The Traveler Restaurant

This was our first time here. We found out looking for a spot on the way to MA . I ordered the raven. It was really good. I believe my buddy order the red badge of courage. He said it was really good. This place is so cool. There are books everywhere. Looks like you can purchase different sets of books and it sounds like there were books downstairs as well. We definitely plan to come back when we have some more time so we can explore the place in general and try out different foods. Some of the foods are named after books. The staff was also very friendly.

This is a super cute place right on the northern border of CT. We saw it coming back from Maine one day and added to the list. And recently on outle way back up to Maine we stopped in on the way. Now I think we will make it a regular thing. It's basically a breakfast library,adorable, everyone there was very nice. We sat down and ordered of of there great menu and then got up to walk around and pick out a book. What a great idea. Shortly after our food came out and everything was very good. We would have ordered dessert but it wasn't made in house so we skipped it. Other then that this truly is one of my favorite stops we have ever made and am excited to go back and try other things. We need more places like this.

First visit here, this place is GREAT!!!! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about things. Coffee is yummy. Breakfast was so so yummy too. You get 3 free books too. I had a wonderful time.

Cozy spot on the border of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Restaurant and book shop. We had a delicious meal of New England Clam Chowder, White Fang Burger and Steak Tips. We finished the meal with a Chocolate Lava cake and Black Raspberry milkshake. Burger was perfectly cooked to order with bacon and blue cheese crumble. The steak tips were juicy and well marinated. The Chocolate Lava Cake was rich dark chocolate. The milkshake was thick, creamy and super tasty. We each got a free book with our meal. There is also a downstairs where you can shop for many more second hand books. Definitely stop by here for a meal and a book!

Stopped here on a roadtrip with the kids. Super friendly staff and charming inside. Kind of like a restaurant / library combo! Everyone gets 3 free books to take home. Unique menu. Right off the highway.

While out exploring, we found this little gem. This is a very interesting place to visit. If you come by you have to ask about the books. They are everywhere. We didn't get the reason behind it, but once you order, you can choose 2 books per person for free. They do have some books that cost money, so be sure to clarify which ones are free. The books are somewhat organized into sections, but it's mostly organic in how they are placed. We ended up getting 4 books for the grandbabies. The pretzel was fantastic. I was surprised at how well they did. We love pretzels and get them whenever they are on the menu. I got a burger, and my spouse chose the fish and chips. My burger was very tasty, and the fish and chips were on point as well. Stop in and give them a try of you are near.

Do you like delicious fresh food? Do you also like books? This place is for you. A fine mix of books and food. I had the jalapeno, bacon omelette and it was very good. Great coffee and the side of home fries were also tasty.

I love this place! You can get a meal and after that you can get a free book! Then you can go down the stairs and buy some books! I bought 2 books and got a free book. I recommend it to people who love reading and food.

Great food for the money. At least a full half pound of meat in the burger. Cooked perfectly. Super friendly staff. You get free books with each purchase. Books are donated so when you go consider taking some books. They also have puzzles, shirts and some books for sale. Go and enjoy.

Stopped here for lunch on a recent road trip with my daughter Kira. I ordered the catcher in the rye (a reuben sandwich) and Kira got the mac and cheese and fries from the kids menu. My sandwich was really tasty and just the right size for me, though others may find it on the small side. My daughter enjoyed her food as well, though it was really just kraft mac. Her meal also came with a "chocolate sundae" - really just a tiny prepackaged ice cream cone, which she enjoyed. Our chairs were quite wobbly, perhaps not a furniture issue, but a problem with the uneven tiled floor. The door to the family restroom was stuck and difficult to open. So there's a few minor issues. Of course a big attraction of the restaurant is the books. Apparently each diner can take away three books from the many shelves scattered around the restaurant. Mainly library castoffs, though - nothing crazy. I was a bit bothered that so many of the bookshelves were kind of inconvenient to browse - next to tables filled with other diners, so you felt awkward just sort of standing near them, as well as right at the entrance. But it was cute and fun. Two more things - it was difficult to find information on the menu anywhere online as the restaurant has no actual website. On the other hand, it was very easy to physically locate the restaurant coming off the highway, that was a huge plus for me.

