Elmer’s Store Restaurant

Wonderful place to eat !! Or just stop to get a pastry and a coffee. Very friendly staff. And Clint base. Highly recommended!

I went there this morning for breakfast. It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Western Massachusetts but I did grow up here. I’d forgotten how people are so unwelcoming. I didn’t feel welcomed at all by our waitress and was unimpressed because I felt like she didn’t want us in the restaurant. She wasn’t a bad waitress but she wasn’t very outgoing or friendly. It was the same general attitude everyone in the valley seems to have and I don’t miss it at all. I don’t understand why people are so self important around here. I spend a lot of time in rural New Mexico and feel a lot more welcomed there (or even in Lubbock).The pancakes were good. I’ve been to Gray’s but it’s been ages so a comparison isn’t possible… but they felt very classic New England. However, our pancakes arrived a tinge burnt. Seriously?! How hard is it to not burn your «famous pancakes»?! There’s was perhaps 5 customers in the store… so not that many orders. I also did not appreciate that when the waitress had someone she knew come in, she prompty served them and ignored the rest of her tables. Just generally unimpressed– not a bad experience but definitely not a memorable one, with one exception, I enjoyed the earth friendly to go box and that I was given a to go cup for another cup of coffee for the road.

I absolutely love a morning drive to Ashfield for breakfast at Elmer’s. The setting is quintessential New England, and so is the restaurant… wood clapboards, hardwood floors, local art on the walls, open, airy dining room. They have a nice varied menu, and the sense of humor in the selection descriptions are priceless, they set the tone for a good time.

When I came to western mass, this is the sort of place I expected. A hipster barista with gluten free macaroons (delicious, btw) and hot cider in a place where all the local co-​ops probably meet. They have a bag share (i.e., you can borrow their bag if you bring it back). The atmosphere is the winningest trait and if I lived here, I could see myself relaxing here regularly with a pastry in one hand and a book in another.

Our first time here was an incredible experience. Jill was upbeat, friendly, and prompt with our breakfast. The omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and peppers was tasty, though the sausage links, blueberry pancakes, and homemade biscuit stole the show. Coffee is a make-​or-​break deal for us and at Elmer’s it did not disappoint. The only perplexing observation was that the refills kept getting smaller and smaller throughout the morning, so we must not have been the only ones enjoying the Joe. Overall a new breakfast favorite!

I like this place very much, with one caveat. I frequently drive here for brunch from a distant hill town. They stop serving at 1pm. The problem is, they often actually stop serving at 12:45, saying they are «transitioning» to lunch. If that is the case, they really should say they stop serving at 12:30, because it is another 15 or 20 minutes to drive to another place.

Elmer’s is back! Third delicious meal in a row. Must be a new cook or better management but the problems seem to be bygones, at least to me. Order the tastiest corned beef hash around. And enjoy!

My boyfriend and I go camping nearby in the DAR State Forest. Breakfast at Elmer’s is a must when we go. They have THE BEST EGGS BENEDICT I have ever had. Seriously, eggs benedict is my favorite food. I am a big fan of the homemade english muffin and delicious hollandaise. The potatoes are very bland so I don’t bother eating them. I also really like the home made cinnamon toast. The coffee is exactly my kind of coffee, bold and locally roasted. The menu is sassy and funny as is the staff. I don’t have a bad thing to say about this place.

Yummy food, always locally sourced when possible! The staff is delightful, lots of smiles with the service, and what more could you want? Elmer’s is a perennial favorite, and continues to be one of the best breakfast spots out there.

3 dollar pancakes. Great atmosphere. Lots of great local art on the walls.

The great food at Elmer’s is only the beginning. The ingredients are often locally sourced when possible (the amazing maple syrup, for instance). Chef Paul cooks up some pretty amazing dinners too, stuff like the crawfish pie with a coconut crust that I ate last night. I’ve never left Elmer’s without a full and happy belly and a smile on my face. The coffee is good and strong, and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. This place, more than any other seems to embody Ashfield. It’s where locals go to sit & chat, warm up in the winter, and feel a sense of community. This place is much bigger than it’s walls lead you to believe.

