Coffee Ride to River & Rail Cafe - New Milford, CT
The Ride
I was bringing the GSA in for service and picking up the R18 that had been out of commission since the electrical fault. As MAX BMW is in New Milford, part of Litchfield County, I decided to find a nearby coffee shop. River & Rail Cafe was in downtown New Milford, so I pointed my Beeline there, and it indicated shy of 24 miles as the crow flies.
I headed north on Route 121 as I left Cross River. This beautiful motorcycle road passes several farm and horse properties along its route. After passing Peach Lake, it terminates at Route 6, where I made a right.
Route 6 parallels Interstate 84 with the East Branch Reservoir just north and the Maybrook Trailway. I turned left onto Aunt Hack Road before coming into Danbury.
Aunt Hack Road begins as a hill climbing to pass by the West Lake Reservoir and a golf course before making a 90-degree right turn to head east again and joining Middle River Road as it turns north. I continued until it terminated at King Street, where I turned right to head east again as the needle pointed slightly to the right.
King Street continues east and ends at Route 39, where I turned left to head north. This had to backtrack slightly west until Route 39 headed north. At Gillotti Road, I turned right to head east again, trying to keep the compass needle roughly running ahead.
Gillotti Road ironically reconnects with Route 39 after it too turns to head east after it winds a bit further north and then south. I stay on Route 39 as it heads north on the western shore of Candlewood Lake.
This beautiful motorcycle road following the lake’s coastline runs roughly North/South. A small causeway crosses over the water, bisecting Squantz Pond from Candlewood Lake, and continues to head north into Sherman, Connecticut.
Here, Route 37 & 39 join for a moment. Route 39 heads further north, while Route 37 heads east and better aligns with my compass, so I stay there.
Route 37 winds up a ridge and then backs down the other side to meet Route 7 as it parallels the Housatonic River.
I take Route 7, heading south until I reach the bridge crossing over the Housatonic at Route 202, leading into New Milford.
Route 202 passes Railroad Street, which parallels the train line and the Housatonic River. I continue to Main Street and the village green before turning onto the one-way Bank Street, where the River & Rail Cafe is located.
Rever reports our final tally of distance traveled as 40 miles, so a decent amount of twistiness nearly doubled our straight-line distance. See the route below.
The Coffee Shop
The River & Rail Cafe is located on one of the side streets in downtown New Milford. While there was street parking, none was available when I arrived, so I had to find a spot around the corner on the main drag of New Milford. The shop is on a one-way street and begins downhill shortly after the shop near the Bank Street Theater. There were spots on the hill, but those are always hard with a motorcycle, so if you can’t find something in front, park around the corner like I did.
The proximity of the cafe to Railroad Street, so named for being alongside the rail line and the river just next to the rail line, makes perfect sense. While the station, once part of the Housatonic Railroad Company, is still there, it is no longer an active station, with service ending in 1970. However, recent efforts to bring service back alongside the line’s electrification for an extension of the Danbury Branch are still being evaluated.
Entering River & Rail Cafe, you are greeted with a bright interior with crème colored paint on all walls. An all-panel glass entrance allows a lot of natural light to brighten the space. The walls are sparse, and only a handful of tables are on either side of a center line heading to the counter at the back of the shop.
There was a small queue in front of me, but I was warmly greeted by one of the staff when I reached the front of the line. It was pretty quiet, while many tables were full, and the small space influenced the patrons’ more reflective tone.
Cortado, cappuccino, espresso, americano, and drip coffee were listed on the menu.
A few baked goods, like cookies, were offered, but it was mostly coffee & tea. The sign-out front said today’s special was Smoked BBQ Chicken for $17, so I assume there are more food options, but it wasn’t clear on the menu. A small door behind the counter may lead to a kitchen area to make food.
The Refreshments
I got an americano served in a plain white paper cup with a paper sleeve. There was no branding on the cup or sleeve, while my chocolate chip cookie’s small bag had a stamped logo.
A reasonably weak aroma was a precursor to a bland flavor profile. The only hints I noted in the taste were a light mouthfeel and an almost bread-like flavor. It was served scorching, with steam escaping once I removed the sipper lid. I had to let it cool for several minutes before my first sip.
Overall, the coffee was bland. I can’t say it would be a strong recommendation. It wasn’t bad; there were no negative flavors, but the positive ones were so weak as to be meh.
The cookie appeared homemade with an almost oatmeal-like texture. Sweet, but lots of fiber. I kept oscillating between liking it & thinking it was weird, so it may not be for everyone.
Americanos always have the potential to become weaker in flavor, depending on how much water is added. I wouldn’t want to write off River & Rail Cafe for the bland coffee I had. It’s located in a charming downtown area that begs to be walked through, so it’s not a bad place to visit. Fantastic biking roads like Route 7 just around the corner make it a worthwhile stop.
