Restaurant Review: Hatch 44 Cafe
Hatch 44 Cafe (or Hatch44) in Metuchen, NJ is a whole vibe. Formerly on Durham Ave, this quaint cafe moved to Downtown Metuchen into a space that’s almost triple its original size. Despite scaling up, the restaurant managed to get even more charming with no details spared. From mini dried table bouquets to high windows lined with live greenery to a beautiful blend of wood and turquoise accents – Hatch 44 is the perfect brunch spot.
I started with my usual coffee choice and the latte art immediately put a smile on my face. Not only was the latte delicious, I loved the colorful cup and asymmetrical saucer combo.
I was in between entree choices, but decided on the Scallop to My Benny. I feel like you can’t go wrong with an egg benedict. It always offers the right layered balance of carbs, meat, and runny, eggy goodness – all doused in the creamiest sauce.
My coffee wasn’t the only work of art – check out my dish! Homemade biscuits, topped with soft-scrambled eggs, bacon, and delicately seared scallops hidden underneath their hollandaise sauce. It was so filling that I saved half to enjoy for another day. The mixture of textures, along with the savory bacon against the sweetness of the scallops was super refreshing for an early morning. The only thing I would change, as a personal choice, would be to swap out the biscuit with another crunchy/crispy element like tots, hash brown, or potato pancakes. I found the biscuit slightly harder and drier than I typically like, but again, that’s just a subjective taste.
Luis stayed with a classic staple: the Farmer’s Platter. Typically known as the basic egg + meat + homefries dish at any diner, Hatch 44 definitely elevates theirs. He chose sausage links and had melted cheese over his scrambled eggs. Such a delicious sight.
We missed National Empanada Day by a day, but that didn’t matter. We chose to try their cheese empanada which was oh-so-good! Probably one of the best I’ve ever had. The outside was super crunchy and the melted mozzarella provided a nice, light flavor profile.
Even with the additional space, Hatch 44 Cafe fills up with a line out the door every weekend. My biggest tip is to either get their early or go on a weekday.
I’ve also found their menu to change seasonally, so be sure to catch a dish while it’s available. Enjoy!
RESTAURANT INFO:
- Hatch 44 Cafe website
- Menu
- Address: 25 New St, Metuchen, NJ 08840
- Phone: 732-662-7200
