Ellerbe has always been one of my favorite places, for so many reasons. Not the least among those is the fact that whether they know you or not, you’re going to be greeted by most everyone you run into. The staff at Main Street Mug is carrying that tradition forward.
This place is exactly what Ellerbe needs. After all, Ellerbe is at the center of its DNA.
I had Gratten with me, which worked out because he is always willing to eat. Teenagers are a phenomenon when it comes time to eat. Dad used to say I had a hollow leg, because that’s where the food had to be going. Evidently, Gratten has one of those, too. I hate to tell him what happens when you turn 40, so we’ll let him enjoy that for now.
We were greeted warmly by both Olivia and Megan before the door closed behind us. If no one has mentioned to you just how clean this place is, let me take the opportunity to tell you that it is clean. They have construction going on, but you’d never know it by looking around inside.
Gratten chose the Southern Charm iced with cold foam and a chocolate croissant. I chose the Golden Hour iced with cold foam and a sausage-and-cheese sandwich on toast. We sat down and watched the tractors roll down Main Street while our order was prepared. Before I turned around to find a place to sit, I noticed the cooler to the right of the register. They have premade iced coffees to go in case you’re in a hurry. They have other beverages as well, but I think the grab-and-go coffees are a thoughtful touch.
In a fairly short amount of time, we had food and drinks. The iced coffees were both excellent. They weren’t overly sweet, which worked out for both of us. The flavors were both deep and complex, each beverage tasting exactly as described.
Gratten said the croissant was excellent. When someone joins me for a review meal, I usually sample what they got so that I can honestly tell you what my impression was. Have you ever seen a dog stand over his bowl of food, lip turned up and growling? That’s what he looked like when I mentioned trying that croissant. You’ll just have to take his word for that one.
There’s lots of sausage controversy going on with Neese’s hitting shelves again, and I’m not going to get into it. What I will say is that the sausage on that sandwich was flavorful, and it almost covered the entire piece of bread. The cheese made it for me, too. Aunt Blanche’s grilled cheese started my obsession with a simple slice of melted American, so its inclusion was meaningful.
Gratten leaned over and said, “I bet if you stayed in here for a while, you could learn all kinds of stuff about Ellerbe, huh?” I’ll take that experience over being told to pull up from the drive-through window because I’m “messing up their times” any day of the week.
Speaking of drive-through windows, that’s what the construction at Main Street Mug is all about. A fella that has obviously spent some time in a collard field walked through the door and talked to Megan and Olivia about what he was doing around back. I looked at Gratten and said, “Ya know, the last time you saw that fella, he was scantily clad with nothing to hide behind but a big ‘ol collard.” Lee grinned at that as Lee does.
We don’t have a ton of coffee shops in our county. Even if we did, this one would stand out. If you’re looking for a reason to take a trip to Ellerbe, here’s one for you. The food and drinks are terrific, and I guarantee you’ll be treated like you’ve been in Ellerbe your whole life.
John White is a photographer and lover of food who lives in Hamlet.
