Arethusa a mano

Obviously the Arethusa name is known for their ice cream and their eggnog is an annual must! My husband had a haircut in the area and the barber recommended them when he mentioned getting donuts. $54 for 10 donuts and a chocolate crossaint. Which is fine we will gladly spend silly money on fire donuts. These however were not fire. It’s like they were hyper-focused on artisanal flair while completely missing the mark with the basics. The “glazed” was not a yeast donut. It was cake like consistency but also… savory? The cruller was the best one but was less crispy and more wet. The filling on the Bantam Cream (their version of Boston Cream) was delicious. Which isn’t surprising because it’s cream and that’s their wheelhouse. But the taste, texture and consistency was like a dinner roll. The jelly fillings were pure and preserve like, but not a preserve you want an inch thick of in a donut. Chocolate glazed was very bitter and had burnt undertones. The cook was inconsistent on most of them, many leaning toward the raw side. Overall more of a 1/5 but given that they aren’t known for their donuts and we didn’t try anything else feel that a 1 isn’t appropriate. Would have been happier with spending $10 at DD and that’s wild because IMO those aren’t real donuts. Really disappointed given it came from the Arethusa brand.

Really clean and good food ..decent prices...many empanadas to choose from. The breakfast was perfectly cooked. Many gr8 things to take away...on our list.

I see a lot of posts about price so let me just say... this place is well worth it. You are paying a little bit more than say Strbks or Panera for FRESH, home made, quality, locally sourced ingredients from farms not factories. That being said, the food is amazing, unique and delicious. Had a couple of donuts, a cruffin and a sandwich and 2 coffees. It was about $40. You cant go wrong with this place. I love it here. Set in a remote part of CT with a restaurant and dairy store across the street that meets the same quality standards.

There needs to be a rating for "Value" because even though the food and coffee were delicious, it was very expensive. The wife and I each had a 2 egg, with cheese and bacon on a brioche bun which ran into $15 range. With one large coffee and a cold latte, plus 20% tip we spent over $40. The workers deserved the tip, because they are friendly, courteous and work quickly to get your order prepared. Everything is made to order. They have award winning phenomenal cheeses on their sandwiches. The place was clean and well kept. The restrooms were clean. Parking was tight, but I was able to grab the Compact Car Only spot up front. Our friends had to park across the street up the side street. It is very difficult not to give the entire experience 5 stars because that which I can rate above was all 5 stars. This a great place to either say you "experienced" or go every few weeks if you are budget conscience. I will be returning. I would like to try their bagels or other breads with a sandwich and pastries. I give the Value 4-4.5 Stars.

Perhaps my expectations were too high. We drove over an hour to get to the restaurant. The place is lovely and the food was great but there are comparable eateries that are closer to us. They use Stumptown coffee which I love and my iced latte was great.

Food is good. We ordered their breakfast sandwiches and a bunch of pastries. I had better sandwiches in CT but Arethusa cheese is really outstanding (as expected). Vibe of the place could be much better though

If you're looking for a reasonably priced big sandwich this isn't the place. However, I have to say that although they got half our order wrong and the sandwich was on the small side it tasted fairly amazing. The ingredients tasted fresh and healthy. The staff was friendly and efficient.

My wife and I stopped here on our way home. It’s located on route 202 in Bantam. Parking lot on the side. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and positive attitude of the employees. Lots of delicious selections of sandwiches, bakery items, and drinks. You can taste the difference in the items that come from there farm. We got an almond croissant which was a nice starter while waiting for our sandwiches. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on a brioche roll. Very delicious. The eggs were from their farm and the cheese was made across the street at their dairy. It was very filling. I had a bite of my wife’s which was ham instead of bacon. It was just as tasty as mine. Just be prepared to spend a little more than at a regular deli. I know you get what you pay for with the high quality of ingredients. However, in the end it’s still an egg sandwich.

A bit expensive for what you get IMO, but a fantastic breakfast sandwich and cup of coffee! I love the vibe as well!

