The Mills Restaurant

149 Cotuit Road, Marstons Mills, MA 02648

1. Initial impression of convenience, parking, and location.

This location is located between exit 5 off Route 6 and Route 28.
For this Monday morning the parking was ample. Come Saturday or Sunday there could be some issue finding a spot right away.
The address is 149 Route 149. So that’s easy to remember.

2. Wait time to be greeted, seated, and atmosphere.

We hadn’t even had the time for our eyes to adjust before we were greeted with smiles behind the counter and asked for our party size. We were directed to a corner table in the main front window where the sun was at our backs keeping us warm on this autumn feeling day. The corner table at the back of the room is also the best location to be able to watch the happenings.

Never sit with your back to the entrance.

3. Server introductions, impressions and attentiveness.

Ashley pleasantly served us. We know her name was Ashley because that’s what she told us. Possibly for the first time ever did we get a name. We didn’t give our names since she could be a spy.
We were promptly served coffee and given small instructions on the menu.
Ashley overheard us speaking (spying) about the unavailability of their donuts this day and inquired with the chef if it was possible to bake us up one. It was possible!

4. Variety of menu options (too many/too little)

Although the menu was vast, it was surprisingly not overwhelming. The choices were varied for a multitude of different tastes, and it was easy to pick out what you wanted fairly quickly.

5. Menu highlights of uncommon items.

There were unique items on both the normal menu, and the specials menu. This was a refreshing sign, as we’ve had poor luck lately with breakfast joints being boring.
Summer local fresh vegetable hash
Fenway Omelette
Pulled Pork Huevos Rancheros
Well, we could go on forever (or the length of the menu). Take a look at the pictures to see just how many interesting choices there were for breakfast.

6. Speed of food delivery, and first impressions of plating, initial aroma.

The donut was served first on a side plate and atop a paper doily. The doily was strange but added a nice country feel akin to the rest of the restaurant.
The meals arrived in proper time. Almost like they knew what we wanted to eat.... also with doilies.

7. TASTE!

Coffee was tasty. Nothing spectacular, but it was not horrible. It was just right.
The Gentleman’s pistachio donut was delectable. It was the only available flavor/style that they were already going out of their way to serve so there was no complaining. As it turns out, after speaking with the owner, there are only two styles ordinarily baked there; pistachio and triple chocolate. More often than not it is the pistachio that is made as it is requested far more often. The gentleman went safe with his meal order and grabbed the Whole Farm breakfast. The usual combination of two eggs, two strips of bacon, sausage, pancakes and homefries. Ashley even asked if the gent wanted table syrup or 100% Grade A Vermont maple syrup. In spite of the ladies favor and to align with the gents brother’s tastes, we went table syrup. Ashley should have known. Bad spy. The gent’s meal was fine, Better than fine. He just regrets not getting a little experimental with the menu. Branching out, trying something different. There were many things that looked appealing. We didn’t even ask for recommendations. So unlike us.

The Lady almost immediately had her eye on the New England ole style breakfast (when in New England, eat as the pilgrims did?) It was only within the past year that she has discovered the incredible amazing scrumptious food item that is Boston Brown Bread (or molasses brown bread as it was named on the menu). The lady knew this was what she wanted in her mouth. She had her eggs poached, which is her new favourite way to have them. The brown bread was perfect and delicious. The beans actually looked as though they were not from a can (although they could have been canned beans that had been spruced up). The Cod Cake was new for the lady, she has never had a fish cake before and was a little concerned. The texture and flavours were similar to a toasted tuna sandwich. Crunchy on the outside, and fishy on the inside. She can now strike that off of her list of things she hasn’t eaten and never revisit it. The only thing the lady can say that is bad about this breakfast has nothing to do with the food. It was served on a plate with doilies under the items. I understand this is for presentation purposes, to make it seem fancy, however the food here speaks for itself.

8. Value of product.

For the first time in awhile, there was no questioning of the prices of items. Everything was reasonably priced, and the amount of food for price paid was fair. Also delicious

9. Payment options.

All payment forms are acceptable here, so far as we knew. We didn’t check for Amex

Overall Rating: How could we say it better than this?

Breakfast Abroad - Two Canucks on Cape Cod