There is no real separation between bookstore and café. Upstairs, there is only a partial wall between the counter and booths of the restaurant and the bookshelves. Downstairs, the main dining area is sandwiched between the two other parts of the bookstore, with patrons of both businesses intermingling. The downstairs offers dining at tables with a maitre d’ and menus. This area is often quite busy and humming with conversation. The upper level serves more as a quick stop for those who want coffee or dessert, the '50’s-style soda fountain stools and booths occupied by book readers and coffee drinkers, for the most part. My favorite quirk about this unique restaurant is the hollow tube in the counter upstairs that workers use to call down to the kitchen. The person above can then use the dumbwaiter behind the counter to bring food up from below.

The lunch and dinner menu is composed of soups, salads and sandwiches. Turkey, chicken, fish, ham and veggie combinations are offered on bagel, Russian rye, wheat and sourdough breads. There is an interesting selection of soups to choose from: African Peanut, Mexican Corn & Bean and Clam Chowder being a few. Soups change daily, but there are monthly calendars for those who want to plan ahead. I personally recommend the homemade desserts -- they alone are worth the trip. The desserts are big enough (and rich enough) for two. A partial list includes Chocolate Chunk Cake, Irish Crème and fruit pies, cobblers, turnovers and several different cheesecakes.

Written By: Glen Berry

Features
Breakfast  |  Lunch  |  Outdoor seating

Comments
With their wide selection there was no trouble finding items to meet the dietary needs of our family. There were lots of yummy vegetarian items on the children's menu, and I was able to eat an entire gluten free meal (even cake!). The staff was well informed and paid attention to the details. Quite pleasant. The price was in the range of most soup/sandwich places.
- Sally on Fri, January 4, 2008

We 3 ordered the same sandwich - the chicken peanut salad sandwich, and I agree with "none of your business" - alot of lettuce and sprouts, no flavor, and very little chicken. Now it is $9.99. I'm sorry perhaps we ordered the wrong thing, but I was really disappointed. I was treating. The bill with tip amounted to $35.00. Never, never again!!!!!
- Carol Feist on Wed, June 20, 2007

Like many others here, we found our recent lunch a disappointment. My daughter who loves clam chowder, wouldn't eat it here. The caesar salad was pleasantly lemony, but not creamy, and was served with packaged parmesean sprinkled on top. My African Peanut soup was nicely spicey but overall boring. The ice cream hit the spot though. Given the price the meal was a disappointment.
- lucy on Sun, October 1, 2006

As a B'ham local the one saving grace of the Colophon is the outdoor seating in the Fairhaven Green space. The service is very nice but very slow. Not a good choice for an hour lunch break. I've given the menu several opportunities to match the atmosphere and it has consistently disappointed: dry bread, small portions, not much "soul" (kind of thrown together), and definitely over priced. More of a tourist snag and locals drag. Sorry Taimi, I'm sure your very nice.
- 2nd that on Sat, April 1, 2006

The Colophon Cafe has the best soups in town, especially the split pea! Yes, prices have gone up over the years, but the food is great, and so is the atmosphere. Friendly service and attention.
- Jean  on Wed, November 23, 2005

I moved out of Washington State about two years ago... to Guatemala, of all places. There are many things that I miss about WA, and the Colophon Cafe & Village Books would be right at the top of that list! To be surrounded by friendly folks, good books, and delicious food (Peanut butter pie - sigh)... who could ask for anything more?
- Rob Mercatante on Wed, May 25, 2005

the food was mediocre at best and overpriced. I had a chicken sandwich with gouda cheese. After reading the wonderful menu description, I was disappointed. The only discernable taste was of the mounds of lettuce and sprouts -- hiding the small amount of chicken and cheese that didn't even cover the entire slice of bread -- despite the attempt to space out the chicken pieces to accomplish just that. For $8.95 I expected a better sandwich. And I found very little clam in the very bland clam chowder. I will say the coffee was decent and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I came in during the slow mid-afternoon period on a weekday and I enjoyed the relaxed, relatively quiet atmosphere -- which is just what I was looking for to complete some paperwork in between appointments.
- noneof yourbusiness on Mon, December 23, 2002

Thanks very much for your nice comments about our cafe! We appreciate it!
- Taimi Gorman on Wed, June 9, 1999

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