The roast beef sandwich, oh my gosh! Best I've ever had. From the farm-fresh divine Camembert cheese, caramelized onions, delicious roast beef, horseradish sour cream, an onion roll - it was unreal. Every bite. Would drive an hour up here just for this. 5 stars!!!!

While Arethusa is most well known for their dairy products, their baked goods are an unexpected treat. Two standouts are the coconut donuts, which have a perfectly crisp outer layer and a soft brioche-like inside, and the pretzel, which is perfectly salted and better than many pretzels I've had, even in Germany. The service has always been prompt and friendly. Although the lot fills quickly, we've not had trouble getting some really nice items at this time of year on Sundays around midday. On a nice morning, you can sit out on the patio or across the street on the benches by the farm dairy, and there are lots of seats inside.

Excellent cafe with high quality coffee and pastries! We stopped in for breakfast and picked up a few doughnuts and cruffins, along with cold brew coffee. Love that they use vahlrona chocolate. A little pricey but great flavors.

Spectacular and upscale food, cafe and dairy in Batam CT. A taste of the upper west side and the world in Litchfield CT. Large portions, outstanding food and friendly staff.

ORIGIN: The cafe is one of several Bantam-based offshoots associated with Arethusa Dairy Farm in Litchfield. LOCATION: Arethusa A Mano is located on the main thoroughfare that crosses Bantam. At times the parking lot is crowded, but parking behind Arethusa Dairy across the street is a good alternative. FOOD and BEVERAGES: The cafe serves sandwiches and baked goods that are not commonly found in this area. For example, cronuts -- a flaky cross between a donut and croissant can be found in the pastry case. Likewise, beverages with unique flavors, such as gingerbread latte are prepared and served. AMBIANCE: Beside the order counter and display case are many cafe tables. The white panel walls are fitted with photos from the farm associated with the cafe. Large windows wrap across two sides, allowing a sun-filled dining area.

Stopped by Arethusa A Mano bakery on the way out of town after visiting the famous Arethusa al Tavolo restaurant for a meal. I love this tri-fecta of high quality farm to table businesses in Bantam. Ordered two seasonal lattes....peppermint and pumpkin spice along with two egg nog cream filled doughnuts. Everything was delicious. Thanks!

The "worst" part of Arethusa a Mano is parking - the lot is kind of small, and even though Arethusa is slowly taking over Bantam (for the better, IMHO), parking can be a struggle. The inside is very modern and streamlined in design, accented with a lot of cow paintings. They have a display case for baked goods, a sign announcing the quiche of the day, and rolls/bagels on display behind the registers. I had the Vanderpoel panini, which tasted very fresh (turkey) and crispy from the press. It came with grapes as a side, which was a refreshing surprise. The restrooms were very clean, and the employees were very busy but friendly and answered questions about their product availability.

The pastries at Arethusa A Mano are visually and texturally superb. The flavors are perfection. The inside is clean and sleek. There is plenty of seating and the large windows let in the sunlight which adds to the cheerful atmosphere. The parking lot is small which makes it a bit challenging to park and to leave. All in all I give this spot a ten out of ten or 5 s. P.S. if you are GF a must try is their financier. It's like biting into a pillowy almond puff. Enjoy!

I'm a huge fan of Arethusa's ice cream shop in New Haven so of course I had to make the trip to A Mano! The cafe was busy on a Saturday early afternoon - the attached parking lot was full and we parked in the lot behind the ice cream shop across the street. When our group of four arrived, all the tables were occupied, and we ended up huddling around the corner of a standing table for our first few bites. I ordered the egg and cheese on an everything bagel. The cashier asked how I would like the eggs (over easy, medium, or well) - I asked for medium but the eggs turned out runnier than I would've liked. I also had a matcha rose latte - the matcha was delicious and the rose flavor was not overbearing. Overall a solid cafe for brunch - the dairy products (cheese, creams, butters) are definitely the highlights. I'd love to make the trek again to try a grilled cheese and some of the baked goods. The space is also lovely but I think it would be great if there were few more tables especially at peak hours!

