guard. Overlooking the dining room was a grand clock, off a few hours, making you feel as if time didn’t matter at all.

In the corner of the restaurant, a fake Christmas tree sat, decorated in shamrocks, making you wonder if it truly was the imagination of the owners to add some decoration, or a lack of storage. Either way, it added some flavor to the general experience.

Thas time, I went with a classic hamburger. The meal came with a side of chips, which were absolutely delicious. The service was fast, and not once did I have to worry about where the waitress was or about my refills. For only a $5, I was both stuffed and delectably satisfied with all the restaurant had to offer.

To be completely honest, I was very surprised at Benji’s. There are countless diners and restaurants in the Plattsburgh area, and I’ve been to more than I like to admit. But Benji’s sits high atop my list of restaurants to try. It’s dining experience will be sure to have you coming back for more.

Overall, between the service, food, and experience I give Benji’s Café and Bakery a 4 out of 5 star rating. I look forward to visiting the restaurant again, and suggest all you APN readers to make a note to head down and check it out for yourself.

Have you ever eaten at Benjis?