Two years ago Ellen’s Cafe owner, Matthew Lynn told his wife, Jessica, he had a dream about working in a little yellow restaurant with white shutters. When a restaurant matching that description turned up for sale a short time later in Old Town Spring, he took that as a sign to turn the dream into reality.
The Lynns met at culinary school in Hyde Park, New York, and got married shortly after they graduated 20 years ago. They settled in Spring three years ago.
Matthew and Jessica have worked at every job in the restaurant industry during their careers, from dishwasher to manager, so owning their own restaurant was a natural fit, Jessica said. The cafe had been in operation for about 10 years before the Lynns took over in May 2015, purchasing the restaurant from original owners Ellen and Alan Saxe.
“The menu was very solid; all we did was to apply some culinary technique and upgrade the ingredients,” Matthew said. “We want you to be able to have that [fine dining] experience without feeling like you’re underdressed or in the wrong place.”
The cafe serves lunch seven days a week, breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays, and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Every Friday, lobster rolls are served at lunch and dinner.
“My menu is a mix of comfort food and some Italian and Mexican dishes,” Matthew said.
The cafe uses organic, locally grown and seasonal ingredients in many recipes, Matthew said. The Lynns even planted herbs outside the restaurant to keep a fresh supply within easy reach of the kitchen.
The dinner menu changes frequently as Matthew experiments with new ideas.
“I get bored easily,” he said.
Matthew, who previously taught culinary classes in international cuisine at Culinary Institute LeNotre in Houston, said he likes to use flavors from around the world for the weekend dinner specials.
Drawing from his time living in Germany, Matthew has served schnitzel, a meat dish, with braised red cabbage and homemade egg noodles. Italian dishes, such as spaghetti bolognese, also have been popular with customers. In July, the cafe featured traditional Mexican dishes including chicken enchiladas with Hatch chile peppers and a slow-roasted pork dish.
Fresh soup, salads, sandwiches and five kinds of quiche are among the cafe’s other daily offerings.
The couple expanded the restaurant’s homemade fudge varieties to 21 flavors, which include chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, cookies and cream, maple and Key lime.
Pets are welcome on the front patio, where there is outdoor seating.
Matthew said after working in many high-end restaurants, he wanted to bring a “down home” feeling to the cafe, where customers dress casually and feel like they are among friends.
“Whenever I seat someone at a table, I tell them to be at home,” Matthew said. “I want them to feel comfortable, welcome and not rushed.”
Chef’s suggestions
The Cafe Chef – Ellen’s Cafe’s take on this salad includes turkey and ham, Swiss and cheddar cheeses, tomato, carrot, cucumber and egg slices ($11.99).
Chicken fajita pita – Chicken, tomato, cilantro and cheese are served in a pita pocket with a side of salsa ($11.99).
Garden vegetable sandwich – Garden greens, tomato, mushroom, carrot, cucumber, peppers, onions and alfalfa sprouts top a multigrain bread ($10.79).
Five-layer fudge chocolate cake – A giant slice of layered chocolate cake is topped with fudge icing ($6.99).