Ordered an egg, cheese and bacon sandwich on a brioche roll, corn & blueberry muffin, eggnog coffee (a seasonal specialty) and Scarlet Glow hibiscus and lemongrass herbal tea. The blueberry muffin was delicious and packed with blueberries. Perhaps, the best blueberry muffin we've ever had. Egg sandwich was well prepared and very good. The coffee and tea were ok, but will not reorder. Service was excellent ... knowledgeable and friendly. The space is nice and kept clean. Overall, a very positive culinary experience. Will try other beverage options next time. Glad to have found it.

Vacationing up this way and stopped in for a coffee and bagel! I ordered the cheese bagel with scallion cream cheese and an iced coffee. Hit the spot! Bagel was fresh, and coffee was good! Nice little place, quick and friendly service.

good sandwiches and salads, excellent staff. great place before ice cream across the street.

A few years ago I would have happily given this a 5 star review but as time has gone on, things have not gotten better or stayed the same. The cleanliness is great, the staff are pretty friendly, the quality of the food is very good. We've been a few times in the past year. Each time something is not made correctly and has to be corrected. The base price for an egg and cheese sandwich on a tiny english muffin is $9, if you want bacon it's another $3, so $12 for a egg, cheese and bacon on an english muffin. We just spent $31 for a croissant, two lattes (one med, one lrg) and the egg sandwich. Which then got served on paper plates. Ok so it's breakfast, maybe the paper plates can be excused. But we've been here for lunch ordering salads and one of the paninis. Again on paper plates and quite small in comparison to the price tags. The final nail in the coffin for the experience today was the internet not working.

My wife and I stopped here on our way home. It's located on route 202 in Bantam. Parking lot on the side. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and positive attitude of the employees. Lots of delicious selections of sandwiches, bakery items, and drinks. You can taste the difference in the items that come from there farm. We got an almond croissant which was a nice starter while waiting for our sandwiches. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on a brioche roll. Very delicious. The eggs were from their farm and the cheese was made across the street at their dairy. It was very filling. I had a bite of my wife's which was ham instead of bacon. It was just as tasty as mine. Just be prepared to spend a little more than at a regular deli. I know you get what you pay for with the high quality of ingredients. However, in the end it's still an egg sandwich.

I've been to Arethusa a Mano (the coffee shop Arethusa) in Bantam a few times, most recently last weekend. I ordered a small black Cold Brew made with a Stumptown blend. It was above average, but not on par with the best CT coffee shops in terms of iced coffee quality. It also seemed like they had fewer specialty coffee beverages than some of the best CT spots. The food is good to great in my experience. My brioche muffin shaped pastry with a cheese Danish type filling from this visit was delicious. It was fresh and had great texture. In terms of atmosphere, you won't find a much more attractive building inside and out. Outside, you'll see new red bricks, white accents and cool signs. Inside, the high wood paneled ceiling crescendos to a point, and decorative stainless steel pipes and counters, white wood shelves, white walls and panels and other decorations are also featured. It's a cool place to hang out. The surrounding area gets top grades for cuteness as well. Since I'm weighting the coffee most heavily, I'm rating Arethusa a Mano 4 Stars, but it would be a bit higher if I could rate in .25 Star increments. Arethusa Ice cream across the street is 5 Stars all the way though.

10000000% recommend visiting Arethusa A Mano, it is absolutely my favorite place whenever we visit CT! The food is 10/10 and will knock your socks off, mostly because the pricing is outrageously expensive! Though, quality is *chefs kiss* Can you tell the owners are NYers? Lawls. The people behind the counter are typically nice. I love the overall aesthetic, the cows hanging on the walls and the very high ceilings . Cant wait to come back to Arethusa!

It was very clean inside. The employees were sanitizing and wiping down each table as it became vacant. The Vanderpoel panini was crispy, tart and savory. The creamy cheese in it was melting out. It made for a great IG picture if I didn't devour it right away. The croissant was so buttery! At one point I thought I bit into a piece of butter. It was really fluffy and I loved it! The caramel latte was surprisingly not too sweet and was creamy because of their amazing milk! Also, I usually don't add milk to my coffee. I did here because I heard their diary products are made from award winning cows. So I ask for milk with my coffee and it created such a nice depth of flavor.

