Savor New England comfort food at a cozy cafe in Freeport.
Lucy’s Riverside Cafe, on High Street, serves breakfast and lunch six days a week, with a focus on New England style homemade soups, sandwiches, paninis, desserts and specials.
“Customers love our food and they have said it’s like eating at grandma’s house,” co-owner and chef Pat Mersky says.
Pat and Dan Mersky relocated to Freeport eight years ago from Cape Cod after more than 20 years as proprietors of their former eatery, Osterville Village Cafe.
The couple lived on Cape Cod for more than 30 years.
“We had a cafe there in a small village. Everyone knew us and we knew everyone. We just couldn’t sit around so we reinvented ourselves and opened up Lucy’s here in Freeport,” Dan Mersky says.
Lucy’s opened four years ago at a smaller location a few doors down from their current spot at 512 High St.
“We could only seat 12 there, now we can accommodate 35 people — lots more room,” Pat Mersky says.
Menu items are displayed on chalkboards and the bright blue walls are lined with dozens of historic photos of Freeport.
Lucy’s is decidedly casual — look for Pat to make appearances, visiting with her customers, during her breaks from cooking.
“I feel lucky I can get to know my customers and feed them,” she says.
Lucy’s is within walking distance from the Butler Freeport Community Trail and the boat launch along the Allegheny River.
“We get a lot of boat traffic in the summertime, which is great,” Dan Mersky says.
Pat makes quiche, with a homemade crust, daily.
Popular flavors include veggie and breakfast sausage, potato and cheddar.
Call ahead to order a whole quiche ($24) or enjoy by the slice ($6).
The “taters,” twice cooked hashbrowns, are a customer fave.
“They get crispy the second time cooking and my cousin from Kentucky would always called them ‘taters’ and I thought that was a cute name,” Pat Mersky says.
Customers clamor for Mersky’s occasional lobster specials.
“Several times a year we offer lobster rolls and it’s so popular we actually have a waiting list for people with a standing order,” Pat Mersky says. “I get live, Maine lobsters shipped in. The cold water lobsters are the best — the sweetest.”
Pat says lobster rolls will be featured during the Thanksgiving weekend holiday.
Homemade soups are available by the cup, quart or bowl.
Popular soup flavors include chicken noodle, potato with bacon and cheddar, steak and ale, mushroom with brie and her signature soup: authentic New England clam chowder.
“My customers actually say. ‘There are clams in this,’ ” referring to Pat’s creamy based clam chowder, chockful of clams and loaded with potatoes.
The Merskys say their decision to open up a cafe in Freeport has been rewarding.
“We love the town of Freeport. Everyone’s been so supportive, it’s like having a second family, especially after the death of our son, Army Staff Sgt. John Mersky, who died while serving a year ago.
“Freeport is a hidden gem on the Allegheny River,” Pat Mersky says.
