Alpine Bistro
Alpine Bistro
Newest eatery in downtown Ellicottville now open; grab a bite and relax
Are you all familiar with the coffee shop vibe? The feeling that you can come in, order a tasty beverage, maybe a snack, and then whip out a book or a laptop and just enjoy your time? A space that is warm, comforting and fun? Well, that’s exactly what the Alpine Bistro, located at 16 Washington Street in Ellicottville, NY, is striving to be.
The Bistro has taken over the space that used to be home to Adventure Bound and Ellicottville Coffee Company, but don’t worry, that signature ECC Peruvian coffee remains. In fact, it’s getting even better! Ellicottville Bake Shop, which owns Alpine Bistro, has big plans in mind for the new space. Earlier this week, ellicottvilleNOW spoke with Jennifer Hogan (co-owner alongside her husband, Corey Hogan) and Operations Manager Bo Sunshine about the creation and their goals for this new endeavor.
“I think when we first looked at that space, we saw so much potential for a large comfortable gathering space,” said Jennifer. “A place where people come to enjoy themselves with friends and family. One of those spaces that is filled with people just enjoying themselves, which is just a little different from the other places in town.”
“We saw a need in the village, similar to when we were building the bakery,” Bo added. “That is to give people looking for a comfortable space to relax without having to rush through their food or move for another party. We have a family room with board games, couches and a fireplace in the back where we regularly see grandparents playing with their content grandchildren for long periods. Our huge communal table is fantastic for larger groups. We even have a knitting group that comes in to share their projects with each other over a nice hot drink and snacks.”
Since it’s the busy winter season, they are currently open every day from 8:00am-4:00pm Sunday through Thursday and 8:00am-7:00pm Friday and Saturday. They are also applying for their liquor license, so hours may expand in the future.
About the coffee? As we said, it’s here to stay. “We’ve got a great lineup of seasonal drinks, besides our usual gourmet coffee options,” Bo said. “Including our winter special, the Bourbon Caramel Macchiato, which is rich espresso paired with premium bourbon caramel flavor and topped with a drizzle of sweetness. Or one of the new Valentine’s Day-themed drinks, like our Chocolate Covered Strawberry latte, which is a decadent mocha swirled with strawberry puree. We plan on changing our specials menu regularly to reflect special occasions and seasons.”
Also, you can’t sleep on the food at this spot. They have a full menu with brunch items, soups, appetizers, and handhelds. Their menu features fresh, locally sourced ingredients with bread baked daily just down the road at their sister location, Ellicottville Bake Shop. All their meats are baked in-house for ultimate quality and flavor. The food menu will also be updated frequently to respect the season’s prime ingredients.
You can tell they are putting in the work. Bo explained, “We consider the Bistro space-worthy of significant improvements and investments; we want it to succeed and be the best it can be. So, in that vein of thought we purchased a top-of-the-line water treatment system with reverse osmosis filtration and a commercial 40-gallon on-demand tank to purify our water so that the coffee is as clean and fresh tasting as can be.”
Bo advised, “A big part of our menu is the idea that we wanted people to be able to come in, walk up to the counter, order their drinks and food and have it done quickly but making sure that everything is made with quality ingredients. We utilize a TurboChef rapid cook oven to cook hot sandwiches and pizza in minutes, so even though it’s quickly assembled, it tastes like it took significant time to make. Comfort food that’s ready quickly, so if you are in a hurry to get back on the slopes, you can.”
They also have a grab-and-go section if you’re in a hurry or just looking to avoid any decision-making when you stop in - offering fresh fruit, mini charcuterie packs, wraps, salads and grain bowls. They are also planning to add a retail section to the front of the business which will offer unique items you can’t find in other places in town and perhaps more gourmet snack and food options as well.
Looking ahead, now that the opening is out of the way and they are getting into their groove, they’ve got plans to open a sophisticated cocktail lounge using their side room once their liquor license is approved. That is the next step for them moving into this summer. And then they’ll move on to the large basement area.
“We are always open to feedback. We’ve had requests to make a bourbon bar or to turn the basement into an arcade for the community's youth to enjoy,” said Bo. “We want to hear from our community members. You can email us suggestions/feedback on either the Alpine Bistro or the Ellicottville Bake Shop location at hello@ellicottvillebakeshop.com. And be sure to visit our website, alpinebistrony.com”
Jenn ended with, “From a personal level, we feel very welcomed by the community, with the bakery and the new excitement with the bistro. We’ve been so very grateful for everyone’s support; the locals and visitors have been great. With this space, we are trying to share the same feeling with everyone who has supported us.”
Make sure to take a visit to the Alpine Bistro and relax in their inviting atmosphere while indulging in a specially crafted beverage and delicious meal. Bring your whole family and all your friends. Everyone is welcome!