Took lunch to go from Arethusa a Mano to enjoy a crisp fall afternoon. All of their menu offerings tastefully highlighted their award winning cheeses and fresh breads. Kale Caesar salad was loaded with cheese and topped with fresh radishes and tomatoes. Loved loved loved the hot white chocolate latte. We split the Cuban and vanderpoel sandwiches... the pretzel bun served with the Cuban was delicious. We loved the Camembert cheese in the vanderpoel. A little pricey, but not much compared to going out to lunch anywhere else. Can't beat being able to walk across the street for ice cream after.

We were so excited to try this cafe after being huge enthusiasts for Arethusa's ice cream! Unfortunately we were underwhelmed. For typical high Arethusa prices, we got a very average panini (The Vanderpoel) and very average salad (the Bistro salad) served on paper plates with plastic cutlery. It felt and tasted cheap which was the exact opposite of what we expected given the decadence of Arethusa's dairy products. It was also disappointing that all of their cutlery is paper/plastic and not even composted. On the other hand, our vanilla latte was delicious. On our way out we got two bagels and a cookie to have at home... for $10. Yikes Overall, meh. We won't be back.

So good and such a nice stop. Truly a "treat yourself" cafe that is perfect for savory AND sweet lovers. It is very seldom you see such a high end, café and bakery, and does not lean in excessively with the sweets, but they offer a full line of delicious sandwiches that are made, cured, raised, crafted in house. Most sandwiches are around the $15 range which is, totally worth it for the quality, flavor, just perfect balance and ratio of ingredients. The Vanderpoel is the best use of Camembert cheese with organic turkey bacon, and on the most perfectly toasted and airy bread. It's a good portion, but you will feel like you want to eat five of them. There's plenty of space to eat inside or I would also recommend taking for a walk at White Memorial, and having a picnic. For the sweets, I would recommend the nutty caramel bar and the praline.

$9.35 for a coffee you can get for half the price anywhere in Manhattan or Litchfield County (or Paris) is a little bonkers. And the hyperactive overroasted Stumptown coffee they use made me throw the entire thing in the trash after one sip. Antiquated place. Sorry, disappointed.

The most delicious ice cream! I've been coming here for years and it's a fun place to bring out of town guests.

Today I tried the tuna on a bagel....a little spicy for me as I like my tuna as plain as can be but I still pushed through to finish the job my mom couldn't 5 stars!

I personally love the Arethusa triad of offerings in Bantam. They all offer different items and all are impeccably crafted. Not on the cheaper end, but well worth it and they never disappoint! The macarons are always fresh and flavorful. Eggnog is our personal family favorite and we come up every year at Christmas time for our eggnog macrons and beautiful Buche de Noel for Christmas Eve dinner. Today's donuts were lemon cream and Bantam cream, those little round chocolate spheres on top are light and crunchy, a delicious and unique addition to a classic donut. I may have snuck a fig macaron in my order too, couldn't resist! They also have break's sandwich and lunch. This is my go to for something sweet though.

You know me, I can never say no to a bagel especially an everything bagel sammie! Arethusa a mano in Bantam, CT is the perfect spot to get a coffee and a bagel, and that's just what I did on my day off Arethusa a mano is located in the Arethusa Triangle along with Arethusa Farm Dairy and Arethusa al tavolo, so you could spend all day in this area and stop at each one throughout your visit! The farm in Litchfield behind the storefronts started off with local dairy deliveries back in the 1800's and took off in the 90's with a change of ownership Since then, they've expanded to New Haven, West Hartford and beyond, and won tons of awards along the way. And if you've visited any of their locations, you can tell why! It's a true farm-to-table experience right from our home state

I've always loved Arethusa because the quality is top notch. I will drive hours for their donuts (in the box pictured), but I had never had their breakfast sandwich. We decided to drive up for donuts, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee, and it was well worth it. We ordered ahead and they had limited indoor seating that we were able to snag. The breakfast sandwich was everything you want it to be. The bread was delicious and fluffy and slightly sweet, while the arethusa homemade cheese oozed out perfectly. The bacon was crispy and the egg was nicely cooked, though if I'm being honest I would have liked more bacon. All in all, very solid and would do it again!

