The New PTOWN Cafe is Now Open, Right Next to Town Hall

PTOWN Cafe offered tastes of their savory sandwiches, organic
coffee and sweet treats like Lisa's killer chocolate chip brownie.

Lisa Bergeron had managed and cooked in Boston restaurants for about 25 years before landing in Provincetown. This spring she's started her own restaurant at 258 Commercial Street, next to Town Hall. I stopped in for PTOWN Cafe's opening and knew I'd have to return when I tasted the herbed, roasted pork tenderloin served with a rosemary aioli. Lisa told me it was going to be featured in a new sandwich, and I was eager to try it once they got their full menu up and running. I had to stop in a couple of times to taste this sandwich. It was sold out each time I tried.
Opening night also brought us fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato on a crusty baguette, along with pastries, cookies and other sweet treats. I tried the red velvet cupcakes, and a woman standing next to me said she thought the fresh cannoli were the best she'd ever tasted. My favorite sweet was the absolutely perfect chocolate chip brownies. They went very well with the rich, full-flavored, organic coffee served by PTOWN Cafe. Their coffee goes a step farther than the Fair Trade companies (which give a group of small coffee farmers in developing countries a better price for their beans) by using the Direct Trade model, which cuts out brokers and middlemen altogether, putting more money directly into the hands of the farmers.

PTOWN Cafe's ham and cheese dresses up the traditional a bit.

For lunch the other day I got their ham and cheese sandwich, which was a nice variation from the old standard. This one was made with Black Forest Ham, asiago cheese, leafy green lettuce and a dijonaise dressing on an airy, freshly baked croissant. Very tasty and not too heavy. Just right.
During the hot weather we had a couple of days ago I tried their iced coffee, which is cold-brewed to eliminate any bitter flavor. You can taste the difference. I also sampled the coffee cake, fresh from the oven, not too sweet, and again, just right. Today I noticed the blackboard out front listed a breakfast panini sandwich, so now I know where I'll be headed for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Service is quick and friendly. You'll be on your way again in no time with food to go, or you can relax at a table indoors or out, or carry your order just a few steps to the benches in front of Town Hall for a little people watching. We wish Lisa good luck in the first season in her new restaurant, and many more seasons to come.