Great place to stop off for breakfast and lunch I ordered the fisherman's platers the only thing they forgot was the coleslaw plus they give you the chose Of three books for free to take home

The family stopped in for dinner tonight, it's always so pretty sitting at the big glass windows at night with snow falling down. It's so peaceful with the wood line lite up. I tried a new dish to me tonight, pesto vegetable chicken pasta. Very yummy, I would order again. Hubby had the spicy chicken & waffle dish. I'm not keen on that combo but did try the chicken and that was delish also. We found a couple of books downstairs and also our 3 free books for each diner. Clean restaurant and bathrooms and out waitress was so kind and attentive. Come to find out she's been there 27 yrs!

I have been to this restaurant before. A long long time ago when I lived "back east". The food was great. I only wanted something light so the clam chowder and a salad. The down side was that we sat there for about 15-20 mins before any wait staff even noticed we were there. But I will say they were pretty busy so it is understandable. The location is easy on/off from the freeway. Inside you walk in and there are books everywhere. Start perusing because you get to take one with your meal! There is a PAID bookstore down stairs

We just enjoyed a nice time at this establishment today June 23, 2024! We ordered Catcher in the Rye and it was perfect in every way!! Very hot, very fresh and tasty! The Raven sandwich was also excellent, hot and delicious. The Cole slaw was surprisingly very good not dry, but wet, cold and so old fashioned good tasting! The French fries were fresh not really seasoned but ketchup salt added flavor and they were decent not greasy. The water was good not tap tasting, but probably filtered? The books were a lot of fun; the downstairs is like a library and organized nicely...some ideas is the steps are a bit steep, so be careful walking down and the light over one of the book areas was out, but overall well lit. The upstairs has books and 3 free for each meal we bought so two of us got 6 books (where can you go that they give away free books!). The only issue is the books should be separate from the dining tables as some tables were next to books and if your looking for a book someone might be eating their meal next to them. So I recommend a complete separate book and dining table area upstairs. We sat in the area with the huge window view which I think is the best spot to be seated. Im not sure about outdoor dining options, but would be nice as well. I HIGHLY recommend the food, the books are fun! It's worth trying and it's a small town atmosphere...I was surprised though how busy they were so it's popular it seems? Have fun go enjoy a book and a great meal! Oh the servers were nice the young lady who served us a friendly smile, offered me ketchup and kept checking to make sure we were enjoying our meal...you won't find a place around these parts like it. So enjoy. 5 stars in my book.

Burgers were great,servers were friendly&helped each other,ambience was relaxed&we got our books! Nice meeting place&an antique shop across the lot:).

Delicious poutine (good for a whole meal). The Raven sandwich was tasty. As was the stuffed cod. Would definitely return.

Spectacularly interesting ambiance! Wonderful staff! Interesting menu items! Clearly caring was a priority during food preparation! Hot items were served piping hot and fresh! Cold items were served ice cold! Generous portions! We enjoy taking 1-3 hour country drives to independent unique places! Worth it, incredibly pleased, and highly recommended! Thanks for the superb service and lovely visit! Bravo!!! Arrived around 1pm on 3/17/24! My guy loved his St Patrick's sandwich! I adored my meal as well. We look forward to trying a more items! We should have gotten a piece of pie to go! As Arnold would say--"We'll be BACK!"

Who knew this is all about Food & Books?!? Yes, there's that unique place called the Traveler's Restaurant, located in this small town in New England. While you enjoy the food, you can browse through shelves of books and then take up to three books at a time for FREE (sorry, upstairs only!). Down there, there's the Book Cellar, which allows customers to browse through another load of shelves worth of books (fee allowed on each & every book bought from downstairs). Want a bit of history?!? Certainly, this restaurant has been around since the early 1970's. This eventually became a popular must-stop destination for travelers in the late 80's once they started selling all kinds of books. The original owner of the restaurant had no room for anymore books in his house. He decided that he would give away as many books he wanted to the hands of travelers at his restaurant. Since then, over several hundreds of thousands of books have been sold here. This restaurant is so iconic it had been featured in Connecticut Magazine, Yankee Magazine, among others. It was recently featured on the Today show on NBC. If you're a traveler looking to venture somewhere between NYC & Boston, it's your opportunity to visit this one-of-the-kind restaurant with a library inside. Bonus: their food was very good (A Badge of Courage burger & french fry poutine). The restaurant here was tremendously good, and in terms of interior, atmospheric. We've been here numerous times over the last several years. We really enjoy their food every time. Will come back soon.

