A New Favorite in Jefferson: Middle Brook Cafe Opens Its Doors

There’s something especially nice about discovering a new place on a perfect day. This past Saturday — one of those simply gorgeous early-May mornings that remind you why you fell in love with the Catskills in the first place — Susan and I wrapped up a wonderful listing appointment (look at that amazing lake!) and stopped in at the brand-new Middle Brook Cafe in Jefferson, NY, on its very first day open.

What a charming spot.

Owners Kim Tom and Dan Berke — a husband-and-wife team — have created something genuinely welcoming. The menu features rich, well-pulled coffee drinks alongside a thoughtful selection of handmade pastries and light lunch fare. It’s exactly the kind of unhurried, quality-first approach that suits Jefferson and the surrounding hills so well.

The coffee was excellent. And the blueberry scone? It made my day. (I’ll admit it: I’m a scone person, and this one delivered.)

The Cafe

Beyond the food and drink, the space itself invites you to linger. There’s a library-style sitting room that’s perfectly relaxing — the kind of nook where you could happily lose an hour with a good book. Speaking of which, there’s a wider selection of interesting books to browse, and a basket of kids’ toys tucked into the hall — a small touch that says a lot about the kind of place Kim and Dan are building.

Jefferson sits at one of those quiet, high-elevation crossroads in the northern reaches of our territory — the kind of small Schoharie County hamlet that rewards travelers who slow down enough to notice it. A cafe like Middle Brook is a real gift to a town this size, and it’s the sort of addition that makes the drive itself part of the pleasure.

Directions

For those of us roaming the northern edge of the Western Catskills — and for clients exploring properties in the rolling country between Stamford, Summit, and the upper Schoharie Valley — Middle Brook Cafe (+1-607-214-4001) could easily become a new favorite stop. Whether you’re meeting us before a showing, taking a break between properties, or just out for a Saturday drive through the hills, it’s worth the trip.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Kim and Dan. We’ll be back soon.