IN THE KITCHEN Samantha Prescott knew people in Hopkinton were anticipating the opening of her restaurant in late May, because they kept on asking her the date. The Spoon is a reboot of The Golden Spoon, which left a void in Hopkinton when it closed in March 2015 to make way for a new development. The Spoon has a new location, a rehabbed menu, and some of the same characters, including Prescott, who got her first job at the original restaurant when she was 14, scooping ice cream. She’s now a co-owner, with Bill Morgan. Since reopening, the restaurant has welcomed back many of its regular patrons, who missed the familiar banter with staff and homey menu. “We’re just so happy to see all the old faces that we used to see again, and some new faces,’’ Prescott said.
THE LOCALE The restaurant is at 1 Lumber St., in a new commercial development almost directly across the street from its original site. The interior is light-filled and a departure from the vintage colonial setting that patrons might remember from the original location. The interior features a mix of comfortable booths and tables, as well as counter seating with retro stools. The kitchen is semi-open to the dining area. Guests can watch the employees working through an extra-large window. Prescott said she did this by design, wanting customers seated at the counter to be able to talk to the kitchen crew. The decor is vintage Hopkinton, featuring original black-and-white photos that once hung in the former Colella’s Supermarket.
ON THE MENU It can be difficult to choose here, because the options are many. Breakfast is served all day, and the lunch menu is ample. Prescott pared some things from the redesigned menu, specifically the fried clams and other seafood dishes. (These are now offered as occasional specials.) In their place, she added some healthier options, such as salmon in unexpected places, such as a salmon omelette. “I tried to incorporate it more throughout the menu,’’ Prescott said.
I came in solo for a late Sunday brunch in June and started with one of my favorites, grilled cornbread ($3). The Spoon version is real cornbread, served as a slab and charred just a bit. Not too sweet or cake-y, and perfect as a warmup. I chose the chicken Cobb wrap ($8.75) for my main meal, which had plenty of chicken, avocado and egg, and a little light on the blue cheese crumblies. I took the spinach and berry salad ($8) to go, and found it had fresh strawberries, blueberries, and a sweet vinaigrette dressing. Prescott said customer favorites include the breakfast sandwiches, like the Jebbit ($7), a savory combo that includes jalapeño peppers, bacon, onion and chorizo sausage on an everything bagel. The options for eggs Benedict are also popular, she said. The restaurant features six varieties, including the salmon Benedict ($8.99) which is newly introduced, and features two poached eggs over smoked salmon, with tomatoes and capers.
The Spoon is open for breakfast and lunch, as well as Friday night dinners. It has ample free parking and is accessible to the handicapped.
The Spoon, 1 Lumber St., Hopkinton, 774-803-7125, thespoondiner.com.
Mary MacDonald can be reached at maryfmacdonald3@gmail.com.