Traveler Food and Books is a bit dated but charming. Our welcoming server explained we could each choose three used books. By the time we found our books the food had arrived. We were seated at a table with a view of the birdfeeders and enjoyed watching and identifying the birds while we ate our breakfast. The Novel Omelet was novel. I couldn't imagine apples and cheddar with eggs, but it was surprisingly delicious, although it didn't have enough cheese. The home fries were lightly seasoned, the way we like them. The blueberry pancakes were fluffy and full of berries, and the homemade apple muffin was delectable. Coffee was bitter. Service was friendly and efficient. We will surely return the next time we're in the area.

Absolutely loved this restaurant!!! Easy to find. Plenty of parking. All the food looked delicious. We went with pancakes, hash, eggs, bacon and toast. My son is not a big eggs fan but he loved them!!! He said its the only place he will eat the eggs again! Everything was delicious! Waitress was friendly and attentive. Ambitions was a book lovers dream. Books everywhere!!! Really great spot to stop!

When you walk in you get the feeling of comfort and charm. Don't come here if you are a yuppie looking to make a video. The staff is polite and the food is good. Prices are just a tad high for what you get but the taste makes up for it. Each guest gets three free books to take with them. My last visit was 35 years ago. Not much has changed. Worth the stop.

Great food great service. My "date" and I both had the prime rib with salad and baked potato. It was delicious.

Was looking for a place to stop for lunch while driving from CT to Maine and saw some reviews from Yelp friends had reviewed this place favorably so we decided to stop. It's a neat little place with lots of books and as other reviewers note, you can get some free books when you order a meal. We were seated and had our orders taken quickly. I got the Book Lover burger, which was decent. The only issue was it took almost 30 minutes to get our food, but once it was served, it was fine. Bathrooms were clean and paying the bill was easy. Service was friendly, just slow. I love any place that is fond of books so I'll err on the generous side and give this place four stars.

My friend and I were coming from New Jersey on our way to New Hampshire so we stopped here. I wasn't sure what that meant when they had books in the title of their restaurant but I was intrigued to see what this meant. When I walked in the restaurant, I saw that it was lined with book shelves filled with books. It looks like a restaurant in a library . It seems like people dropped of books , maybe travelers or local libraries, but we were able to grab three free books with our meal. I grabbed some kids books for my niece. How cute! Now, the food, I got Mac and cheese bites and a slice of pecan pie. I was super hungry so I ate both, however it didn't taste satisfactory. I could see coming here as a stop on your way to somewhere to grab a snack but I wouldn't come here specifically for the food. It just wasn't that good. But it did the job, I was full and ready to get back on the road! The staff was very nice and so overall I enjoyed the experience as a pit stop

Basic American restaurant with a very interesting concept where you get 3 free books with every meal!! The Traveler Restaurant has been in the same spot on the MA & CT border since 1993, so it gets a lot of its visitors from people who are on their way to Boston. The books are all donations, but they also have a bookstore in the basement with both books and puzzles for sale. The space itself is pretty cozy, as there is a pine dining room and a glassed in porch, which provides it with a warm look and feel I got the steak tips to eat and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them! The waitress was very friendly as well 9

Travelers is a very nice place. We all experienced a great dinner meal and quick service. Note that this place is a mini bookstore which gives a cute lil ambiance. 4/5 stars due to the dated dining room section and wide open dining area (no privacy)

Such a cool place! If you love wandering used bookstores and if you love comfort food, this is the place to be. You can even bring home some books from the restaurant section as part of your meal! You can eat those words! Ha! Sorry..... Great place to stop if you are heading to or from Boston area from CT.

Burger was really good; I liked they made well as I requested. The moment you walk in you see books and puzzles. Although became busy soon after I arrived, I was seated and served in no time. I did look around while waiting for burger and found a book. I asked for price and was advised was free with my purchase; what a nice surprise. Loved the atmosphere. My Mom would love this place; too bad she is in Az.