Elmer’s is a special place. A great stop for coffee or a meal, to talk with a friend or people-​watch. The people who work there are wonderful. Very friendly, warm and accommodating. I love the atmosphere! I haven’t been to any of their events yet but they do seem very community-​oriented. They were offering a yoga class at one point, and they sell local products. It’s a general store with somewhat of a limited selection — though it grows every time I go in. The prices are pretty high, maybe because there isn’t much else in the area. There’s some nice local art, jewelry, and music. They have excellent cappuccinos and baked goods … and I really like that they have almond milk. They also sell granola in small bags, which is delicious. I’ve only been once for breakfast. It was insanely busy (on a Sunday), the service was pretty slow, and truthfully the breakfast wasn’t worth the price. Smaller portions than at most places and good but not $ 11, maybe more like $ 7 or $ 8. I’ve heard the pancakes are phenomenal, though, and maybe should have gone with them rather than eggs, toast, and home fries. Despite the somewhat high prices, I love Elmer’s and always look forward to it. I probably won’t go anytime soon on a weekend morning because it gets a little crazy. Definitely a great stop midday during the week anytime! Every town should have a place like this.

Just went back this morning for breakfast. It seems that Elmer’s was firing on all cylinders again! I had the onion and pepper omelet with potatoes and an English muffin with homemade raspberry jam. It was all delicious!
Also the waitstaff was prompt and courteous. Overall a very enjoyable experience.

Recently ate breakfast here… service was not as good as before and food was sub par… for the price. Coffee was not as good as I remembered, flavor was off.
My wife loves the ambiance and feel of Elmer’s, so I am willing to drive to Ashfield to dine here.
We walked out fairly satisfied just under $ 50.00…

I stopped in today on my Saturday bike ride, planning to grab a pastry to tide me over on my way to lunch in Shelburne Falls. But the waitress asked if I was there for lunch, so I figured, why not? It was a good call. I had a root beer, which came immediately (a bit of a wait for a glass with ice, which the waitress offered), and ordered the grilled cheese with caramelized onions and apple. The menu billed it as «the best sandwich ever,» and if it’s not the best, it’s certainly a contender. The spinach salad and potato chips on the side were fine, too. I’ve stopped at Elmer’s before for pastry and coffee and was satisfied (4 stars at least), but this sandwich was great, and the service was friendly and prompt. No formal bike racks (that I saw) but plenty of rails where bikes can be propped or locked.

Not as happy as I the last time I was here, although still the best breakfast in franklin county. I would expect at least medium grade maple syrup not what seemed like b grade. The English muffin looked like hamburger rolls and kinda tasted like it was an English muffin but not much of a wow factor. Both the bacon and sausage were tasty, although way over cooked. Of course the staff and atmosphere are amazing and the menu is full and entertaining.

I’ve been to Elmer’s twice and will go again. The food was tasty and the people interesting. The coffee bar makes great coffee and hot chocolate. I love it that they serve real maple syrup with their delicious pancakes and the BLTs are fantastic.
I liked the place so much I signed up for their newsletter. Nan Parati is hilarious and I enjoy her musings about life. I also like seeing that Elmer’s works at being a place for community to eat well and meet well.
That said, it did take a LONG time to get our meal both times. We were not in a hurry so it was fine, but the timing was definitely off. The wait staff seemed either distracted or uninterested in our table. I ended up busing it at one point because dishes were not being cleared. I like servers to be friendly and enthusiastic — these were not — which is odd because Nan comes across friendly and enthusiastic in her newsletters so I would imagine that would set the tone.
The only dish we were not happy with was a chowder that was watery with little seafood and too large chunks of potatoes.
All in all, I think Ashfield is fortunate to have Elmer’s. With a little extra effort from them, I would give them five stars.

a small restaurant /​provisions store /​gift shop in a small western mass town. when you enter you’re greeted with the ephitomy of old new england smells and sounds.
i’ve only ever had breakfast on the way generally to hikes nearby, whether you’re into greasy fat i’ve gotta stay warm breakfast or it’s gonna be a hot summer day light breakfast you can’t go wrong.

I read about this place yesterday and we decided to drive up this morning to check out their Sunday breakfast. I didn’t think that places like this still existed. It was so laid back that it felt almost like being in someone’s home. I sipped a café au lait while we waited for our table (less than 10 minutes).
I ordered 2 of their famous pancakes and yes, they did live up to the hype. They were served with apple compote and real maple syrup. They were typical pancake size and very light and fluffy. My eyes were bigger than my stomach though so I couldn’t finish both of them. Husband had the biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and home fries and totally cleaned his plate. I tried a bite of home fries and regretted not ordering some for me, because they were NOM.
The drive to and from was also a treat. I hope we can get away to Elmer’s again soon for dinner.

This is an update for Friday night dinner.
Friday night dinner has become a staple of my trips home. It is always super delicious. There are always burgers on fresh made buns (ask for the Jerome burger). The rest of the menu varies. But there is always a nice selection of wine and beer. I also might be biased, as Elmer’s is one of my all time favorite places. And I get to hang out with my parents and all our awesome neighbors!