The food was absolutely delicious, the staff welcoming, but good heavens, somebody needs to get in there and do a proper clean. Honestly, it was so grubby we will not return. What a shame!

If you are driving up or down Bantam Road (Route 202) in the center of Bantam, be prepared for a whole lot of commotion, people, and vehicles at the Arethusa complex of businesses. There are three establishments under the Arethusa umbrella- a full service restaurant, a coffee bar/bakery/sandwich shop, and an ice cream shop/dairy store. We had lunch at the coffee bar/bakery/sandwich shop yesterday, known as Arethusa a Mano. They are open every day except Tuesday from 7 Am to 4 PM. Their food and drink line-up include breakfast sandwiches, bagels, croissants, muffins, bagels, yogurt parfaits, pastries, cookies, paninis, salads, sandwiches, and enough coffee choices to make your barista weep with joy. We ordered two bagel sandwiches for lunch -egg salad ($10) and curried chicken salad ($11). No sides were included except a small bunch of grapes, so they cost $2 or $3 more than what we are accustomed to. My chicken salad was pretty good. Lots of big chunks of very tender shredded chicken with raisins and all sorts of crunchies to give it texture. The Everything bagel was excellent, the serving size was generous, and the curry undertone to the chicken was very good. But was it equal to $11 worth of goodness without chips and cole slaw or a scoop of potato salad? You decide for yourself, I wasn't convinced that it was. On the other hand, if you're driving through Bantam and are in the mood for a nice breakfast or lunch, you'll enjoy your visit to a very pleasant place with a very pleasant staff and some pretty good food.

Got takeout for our anniversary. Everything was delicious from the pretzel bread with fresh. Utter to the main course and beignets. Got there if you want a fancy meal.

I had a matcha latte. It was good. Matcha was of good quality. Macaroons were excellent. Orange cranberry was the best. Cherry almond was good too. Muffins here was really good as well. Croissant muffin was airy and slightly crunchy. Pear hazelnut muffin was also good.

Excellent ice cream-- had the rum raisin and the eggnog, both were rich, creamy, and delicious. Also picked up their Karlie's Gratitude bloomy rind cheese, which was OUTSTANDING. Lovely shop, lovely area, lovely service. Thank you, Arethusa, you know what's up

Rude customers and overpriced menu. For one, I don't enjoy Karen's and Ken's. If you like them go there and spend $20 on a coffee and bagel. FTP

Beautiful interior- top notch equipment- fresh dairy- staff that doesn't go out of their way to wow you- Great looking sweets that just don't taste right-- everything just seems off/ not quite the way it should taste .

What a neat coffee/bake shop. We stopped in after having a lunch across the street and was very pleased with our dessert. The decor is pretty simple and clean but it works! The baked goods are all displayed as you wait in line. Gets the juices flowing as you wait. I had the hazelnut apple coffee cake with a shot of espresso. The coffee cake was so fresh and tasty. Unfortunately I was not to pleased with the espresso. Not sure what was wrong with it , but it just did not go down right. They also offer several types of paninis which seemed to look pretty good. Maybe next time.

It was delicious! Nice ambience, great options. Fresh ingredients Abs freshly prepared food.

I absolutely love this little spot-great customer service, plenty of seating, always super clean & inviting with really yummy treats! They have a long list of hot & cold beverages all made to order in addition to their food & dessert menu. I was a bit taken a back by their lack of hot tea selection. The brand they use is phenomenal and I do it love as I can't find another location in CT that carries it but to only have a handful of flavors in the fall/winter months was a bit miss for me. Now the mini brioche donut-holy moly you better run as I've never had another so delicious just melt in my mouth!

My go to coffee spot for over a year now. Baked goods are delicious, coffee is always consistent & the syrups are house made

Quick service, quality food, clean and sophisticated atmosphere! It's a must try if you are in the neighborhood.

