Sama’s Cafe – Middlebury Market

Came by with my neighbor Michelle to have a heart to heart chat over some pizza. The café part of the joint was closed when we stopped by on Wednesday but the market had some pizza slices for sale ($ 3 for a large slice of pizza, which seemed like it was worth it though I’m not sure yet). I bought the barbecue chicken one without knowing it was barbecue chicken (no sign) but I didn’t mind in the end either so I have no complaints about that. The woman working there behind the counter was nice and refilled the cold water bucket where we got our free water from. Michelle and I sat in the back and took in the décor of the café, with huge pizza oven and the Vermont maple syrups all over the walls and the windows pointing out to the creek — it was all really comforting. The pizza was okay, not the best pizza, but it wasn’t the worst. I’m looking forward to a fresh pizza though. The market part seemed pretty well stocked, enough at least to satisfy my bare needs. I’ll definitely be returning to give this place another shot.

Had a custom made salad with avocado, turkey, Swiss cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Very tasty. Looks like there is a large selection of coffee, espresso, and ice cream. Of course, today is not my cheat day, so ice cream is not on my menu, but it could be on yours!

A solid spot for a casual lunch (wraps, sandwiches, that sort of thing), with a slight Middle Eastern nod (falafel and shawarma), plus wifi and outdoor seating.
Mediocre creemees in the warm months — just chocolate and vanilla out of a industrial food-​service bag, no maple or other flavors, which is a real shame as it’s the only place in town for that.

I always come here for the same thing. Popcorn chicken, Cheetos and play dough ice cream. Let’s start with the popcorn chicken. The inside is tender and cooked to profection. The outside is crispy and the spices are powerful but not overpowering. All in all a big ! Now I always pair this with Cheetos for some reason they just go together hand and hand. Sometimes I have French fries instead (which are also the best). Top all of this of with play dough ice cream.

I’ve been going to this place for a while now and I have to say that it’s gin down hill over the years. I was in here just yesterday and the selection for food and drink was terrible. The only thing they have going for them is the ice cream. The kitchen staff in the back don’t look like the cleanest people in the world and they seem scared to to talk to you. They service in the kitchen was fast, but the price that they charge is a little much for something I could make at home.

This place earned a ⁷⁶⁄₁₀₀ on their most recent health inspection with 19 points deducted in ‘critical’ areas. Not what I would call a clean kitchen.
The last time I was in there the owner was quite rude to me, unsurprisingly I haven’t been back.

i got the tuna melt + tomato soup and both were perfect versions of themselves. it’s really hard to get tuna salad right when you eat out– usually too watery or too much mayo, etc., but it was perfection. the tomato soup was also A+ solid.
one of my friends joined us to go back here for another ½ tuna melt just an hour or so after he’d already eaten one for lunch, it’s just that good!
i also love the atmosphere of this place– it’s country store meets convenience store meets bakery/​café, meets sandwich counter. i love it.
highly, highly recommend it. i can’t imagine that this place has anything bad, based on the taste and quality of what we tried.

This Jack of all trades café/​market in downtown Middlebury is A-​OK in my book.
They make decent breakfast sandwiches. I had a toasted English Muffin with egg, cheese and shaved ham. The ham was just salty enough and plentiful. My wife’s egg, cheese and spinach wrap brought the heat with the added hot sauce. And I will avoid any obvious sausage jokes regarding the amount of links piled on my buddy’s sando.
The café/​market also offers pizza, lunch sandwiches, coffee/tea…as well as all the offerings you would find in any corner store. Locals seem to even get their daily newspapers delivered straight to here.
There is seating inside and out, and the employees were all very friendly.

Good prices, good food, what a valuable and cute place to have in Middlebury! You should try this place.

We only tried their ice cream, and it is okay. Creamee is typical; raspberry frozen yogurt is way too sweet.

