Join the Family at Little Falls Cafe

Surely everyone from RI has heard of historic Pawtuxet Village in Cranston, nestled in a Narragansett Bay cove famous for the burning of the Gaspee (look it up!). In the heart of the village is a quaint coffee house called Little Falls Café, where friends and family (or friends who are family and family who are friends) gather.

Established in 2001 by spouses Jeff St. Germain and Matt Donnelly, the café is still going strong and running smoothly, despite the duo having side businesses. St. Germain is a realtor with Keller Williams, and Donnelly is the proprietor of Heart in Hand Massage Therapy just up the road. As if they aren’t busy enough, they are the proud parents of two children, and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of two more. They bring that family feel to the café, having created a sense of community where strangers and friends can come together and experience art, music and cultural diversity. “Through the years, the café has sponsored many events for the young and old alike,” says St. Germain. They also encourage taking an active role in the activities and preservation of historic Pawtuxet Village.

Jennifer Del Sesto of Narragansett, who frequented the café when she lived in the village, returns whenever she can. When asked what her favorite menu item is, she pointed to her ham and cheese croissant. “It’s so hard to choose though, everything is so good!” Coupled with the fact that scone and soup choices may change daily, you’re sure to find something new to try each visit.

Jess Watts has been the creative chef here for many years. She’s been known to add gluten-free or vegan choices, including lemon poppy or cinnamon scones, using cane juice and flax seed meal in place of the usual eggs and sugar. It’s interesting to see what she’ll whip up next. She uses farm-fresh vegetables in season for her vegan and vegetarian options, as well as the hearty meat stews and chilies, never sacrificing flavor for her creations. 

The quiches and pizzas looked amazing, but I had to choose just one and went with the vegan pizza strip. It’s a big slice of heaven, with just the right amount of crushed red pepper heat. The whole wheat crust was rubbed with garlic, crunchy yet soft, and topped with spinach and black olives. To die for!

I was told the coffee is awesome, and I wasn’t disappointed in my iced vanilla hazelnut. It’s no wonder there’s a steady stream of customers at the 6am opening. All coffees are available by the pound for home brewing, blended and ground to your preference. They also feature an eclectic choice of teas, featuring whole leaf organic hand-blended options, which are beautiful to look at and smell fantastic.

Open seven days a week, the café closes at 4pm Monday through Thursday, with slightly extended hours on the weekends. Don’t want to leave the house? Delivery is available via doordash.com. Stay for a packed sandwich and latte at a cozy table, grab a fresh-baked muffin and tea to go, it’s all good!

Little Falls Cafe, 2166 Broad St, Cranston; littlefallscafe.com