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Introduction
The Lost Dog Café was started by a couple of displaced East Village 'Café Junkies�?�. While Binghamton, NY is a beautiful place to live, there was one thing we found conspicuously missing: a place with an unassuming comfortable atmosphere where you could hang out, drink good coffee, and eat interesting foods. Henceforth, we bring you 'Lost Dog Café/Coffeehouse�?�.
Our food is prepared with vegetable stock (no MSG, no chemicals) and made to order with fresh ingredients.
The original Lost Dog Café, located in an old garage at 60 Main Street in Binghamton, was started on a 'shoestring�?� budget with the love of good food, good people, and a strong sense of community as inspiration. We have grown in size but our original intention remains the same. Salut!
In October 1994, Marie McKenna, Elizabeth Hughes, and Carla Bruce along with Ravi Prakash opened a small eatery on Main Street in Binghamton called The Lost Dog Café/Coffeehouse. Scraping together what little money they could and buying second-hand equipment at auctions they began a venture that has evolved into a downtown hot spot.
The owners became veterans of the restaurant business initially by default. Hughes and McKenna were musical bandmates trying to make their mark on the New York City music scene. "Liz cooked at various restaurants in New York City's East Village and I would waitress. The restaurant business provided us the freedom to do what we really wanted to do, which was play music". said McKenna. After 12 years in NYC, McKenna and Hughes decided to move back to Binghamton. Knowing that they couldn't survive in Binghamton without some of the atmosphere NYC provided, they decided to create their own. "When we discussed opening a café we thought of all the great places we liked in the City. We wanted to serve what we like to eat in the type of atmosphere we enjoyed". said Hughes. McKenna and Hughes met Bruce, a native New Yorker, through a mutual friend. Hughes's own wandering chihuahua, Clarese, served as the inspiration in naming the restaurant.
The first location initially caught on with students in the area and achieved a reputation for serving good coffee, fine food, in a fun atmosphere. "Liz and Carla did everything. Liz cooked and Carla waited tables. The cafe was very different from what people here were used to; we were concerned people wouldn't like it" said McKenna. "We were pleasantly surprised by its success."
Another surprise was the move to the bigger location on Water Street. Local businessman, Adam Weitsman, approached the owners about moving the café into a building he had purchased in Downtown Binghamton. Many people tried to dissuade the owners from such a risky move. "No one considered Downtown Binghamton to be a viable location for a restaurant. Having seen the effects, both positive as well as negative, of gentrification in Manhattan's East Village, we knew it was important to take the chance. Obviously we made the right decision -- look what has happened in Downtown since our move. We are very happy we took the risk." Said Hughes. The move has been all good. Walk in any time of the day and witness an eclectic mix of students, business people, families, first dates, and people hanging out at the bar drinking coffee and reading. "This is exactly what we were looking to create; a place where everyone felt comfortable and welcomed". said Hughes. The growth has exceeded all expectations and the staff has increased from 10 to 40 people. The increase in business has not translated into an increase in tension. "Our main goal is to enjoy ourselves. We want our customers and staff to enjoy the cafe. If everyone involved is happy, then so are we" noted Hughes.
McKenna promises that they will also stay on top of trends in cuisine from the many restaurants they visit while traveling. "We're always looking for new adventures".
"It's hard to believe that it has come this far."
There once was (and still is) a dog named Clarese. Weighs in at 3 ½ lbs. with enormous, sincere, watery eyes as dark as... well, dark. A Jersey Girl, she pounds down watery scotch with the best of 'em. With her trademark rhinestone collar and tongue surreptitiously presenting itself and disappearing into canine abyss. Only other Chihuahuas understand.
Clarese has expensive and dangerous habits. She vanishes. Search parties form. Reward signs are posted. Phone calls-tips on sightings of Clarese are received from lots of people with nothing to do and all day to do it in.
One tenacious fellow named Sid exhausted every possibility trying to round up wayward Clarese. Porterhouse steak? She shrugged and said she's a vegetarian. New bone? Hurts her teeth. She's not a spring chicken, after all. She's cheated the grim reaper (you know, speeding cars) countless times.
Clarese has come home. She is a 'found�?� dog. But something tells us she will always remain lost.
Our food is prepared with vegetable stock (no MSG, no chemicals) and made to order with fresh ingredients.