Besides the solidly tasty American food you get up to three free booms with your meal. I thin it three books per table, not sure. There is a pay books store in the basement. So that's the hook and I wasn't expecting much. This place has really good standard restaurant food. The turkey grave is excellent a perfect topping for red bliss mashed potatoes and sliced turkey. My wife says it tastes as good as it did 25 years ago. I had a tasty salad that was big. They have a full bar now and the wine and beer selection was quite standard. I drive past here on I-84 every twelvemonth or so. The staff seems to all bee professional wait staff, our waitress had been there 24 years. Her timing was great as soon as I close my menu she came an took our food order after she had already brought out drinks. Keep my water fill. I definitely will return soon.

While the food and ambiance are both wonderful, the real gem is the books. Each guest is encouraged to take home three free books, and to peruse the wide selection of books as they wait for their meal. It's old-timey, it's fun-- go check it out ASAP.

You wouldn't think it to be much from the outside but this was a very quaint stop and food was very good too. The staff was excellent at making you feel right at home. The menu had much to offer in the way of sandwiches, burgers and dinner specials. Our group of three were very satisfied with our choices and would not hesitate to come back when on our way east.

I'm writing this review from the restaurant. Stopped by for a quick lunch on my way back to Massachusetts. The restaurant is so cute and welcoming! Just lovely. The server was very nice and helpful. We had the onions rings that were served hot and they were good. We both had the Raven sandwich and it was very good!! The chicken was tender and not processed meat!! The French fries were also hot and crispy. We were delighted to see a cardinal right outside our window. I wish I lived closer, this would be my go to for lunches.

Amazing little gem right off of 84. The walls are lined with bookshelves, and every meal comes with free books. My kids had a blast looking for something to take home. Food was great, just enough portion sizes and very satisfying. Absolutely recommend if you're in the area.

What can I say. Great value for money Driving to ct from Boston this popped up as a good place to stop. It did not disappoint. We were greeted immediately and shown to a table. Also greeted by the cutest baby in the next table. Menus given and order taken. Coffee and milk as requested. Coffee was good better than average road stop . Orange juice was included in the breakfast special. I swapped out bacon for turkey alternative. Husband kept it as advertised. Everything arrived hot and lovely. Coffee refills were added. I used the ladies room. Clean with ample supplies of paper soap etc. You can also purchase book bundles as you leave. If this place is slightly out of the way take a meander and try it. You won't regret it

I though restaurants by the road must be bad, but this restaurant surprised me with their quality burgers and sandwiches. The angus beef patty and fries was cooked and seasoned well. The Mahi mahi sandwich was at a great value too given the thickness of the fillet

I recently went here for lunch with a friend of mine. We were looking for a unique dining experience with good food and came across this restaurant online: Traveler Food and Drinks, Union, CT, which was very easy to get to. We found this to be the perfect spot for us. The menu had a good selection of sandwiches, burgers entres and pizza. The environment was unique, and the servers were quite friendly. I ordered the "Maple Bacon Chicken Sandwich," and my friend had the "Raven" (grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, mozzerela cheese on a sub roll). The chicken was very tender and the portion was plentiful. For dessert, we had the pecan almond cake. It was the best cake I've ever had. While dining, we had the opportunity to view the shelves full of used books, autographed pictures of authors that hung on the wall, and racks of new puzzles and logo T-shirts for sale. As a diner, you can choose up to three books to take home for FREE. If you are looking for something to do that will provide a unique and memorable dining experience, I recommend that you take an easy ride to this little "gem."

Simply adorable! You get to pick 3 books with your meal. Wait staff are charming and helpful. Food is basic but good! A real find coming home to MA. It's right off 84

3 Books and a Meal!! When you dine at the Traveler restaurant you are allowed to take 3 books from their library per customer. I love this concept and think it should spread more across the country. The sandwiches are named after authors or book titles. This place gets 5 stars for atmosphere and service. The sandwiches and fries were basic and salty. Not terrible just average quality. Great spot I would go back from returning on a road trip.

This quirky restaurant is a great place to enjoy a tasty meal. The people working there are always quick and knowledgeable, and we've never left disappointed. As a bonus, you can pick a book from their huge selection after your meal.

