Kirsten Butler opened The Makerie Café in the heart of Cos Cob in January of 2023 to favorable reviews and positive word-of-mouth. Aptly named, every dish is a creation, with comfort food and daily hot specials this winter that make a regular customer out of just about everyone.
“A lot of people come in and comment that the place is like going to a reunion,” Butler said. “You walk in and see familiar faces of people you haven’t seen in a long time – or those you saw yesterday – and end up sitting down and having lunch together to catch up.”
“Even people who didn’t know each other before have made friendships just because they show up at the same time on their way to work or stopping in for lunch at the same time,” she added. “It’s one of the things I love the most. We have great customers.”
Butler, who is a Cos Cob native, having attended Cos Cob School, Central Middle School and Greenwich High School in the class of 1991, is indeed a familiar face to many. So are her children who all help out, starting with Kaia who is a regular presence, and Kaden and Kolton, who also lend a hand.
Adding to her local ties, Butler previously worked in Greenwich Town Hall in the Planning & Zoning Dept, Registrars office, and later at the Board of Education where students called her, “Momma K.”
“I’m not Mrs. Butler – that’s my mother-in-law,” she explained, adding that her husband works for the town.
Having dreamed of owning her own food truck, Kirsten said she worked as a personal chef and caterer as a side job for many years. When her oldest started college she had time to further pursue her culinary interests, ultimately launching The Makerie Cafe.
When we visited on Tuesday, Ms Butler was not one to boast, but a customer at an adjacent table jumped in with an impromptu testimonial.
John Goeller volunteered that he eats at The Makerie twice a day, praising the food, the prices and the friendly staff.
“Their food is so fantastic, but don’t tell my wife,” he joked.
“It’s delightful – besides the fact that they’re so friendly, it’s just nice to have a local place with prices that are so fair. I’ve stopped going to other places because their prices have gotten ridiculous.”
“You walk in and they’re so friendly – They ask, ‘How are you today?'” Goeller said. “Not everybody does that.”
Goeller added that the menu features international food in addition to American food, and some of the staff speak Spanish and Portuguese, which is handy.
“Cos Cob’s back! It’s our neighborhood meeting place and eatery,” Goeller continued, adding that he felt very at home at The Makerie. “We just need keys!”
What’s popular? Sandwiches, salads, soups – vegetarian dishes, and of course, the daily hot specials everyone craves on these cold snowy days.
Sandwiches are named after streets in Cos Cob, including top favorites: The Bible, The Montgomery and The Dandy. There is also The Valley, The Sinawoy, The Schubert, and others.
The rotation of specials is reliable. Butler said Mondays are always Pork Chops. Tuesday is always Chicken Francese. Wednesday is always Mac ‘n Cheese and Coconut Chicken. Thursday is Chicken Scarpariello and Lomo. And Friday is fish day.
“And we always have meatballs, sausage & pepper, mashed potatoes, veggies, rice and pasta – but there are other dishes and items that rotate,” she said, adding they might add meatloaf or stuffed portabello mushrooms depending on what inspires her from inside the refrigerator.
“Customers give me ideas, especially for soups,” she said.
In fact, soups are very popular this winter, including the sausage and tortellini soup, as well as chicken soup, which is a staple available every day.
And then there is Butler’s self-serve pot magical hot beverage concoction featuring lemon, honey, ginger, turmeric, pepper and garlic – good for what ails you!
Kaia and Kirsten Butler in The Makerie Cafe in Cos Cob located at 77 Valley Road. Feb 11, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Butler said the roster of patrons includes everyone from town workers to PTA parents, and from young families to occasional well known personalities.
The Makerie – Kirsten explained it rhymes with bakery – is actually two storefronts combined, which results in a spacious dining room that most nearby delis would love to have.
Outside of breakfast and lunch service, Butler has been using dining area for crafting workshops, and is open to ideas for fundraisers for local non profits and schools.
Butler said that while she may not know all her regular customers’ names, she and Kaia know them by their preferences, joking, “We say, ‘Here comes the bacon, egg & cheese with extra bacon kid.'”
Check out more mouthwatering photos on The Makerie’s Instagram page.
Hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:00am to 4:00pm.
Saturday: 6:00am to 3:00pm.
Sunday: 8:00am to 2:00pm.
To place catering orders call (203)661-DELI (3354)
Email: [email protected]
The Makerie Café is located at 77 Valley Rd, Cos Cob, CT 06807
The familiar intersection of River Rd Ext and Valley Rd in the background, The Makerie’s Ham/Swiss, Lettuce, Roasted Peppers, Red Onion & Honey Mustard sandwich on a Gluten Free Sour Dough. Photo: Kaia Butler via Instagram
Hot and hearty stew. Photo: Kaia Butler via Instagram
The Orchard with roast beef, cheddar, horse radish, red onion and lettuce. Photo: Kaia Butler via Instagram
“The Loughlin” with steak, American cheese, sauteed onions, mushrooms on garlic bread. Photo: Kaia Butler via Instagram