By Natalya Bucuy • The Current Contributing Writer
“His food is amazing!” a passerby in the parking lot yells as I walk through the door into Joe Marino’s Baby Boomers Cafe in Albrightsville. And so I know I am in for a treat.
Inside, seven tables, retro decor, and an electric fireplace all come together to create a cozy setting. “Chef Joe,” as a little chalkboard introduces him to the visitors, sits at one of the tables adorned with old-timey newspaper ads-themed vinyl tablecloth and salt-and-paper shakers.
He’s in his kitchen attire, black polo shirt and white apron, ready for the busy day ahead. We take a break from our conversation over coffee so he can answer the phone and take down a to-go order. Then, he heads to the kitchen to prepare the dishes for the order and some for me.
Five months ago, Marino, who has 40 years of experience in the business and 13 restaurants under his belt, decided to take on one more venture. Marino, 67, and his wife moved to the area from New York in 2021 to retire and be closer to family. Away from the city’s hustle and bustle, he’d been feeling a bit of cabin fever in his quiet new surroundings. And so, he turned to his trusted old friend – the restaurant kitchen.
“I have a passion for cooking,” he says. “I like the immediate satisfaction when everyone likes the food. I figured I’d give this area something a little different food-wise.”
Baby Boomers Cafe – a nod to the owner’s generation – specializes in Northern Italian and French cuisine. The menu features a wide variety of soups, appetizers, pastas, steaks, seafood dishes, and homemade desserts. Marino is the sole chef in the house. He makes every single dish to order and ensures that its taste, garnish, and presentation are up to his very high standards.
“Presentation means a lot to me,” he says. “I feel that today’s food out there lacks presentation and quality. I do it a little bit differently. I take my time. I taste every dish before it goes out to the guest’s table. People don’t mind waiting for quality.”
Marino takes pride in creating unique and delicious meals for his guests. He also makes a point to keep his prices affordable. His small business is as small as it gets. He runs the restaurant with minimal payroll, having only one waiter and a dishwasher on staff. “I love working for Joe,” says Marisol Berdecia, the dishwasher. “It’s like a family, very friendly and personal. And his food is addicting,” she adds as she tries some coconut shrimp fresh from the kitchen.
Marino does all his shopping himself in order to find the best quality ingredients at the lowest prices. “I try to keep my costs down for the customers,” he says. Even though the restaurant doesn’t open until 4 p.m., his days start at 7 a.m., when he heads out to do the shopping at various restaurant outlets and stores. He’s in the kitchen by 9 a.m., starting prep for the day.
The restaurant is closed Sun. through Tues., but Marino does not give himself a day off. When he’s not cooking for guests, he’s cleaning the space, doing inventory, and baking deserts in large quantities for the week.
In addition to sit-down and to-go service, Baby Boomers Cafe offers grab-and-go dishes, meals customers can reheat or finish cooking at home. These include delicious soups, crispy Chicken Parm – Marino’s personal go-to meal – and lasagna rolls, among others. The portions are affordable and generous, a fact Marino values greatly.
As for me, I get to try the richest and most flavorful split pea soup, which Marino makes with Capocollo instead of ham, an Italian spin on an American classic. The aforementioned coconut shrimp, fried to a crispy perfection, does not disappoint. Neither does the main course, Marino’s hand-rolled gnocchi in sweet and tangy tomato sauce and soft, yet with a crunchy bite, shrimp.
I couldn’t leave without trying the mandatory Tiramisu. Its light filling with just the precise placement of ladyfingers and the coating of chocolate on top is the only way to finish this meal. Unless, of course, one goes for one of the other delightful dessert concoctions in the display case at the front of the restaurant, of which there are plenty.
Marino opened the Baby Boomers Cafe to share his passion for high-quality and unique food with his new community. “I like the people here,” he says. “They are all so nice and friendly. Everyone knows each other.” And so he continues to follow his heart and prepare not just food but artful creations made with love. Addicting, indeed.
Baby Boomers Cafe is located at 2681 State Rt 903 and is open Tues. – Sat., 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservation recommended on Thurs.-Sat., Grab-and-Go available 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., to-go orders welcome before 5 pm. For more information visit, babyboomerscafeonline.com. For reservations, call 570-215-8858.
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