This is a great stop off the highway. I chose it because I read they gave away books when you eat there- what a great gimmick! The food was good for a roadside diner-style restaurant. I read another review that the tuna melt was the best they ever had, I disagree. It was okay. It was a cold tuna sandwich on toasted bread. The atmosphere is cool and they really do let you browse all of their books and take three with you. Worth the stop for the books.

Have seen this bright yellow roof beckoning from the highway for years. Today we stopped in. Interesting....much more natural and less kitschy then I thought. It's a homey type place, friendly staff. Books everywhere the eye lands! Each customers gets to choose and take 3 books! How nice, everyone left with books! They also sell used books in packs of three, by author for 3.oo. !! We ordered Poutine. It was their version of poutine basically. crispy fries, gravy, melted cheese, bacon, herbs on top. they were good but very salty. my bf had the fried scallop plate and said the scallops were very. very good. I had a burger that I ordered medium. It was well done and therefore dry inside. Its unfortunate cuz otherwise it was tasty. the onion rings were yummy. I'm going for a 4 because of the unique character of the place.

STOP HERE!!!! If You've never been here before you must stop at least once!!! I struggled between 3 or 4 stars because it really is a fun place, but I probably won't ever come back (unless I'm bringing a child or something ‍). I've been traveling past this place that's just off Rt 84 forever. When traveling north on 84, just before you reach the state line with Massachusetts you see this sign from the highway "FOOD and BOOKS". I always said we need to stop there someday. We were in the area and we yelped where to grab a bite to eat and this came up as 6 miles away...so we headed over! We arrived and there was quite a few cars in the lot and I'm guessing a lot of travelers stop here. We went in and there were bookcases all around, lots of books, greeting cards and puzzles everywhere! We were seated by our hostess in a lovely quiet nook with a big window looking out at the highway and a view of most of the dining room. There are authors pictures lining the walls and I was lucky to be seated by one of my favorite inspirational authors (Dr Wayne Dyer). Our waitress informed us that instead of the usual one book free for each customer that there was a special and we could choose 3 free (used) books. Yay! Our meals were brought out in a short time. We ordered a rueben and a hot turkey sandwich (we planned to share). The rueben was delicious with a generous portion of meat and the turkey sandwich was fair (could have used some seasoning), but the mashed potatoes were delicious. Our bill for both meals and a beer came to $30.38. We really weren't looking for any more books so we decided to pick some for the little people in our lives as they had a decent selection of children's books. If you're passing through or never been give it a visit. I'm glad I finally checked them out!

Come for the books, stay for the food! It's hard to find places like this anymore in a world of oversized mega chain eateries seemingly everywhere you look - but, low and behold, unique little joints such as the Traveler do still exist. This place ain't gonna wow you with fancy decor or velvet lined upholstery - but what the traveler does give you is a simple and wholesome old fashion family restaurant with comfort food in hearty portions - that's shouldn't leave you disappointed. I certainly wasn't. Plus the staff was extremely kind. And, if you are dropping in along your travels, it's nice to poke around looking over book titles to stretch your legs while you await your feast. Lastly, the basement has loads of hard to find older edition books you remember on the shelves in your grandparents house that you wish you had kept. I have nothing but glowing things to say about The Traveler.

Great stop! Right off of I-84. Nice location to stretch your legs and decompress for a moment. Wonderful staff. We made it in time for the end of breakfast. I had the special and my husband had a breakfast with corned beef hash. We shared some delicious pancakes. They are very accommodating to travelers with pets. Browse their book selection. Pop across the way and check out the antique/collectible store. We will be looking for this stop again!!

Amazing food.. great staff. We had fun looking at the books. So cool ...3 free books for each diner. So easy to get to. Easy off easy on from highway. Will definitely plan stopping here to eat on every trip. Menu is crazy awesome.

Met my son 1/2 way from Maine and was pleasantly surprised by the quality food and service we enjoyed homemade pumpkin cheesecake that was amazing! The best part was the 3 free books at the end of lunch. . Hope to go back some day!

This is one of very few places that I love to go when I eat out! They don't have fancy decorations, but a lot of books, puzzles, and cards that they sell alone with their food! Their staff are ALWAYS friendly and helpful! As a vegetarian, my favorite meal is their Basil Pesto Pasta! My husband who is very picky about food actually loves everything on their menu! You won't regret it if you get a chance to stop by and eat here! Best French Fries ever!

