A chance to make people ‘happy through food’
Sadie’s Sunrise Cafe in Berlin serves baked goods, breakfast, lunch specials
Andrea Gussak always dreamed of having a breakfast and lunch cafe because those are her favorite meals, so after 35 years in the kosher catering business, she’s opened one.
It’s called Sadie’s Sunrise Cafe and the spotless 2,000-square-foot eatery at 196 Berlin Turnpike in Berlin is open Wednesday through Monday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays.
“The space came up so I jumped at it,” Gussak said. “I love being able to create and make people happy through food. I like bringing a smile to their face when they take that first bite.”
The cafe is named for her beloved blue Great Dane, Sadie, whom she inherited last year from a friend, Jay Dollinger, who passed away.
An illustration of Sadie popping out of a coffee cup with rays of sunshine around her is the logo and the cafe’s motto is: “A neighborhood café, eatery, and all-around hang-out!”
After only seven weeks open, Sadie’s has already gained a following.
Customers say in reviews the food is tasty, staff friendly and in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
One online reviewer wrote: “What a great local place. Breakfast was perfect. Amazingly good coffee, great home fries with onions & peppers, perfectly cooked eggs, well buttered thick rye toast, awesome friendly staff & clean, light, fresh atmosphere.”
Another review states, “We ordered avocado toast, breakfast burritos and side of hash and it was delicious. Take out was very quick! Definitely will be back.”
Many reviewers have noted appreciation for all the vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available.
Gussak and her staff will whip up customer requested “concoctions,” she said.
Gussak said she named the cafe after Sadie as a tribute to Dollinger, with whom she really “clicked” as friends when they met five years ago.
“It was one of those special relationships,” Gussak said.
Sadie, 8, doesn’t normally come to work with Gussak, but the 130 pound, 3-foot high dog was there recently for a grand
opening ceremony.
“She’s a love,” Gussak said of Sadie. “She’s very gentle. People get intimidated, but she’s thinks she’s a lap dog.”
Gussak was in the kosher catering business with her mom for years before mom retired in 2018.
She then went to Crown Market, where she was head chef and then general manager until the market changed ownership.
So far, Gussak describes her new venture as “great.” She said she has a great rapport with staff who have become like “family,” and she is collaborative with them in creating specials.
Gussak does the baking, items such as gingerbread blondies, cinnamon rolls with vanilla cream cheese icing, rainbow M&M cookies, snickerdoodles, scones with blueberry and raspberry, banana coffeecake with streusel topping and holiday cake pops, which are vanilla cake coated in white chocolate and peppermint bits.
The cafe uses fresh, simple, seasonal ingredients to make “delicious” food, she said.
In addition to the core menu they are always adding specials along with market trends.
“I didn’t want people to get bored with our base menu,” she said of the specials.
The menu offers several egg combos including scrambles, that are Mediterranean, Reuben and veggie.
They also offer many toasts such as Ricotta Toast with Honey and Pistachios and smoked salmon.
Sandwiches include: grilled Portobello mushroom, spicy capicola with provolone cheese, salmon with pickled onion, pickled cucumber, a Cuban and Philly cheesesteak. They also have soups and salads. “Food is love,” she said. Hanging from the ceiling of the cafe are seven metal sculptures of family members that her mother commissioned years ago.
“So hanging overhead I have my family every day,” Gussak said.
She will also have rotating artist exhibits adorning the walls.
Gussak, who lives in Glastonbury, said Berlin has had really been “a good experience,” as the community has been, “warm and welcoming.