The original Lost Dog Café, located in an old garage at 60 Main Street in Binghamton, was started on a 'shoestring�?� budget with the love of good food, good people, and a strong sense of community as inspiration. We have grown in size but our original intention remains the same. Salut!
In October 1994, Marie McKenna, Elizabeth Hughes, and Carla Bruce along with Ravi Prakash opened a small eatery on Main Street in Binghamton called The Lost Dog Café/Coffeehouse. Scraping together what little money they could and buying second-hand equipment at auctions they began a venture that has evolved into a downtown hot spot.
The owners became veterans of the restaurant business initially by default. Hughes and McKenna were musical bandmates trying to make their mark on the New York City music scene. "Liz cooked at various restaurants in New York City's East Village and I would waitress. The restaurant business provided us the freedom to do what we really wanted to do, which was play music". said McKenna. After 12 years in NYC, McKenna and Hughes decided to move back to Binghamton. Knowing that they couldn't survive in Binghamton without some of the atmosphere NYC provided, they decided to create their own. "When we discussed opening a café we thought of all the great places we liked in the City. We wanted to serve what we like to eat in the type of atmosphere we enjoyed". said Hughes. McKenna and Hughes met Bruce, a native New Yorker, through a mutual friend. Hughes's own wandering chihuahua, Clarese, served as the inspiration in naming the restaurant.
The first location initially caught on with students in the area and achieved a reputation for serving good coffee, fine food, in a fun atmosphere. "Liz and Carla did everything. Liz cooked and Carla waited tables. The cafe was very different from what people here were used to; we were concerned people wouldn't like it" said McKenna. "We were pleasantly surprised by its success."
Another surprise was the move to the bigger location on Water Street. Local businessman, Adam Weitsman, approached the owners about moving the café into a building he had purchased in Downtown Binghamton. Many people tried to dissuade the owners from such a risky move. "No one considered Downtown Binghamton to be a viable location for a restaurant. Having seen the effects, both positive as well as negative, of gentrification in Manhattan's East Village, we knew it was important to take the chance. Obviously we made the right decision -- look what has happened in Downtown since our move. We are very happy we took the risk." Said Hughes. The move has been all good. Walk in any time of the day and witness an eclectic mix of students, business people, families, first dates, and people hanging out at the bar drinking coffee and reading. "This is exactly what we were looking to create; a place where everyone felt comfortable and welcomed". said Hughes. The growth has exceeded all expectations and the staff has increased from 10 to 40 people. The increase in business has not translated into an increase in tension. "Our main goal is to enjoy ourselves. We want our customers and staff to enjoy the cafe. If everyone involved is happy, then so are we" noted Hughes.
McKenna promises that they will also stay on top of trends in cuisine from the many restaurants they visit while traveling. "We're always looking for new adventures".
"It's hard to believe that it has come this far."
There once was (and still is) a dog named Clarese. Weighs in at 3 ½ lbs. with enormous, sincere, watery eyes as dark as... well, dark. A Jersey Girl, she pounds down watery scotch with the best of 'em. With her trademark rhinestone collar and tongue surreptitiously presenting itself and disappearing into canine abyss. Only other Chihuahuas understand.
Clarese has expensive and dangerous habits. She vanishes. Search parties form. Reward signs are posted. Phone calls-tips on sightings of Clarese are received from lots of people with nothing to do and all day to do it in.
One tenacious fellow named Sid exhausted every possibility trying to round up wayward Clarese. Porterhouse steak? She shrugged and said she's a vegetarian. New bone? Hurts her teeth. She's not a spring chicken, after all. She's cheated the grim reaper (you know, speeding cars) countless times.
Clarese has come home. She is a 'found�?� dog. But something tells us she will always remain lost.
Contact Info
Address:
222 Water Street
Binghamton
New York 13901
United States
Binghamton
New York 13901
United States
Tel:
(607) 771-6063
Website:
http://www.lostdogcafe.net
Offering
- Full Menu
- Catering
- Gift Shop
Hours of operation
From | To | From | To | From | To | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 21:00 | ||
Tuesday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 21:00 | ||
Wednesday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 | ||
Thursday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 | ||
Friday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 | ||
Saturday | Open | 11:30 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 | ||
Sunday | Closed |