In a rare double switch, Meta Café moved across the Delaware River from New Hope to Lambertville, N.J., in August, taking over the former site of DiNapoli’s Italian Market, which had moved to New Hope.
Each restaurant crossed the river when the owners were in search of larger quarters.
Amanda Lentine, who owns Meta Café with her husband Michael, operated a stand at the Ferry Market in New Hope, but found that it didn’t have enough room for her to make all the dishes she wanted.
“I wanted my own space,” she said, and found it in the pocket-sized restaurant on Kline’s Court in Lambertville.
There she crafted a breakfast-lunch menu where she serves breakfast all day with seasonal specials made using the freshest ingredients she can find.
Local residents quickly discovered the new restaurant and have been coming back, Lentine said, adding, “They have been awesome.” They have embraced her breakfast menu that includes upscale egg sandwiches, including the “Jersey,” two eggs and American cheese on a muffin; prosciutto with mozzarella and arugula; chorizo with habanero jack cheese and a drizzle of hot honey; and the “Cali,” with avocado, fontina cheese, caramelized onions and chipotle crema.
Those in search of breakfast also can choose from a prosciutto egg plate or a soft-boiled egg with toast.
Toasts include the ‘Cado Smash, with avocado, tomato and red onions; the Elvis with peanut butter, bananas and bacon; the almond butter with strawberry, granola and honey; and the ricotta and jam with lemon-vanilla ricotta, honey, fig jam and cocoa nibs.
Those in search of lunch will find fresh soups made daily, plus a variety of sandwiches including avocado chicken, turkey with brie, grilled chicken, and pistachio mortadella with provolone, soppressata and olive tapenade. She also offers a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches ranging from her class combination of fontina and American cheeses on country white bread to her “Sweet Heat” with habanero jack, fontina and hot honey on white.
Sharing plates for two to four people range from whipped ricotta with olive oil and crostini to buratta layered with prosciutto, balsamic glaze and olive oil.
The Lentines offer a range of coffee drinks including machiatos and cappuccinos, but the top seller is the latte.
They chose to open their restaurant in the New Hope/Lambertville area because they love it, Amanda Lentine said.
In the future, they plan to offer dinner one night each month.
susan.yeske@gmail.com
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