I had the veggie wrap, which was more egg than veggies. The service was quick, but the food was mediocre. The veggies were soggy and did not taste fresh. The egg was overlooked and dry. The latte was mediocre, but that’s what I expect from Vermont coffee shops.
The only positive was the fast service and friendly staff.

So far Ive only had just a few items from the menu and their food is pretty decent.
Chicken wrap; OUTSTANDING
Chicken burrito: Big let-​down.
The people working out back (cooks/​cashier) are friendly, great folks. Some of the cashiers at front lack basic manners (thank you, have a great day would be NICE).
Their coffee is AWFUL, weak. Bypass that if you care for flavor.
Not very good at the labeling as to where to stand in line to order or where to recycle, that could use some attention.

You know those places that are convenient and have everything you’re looking for, but you feel out of place and like you don’t know some unspoken protocol about where to stand in line or how to order or which of the 345 recycling bins is specifically for cellophane or what the guest restroom policy is or how the wifi works or if it’s self-​bussing or any number of other things? Maybe knowing the deal with Sama’s is secretly part of freshman orientation at Middlebury, and that’s why I feel so lost each time I swing in for a snack or coffee (having not, you know, attended Middlebury).
Every time I stop in when I’m on work trips, it’s convenient and easy to park, and there is every type of bottled drink under the sun, but I still feel like I walked into the high schol cafeteria and I don’t know which tables are taken by the cool kids. Plus, the restroom door locks are skeeeetchy.
Yummy sandwiches, though.

It’s okay if you really have no othe option. Your not allowed to be on their premises unless your buying/​have boughten something or else you will be told to leave. The atmosphere is a little uncomfortable but the food isn’t bad.

Good for a snack or a light dinner. Decent-​sized juicy lamb kebabs. The lamb is very succulent. Add some Siracha sauce, wash it down with some cider, and you’re good to go. French fries reminded me of the «chips» I used to have in England when I was a kid.

I love their paninis and coffee and pastries and etc
Staff great 2

The ice cream was terrific and two scoops were as big as my head!

3 ½ STARS
Formerly Lyon’s Place, then Baba’s, this deli style café is a college favorite. We stopped in for breakfast and had the breakfast wrap & coffee. The wrap was just fine, quite like an oversized McDonald’s breakfast wrap.
My first cup of self serve coffee was weak, so I switched to a different one for my second cup & it was better.
Food — 3 stars
Ambiance — 3 ½ stars
Service — 3 ½ stars

This café is a former grocery store that has been updated to an unusual combination pizza shop, coffee shop and creemee stand. While there are still some elements of a convenience store, the majority of the interior is sit down space for the pizza restaurant. Outdoor seating is available in front of the restaurant.
The pizza here is overall mediocre. The flavors are quite creative and innovative and are baked in the centerpiece brick oven. The crust, while crispy, is too thick and while the toppings are creative, they are not quite refined enough. Although this review is somewhat critical of this pizza, it is still the best that I have had in this state outside of Burlington and I would recommend it to anyone wanting pizza who does not want to drive an hour north to get it.
The coffee shop has a pretty standard selection of brewed coffees and espresso but only one iced tea which was generic.
The creemee stand served completely standard vanilla and chocolate soft serve, with the standard generous serving for a couple dollars. As far as I know, this is the only place in Middlebury to get this Vermont favorite.

I visited a relative over the Christmas break and we went to this café to have a nice lunch. I have visited this location once before during the summer months as well. When you approach the location there is a nice patio area where tables are set up during the warmer months and a walk up window for ice cream. After walking into the café, there is a section that resembles a convenience store with items that you can take and go, beverage cases, and coffee. At the back is the ordering counter where you can order food items. There are sandwiches, soups, and pizza.
The food is good, while not fancy. The sandiwches and soups are tasty. I’ve had some muffins on previous visit and they were a decent size and had great flavor. Service was very polite and quick. The café was very clean as well. I would recommend this as a great place to stop by, hang out, and grab some food to eat.