The Shop- Binghamton’s Cozy Neighborhood Eatery

For as long as I can remember, my husband and I have wanted to open a coffee shop. My husband doesn't drink coffee, but he makes a mean cup and he loves me and all things that make me happy- coffee being one of the biggest sources of joy in my life.

My family visited The Shop on Washington Street in downtown Binghamton for Binghamton Restaurant Week and as soon as we walked through the doors, we felt as though we'd been enveloped in something warm and comforting. The smell of coffee permeates the air at The Shop, and the staff is more friendly than at most any other place we've ever visited.

My husband and I looked around, soaking in every little detail of The Shop and agreed right then and there that if and when we open our own coffee shop, we want it to have the same sort of ambiance that The Shop has. We love the cozy industrial feel, the use of recycled materials for the tables, chairs, and wall length bench. And the artwork! We couldn't stop looking at the artwork which I found out are photographs of graffiti that owner Eugenie and her partner took on their travels and then had transferred to canvas. They made the frames for the artwork in the shop in their basement- which is one of the places that provided inspiration for the name of their restaurant.

If you've followed my Binghamton Restaurant Week reviews, you know that my mission is to find family-friendly eateries in the Binghamton area, and The Shop is one of those places. Our server kindly brought out a high chair for my wiggly little toddler and even played a game of peek-a-boo with him. John enjoyed the way the sound of his voice echoed off the walls inside the restaurant and got a little loud. When my husband and I told him that he needed to lower his voice, our server assured us that John was just fine. My family travels together like a wolf pack and we try to include our son in everything we do so that he grows up with an amazing array of experiences, but we never know how others will react to a toddler, especially in a restaurant. The Shop and their customers were exceptionally welcoming of my boy.

My three-course restaurant week meal at The Shop began with an absolutely delicious bowl of silky smooth red lentil soup. I followed my soup with an artesian smoked pork and four cheese melt with dijon mustard on a rustic grain roll and, topped off my meal with a double espresso. I also enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and it was everything I hoped it would be- and then some.

The Shop is the kind of place where you can take your family for a meal and know that you'll be treated exceptionally well. It's also the perfect spot for meeting with clients, or to curl up in one of the comfy chairs in the back of the restaurant with a cup of coffee and a book. The Shop is clearly a neighborhood favorite, too, because, in the time that I was there, I saw several regulars walk in. The staff knew exactly what to make for the customers before anyone even had to ask, and each person took a second to smile and say hello to my family. There's absolutely a sense of friendship and warmth at The Shop that not many eateries have anymore.

Binghamton Restaurant Week runs through Thursday, March 30th, but don't let the ending of Restaurant Week stop you from visiting this sweet, tucked away Binghamton eatery. The Shop is located at 219 Washington Street downtown and is open Tuesday-Thursday from 11am-11pm, Friday from 11am-12am and Saturday from 12pm-12am.

[via EatBing/The Shop]