After a lifetime living a few towns away, we decided to stop by and try out the traveler restaurant. It's like a library and restaurant in one. Diners can each take home 3 books from the upstairs collection, and they also have a downstairs area with more contemporary books at a steal. Three of us got a combination of the coconut shrimp, a sandwich, pasta and a burger - all tasty - nothing extravagant but not a greasy sopping mess. The server was very polite. Another plus was watching all the birds at the birdfeeder outside that included a beautiful pair of cardinals. They had flyers for an upcoming holiday meal special and they also have paper bags full of mystery book gifts that very reasonable prices. Glad we stopped by!

Everything was great. The service, the food, and the ambience of books made it even more unique. The fact you could take a few used books has made it unforgettable for us!

Right off the highway.. good food, new and used books. Read a used book while you are waiting for your food and if you see a book you like, you can take it home with you.

A book lover's perfect stop along I-84 on the Massachusetts Connecticut border. Three free books with your meal! And the book selection is good and current. Picked up books we wanted anyways, including hardbacks. And the service is friendly and the food good. Had the Mark Twain burger and a turkey sandwich. The turkey sandwich a bit unremarkable, the Mark Twain burger was delicious, though they do tend towards overcooking. My cooked medium order was pretty much a well done burger, but delicious nonetheless.

We love this local spot! The food never disappoints, huge portions, the drinks are tasty, the wait staff is attentive and friendly, and *all the books!!* It reminds me of a small-town library from the 80s. It's a great atmosphere when it is not filled with families (which is no fault of the restaurant, parents just need to be respectful of others and step outside with their screaming child). I totally recommend the maple chicken bacon sandwich and the husband raved about their poutine!

Stopped here on a whim mostly because I hadn't had anything to eat since 8am so I was starving. I've honestly never seen books inside a restaurant but it's a cool concept. U eat then get to choose 3 books to take with u. My chicken parm was ok nothing great but it was ok. The best part for me was the toast ‍. Oh well it filled me up & that's all I wanted. The service was great and I was in and out in under an hour. I would stop again if I was coming through here and try a burger or even the fisherman's platter

Saw the big yellow "Books & Food" sign as I drove past, and had to go to the next exit to turn back. I mean books & food? That said, and even taking into consideration the fact that the menu literally says you can take 3 FREE BOOKS, The Traveler makes one of the best cheeseburgers I've had in a really long time (and for those for you who love a good burger, you know how many of them can be really disappointing) Couple that with the fact that they have a book store in their basement, menu items named for literary figures, and an extremely gregarious front of house staff, and you've got a combination that can't be beat. Oh yeah, there's even an antique store adjacent to the restaurant, but I think they're only open Wednesday to Sunday. It's not quite like stopping at "South of the Border," but as a bibliophile who loves a good burger, I'll take it.

Great stop! Wonderful food. Fast service! And free books?? Neat little stop on our way to Boston! He had the classic tuna. I had the Catcher in the Rye! He also had the clam chowder. Delicious!!

This place is such a hidden gem! My parents used to take me here when we were kids & I vividly remember thinking it was SO cool that I could pick whatever book I wanted FOR FREE!! Now, we take our own children here for a great easy style (usually order sandwiches, burgers etc) meal and the vibe is just so cute! Tons of books for sale, and every kid gets 2 free books with their meal. Right on the CT/MA border, Easy access right off of rt 84. Don't sleep on this place! Support local business

We are there a could of days ago, seafood oit was great. I called tonight to get burgers to go because we are traveling. When listing the ingredients we wanted on our burgers the person on the phone said... What do you think this is McDonalds? I replied with..I can certainly order somewhere else. W bougt the burgers but come on, we're traveling...

This is a pretty cool place! Free books distributed all around the restaurant. They offered us three free ones each. I didn't get any as none struck my fancy, but husband got a couple. My salad was very good - blue cheese with walnuts and dried cranberries. I love that they encourage reading at the table! Sometimes I feel like we look too antisocial reading while eating. But it's what my husband and I like to do when eating out. I brought my kindle, and was wrapped up enough in the book I was reading on there to not feel too inclined to wander. There's a book basement with books for purchase. Also mystery book bags. And a neat antique shop across the parking lot (not affiliated as far as I can tell). Will go back.