Best lunch spot!! The curry chicken salad on greens was so fresh and delicious. I'm craving it as I write this review. The macaroons and the cranberry almond cookie were divine!! Highly recommend this spot for lunch!

Really great lox bagel and paninis. Fresh ingredients and good service to match. Definitely opt for the pretzel roll for the panini.

The cases were sparse and very very limited. Staff buzzing around but not sure as to why as there were only 4 of us. Vaulted ceiling with the reoccurring modern farm house theme. Limited retail. Purchased a cruller which was oddly eggy?? We did not enjoy that. A surprising selection of Portland's own Stumptown coffee of which we bought two pricy packages. May give it another try should we be in the area.

Came here to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch on a Sunday. It's right across the street from the Arethusa restaurant and the ice cream shop. This is definitely the one to go to if you're looking for quick breakfast or lunch options. They're following all the covid guidelines and had some outdoor seating that was spaced apart. I got a coffee and their Reuben which was delicious. They did have very limited options for gluten free. When we asked the cashier said they had no options and didn't even try to come up with something when a salad would actually be GF. Was also really surprised that they didn't have any gluten free bread. So the gluten free family member ended up just getting a salad which wasn't super impressive. For how much the salad was $$ it didn't have very many toppings and just came with a small side of grapes. I think it would be advantageous of them to have at least some GF options or maybe make their salads a little more exciting. I'll definitely be back to try the pastries and have more coffee and hopefully will then be able to update my review and increase the rating!

The Arethusa brand is what keeps this place in business because it is not the atmosphere, the service, the food/coffee or value for cost. The service is hit or miss but there is a aurora of malaise to those who work there. They get quite bored when asked how to use the point of sale iPad etc. overall not interested in the customer experience. The selection of the bakery goods is limited. The ones that are there look like they are from the land of misfit macaroons. The display does not reflect a pride in the products. The coffee has no legs to it, it might as well be a cup of Folgers. Forget the iced coffee. I ordered a iced Americano today and it was a tepid and watery concoction. I threw into the trash after few sips. The interior looks like a worn down and dated West Elm show room. Tables feel sticky. The area to add what you like to your coffee is just awkward, and 50% of the time the milk/creamer is empty. The parking is ridiculous. You might want to put your insurance company on hold because there is a high probability for a fender bender. For an overall better experience I recommend Espresso 59 on the green in Litchfield... you will not be disappointed.

This is the place to go for a Sunday drive breakfast. It's int the middle of nowhere but it's worth it. If I'm not mistaken, the majority of what they make comes right from their own farm and EVERYTHING is delicious. I'll have to try their creamery and restaurant next.

Awesome place for coffee and breakfast with friends. Love to meet here on a weekend for a casual brunch. Only issue is the prices. Location is beautiful (inside), limited seating and it is on a busy road. Parking lot can be a challenge on a Sunday morning. Great coffee and baked goods!

My morning stop. Fabulous staff, wonderful food and coffees. Love their curried chicken salad on a croissant. A must try is the Bantam crème donut.

I had an outstanding roast beef sandwich with their Camembert cheese while my friend had their lentil soup. Their food is incredible--their cheeses are freshly produced at their neighboring farm and this cafe is also an outstanding little bakery. I also had a cappuccino and it was strong and made with care. The spot is cozy and the staff is friendly.

Arethusa Farms are a well-known staple to any Litchfielder and their dairy is hands down, the best. The adage of happy cows from California is only true if they've never met these beautifully glossy pampered calves! Their dairy and gentleman's farmyard chic comes into play at this beautiful coffee shop, surrounded by their gourmet farm-to-table restaurant and ice cream parlor across the way. I had an amazing pumpkin spice latte with homemade whip cream that left all others in the dust, and my cousin's pumpkin tarlette was incredibly smooth and creamy. The salads and sandwiches I also saw on the menu looked equally luscious. New York foodies, take note: brunch doesn't have to come from Dunkin if you're close to Arethusa. This spot also has wifi and looks to be a common laptop spot if you're a digital nomad, as well. The only sorrow: they close at 4pm!