Hike and a Meal
By: Jennifer Schlitchting
Down the street from the reservoir on Farmington Avenue are three comfortable places to get a warm meal and sweet treat. Sweet Bite, REFRESH Food and Drink, and Good Morning Bagel, are each unique and delicious in their own way, as well as getting something delicious without spending much.
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If you’re out for a morning run or hike, Good Morning Bagels has exactly what you’d be craving after, whether it be breakfast sandwiches, freshly squeezed orange juice, or a variety of different coffee drinks. They have become famous for their rainbow bagels, which are as brightly colored as you can imagine, though more of a feast for your eyes as they are flavored plain. If you’re looking for something more substantial, they also have burgers, steak sandwiches, and a few pastries as well.
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Sweet Bite is a whole new take on an ice cream place with popular dessert dishes from South Korean cuisine along with hard ice cream and frozen yogurt. If you want to try something new, try the Bingsu or the Korean corn dogs, which they also carry. Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice with various toppings, such as popping boba and fruit. Korean corn dogs are made with rice flour or wheat instead of cornmeal, as is the case with American corn dogs. Two different-tasting yet equally popular snacks are the end result. In addition, Korean corn dogs are chewier than other varieties; they can also have cheese and/or potatoes. The decor inside is very inviting and aesthetically pleasing. I have been there multiple times, and the customer service was impeccable; every time you walk in, you are greeted with a “Hello” and a smile, and I have also been given many free samples!
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REFRESH Food and Drink is a Korean food place that is perfect if you want a more substantial meal. Especially if you want to try Korean cuisine for the first time, this would be a great place to try some of the basics. They carry dishes like tteokbokki, kimchi fried rice, and gimbap, which are all equally delicious. I personally favor the tteokbokki, which are chewy rice cakes that are cooked in a spicy, red broth. Refresh pairs this dish with a stretchy mozzarella; this balances the acids and spice from the broth. REFRESH also carries drinks like boba and hot tea. The hot tea comes in many different flavors, such as the ginger lemon tea that I once tried. This tea would be perfect to have if you were suffering from a cold or coming back from a hike on a chilly day. The decorations within REFRESH give the space an open, homey feel, filled to the brim with plants and assorted tables in chairs.
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Overall, these three places are definitely worth a visit. Good Morning Bagels with its superb breakfast foods, REFRESH Food and Drinks Korean food, and Sweet Bite with its delicious desserts. Have fun trying all of these wonderful places and supporting three excellent small businesses!