Restaurants & Bars
Warren Couple Opens Blue Cafe In Basking Ridge
Barbara and Chris Chutnik previously owned the highly-rated Abigail's Cafe in Linden before getting into the brunch business.
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Warren couple and restaurateurs Barbara and Chris Chutnik are getting into the brunch business with its new cafe in Basking Ridge.
The Blue Cafe opened last week and is replacing the long-standing Mockingbird Cafe, located at the corner of S. Finley Avenue and E. Henry Street. The Mockingbird Cafe closed its doors on Sept. 16.
The Polish couple had owned Abigail's Cafe in Linden for 10 successful years, which received very high ratings on Google, Facebook, Yelp and TripAdvisor.
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They ran the restaurant, which had a liquor license, full-time and then sold it and took a year off. They couldn’t stay away from the restaurant business for very long though.
That’s where Blue Cafe comes in, which will offer breakfast, brunch and lunch.
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"We want to focus more on brunch and will be a little different than everyone else," Barbara Chutnik said. "No matter where you go it is usually the same food. But our gourmet cafe will have everything made from scratch with an American/European influence since we are from Poland."
Chutnik noted that they will serve up waffles with a European twist.
"Like the way I grew up," Chutnik said of the waffles. "It is going to be simple comfort food. I always believe less is more."
The cafe will also offer gourmet coffee and focus on getting food locally sourced, such as the coffee will come from a local roaster in Jersey City.
There will also be a focus on freshly squeezed juices, healthy brunch food options and pancakes too.
The couple lives in Warren about 10 minutes from the cafe’s new location and are very familiar with the area.
"It's a great location and a great spot," Chutnik said. "Basking Ridge is very different than Linden but we hope it is going to work. As long as we have good food, nice service and good prices we will succeed."
Blue Cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast is served all day.
For more information on Blue Cafe visit the Facebook page.
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