With a front sign bearing elegantly printed golden letters set against a brick and stone storefront, you could be forgiven for thinking the Trident building was once a set piece in Diagon Alley. Whatever it might look like, the shop is very much a staple of Newbury Street’s business community. Trident Booksellers & Cafe provides its customers with a rare combination of services: the shop, located at the end of Newbury Street, draws praise for its food as much as its literature. It’s meant to be a space for those whose passions intersect at the lines of reading and eating – a decently sized group of people, as it so happens.
The store’s interior is just as comfortable as the outside suggests, with stacks of books piled decoratively to the ceiling, photographs and paintings adorning the walls, and comfortable seats — something that we all can agree is important in any restaurant. Most of those seats were filled when I came in, and they had quite a lot of customers for the duration of my meal, but their turnover time was pretty quick. I found out that they have a second deck of seating after I’d eaten, which wasn’t nearly as full, and they also offer outdoor seating when the weather is nice. But don’t let the homey decor and bustling bookshop next to the seats deceive you; Trident is most certainly a modern cafe, and their contactless ordering system speaks to it. Their menu was easy to find through a QR code clipped onto the table basket, and split up into neat sections that made it a snap to find what I wanted.
Trident does breakfast all day and serves lunch items like soups, sandwiches, and burgers alongside the eggs and pancakes. My food came in a fair 10 to 15 minutes – pretty quick considering the packed cafe. My impressions of the cafe, with the friendly chatter of all the customers and guests surrounding me and the politeness of the staff as they gave me my drinks, were already glowing. And all of that even before the food!
Anyone who’s been to Trident will attest to their eggs being incredible in any form. The meal I had (the Scrambled Egg Special) came just as a late (or second) breakfast should: warm, well-presented, and positively toothsome. And it all came out to just under $20, with a tip included. I was in and out in well under an hour and back on my way down the street.
Trident shines as one of the best cafes in Newbury. With a cozy and refined feel, hearty food, and an atmosphere of rustling paper and warm chatter, it really can’t be beat. It’s a neat place to stop by if you happen to be out shopping, while remaining a great sit-down restaurant. Whether you’re chasing wisdom or an egg sandwich, no matter if you’re thirsty for knowledge or coffee, Trident is a fine choice for the reader and eater.
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