The old Railways cups may not be there, but otherwise the cafe at Masterton Railway Station is back on track.
Back in business from last Saturday after languishing behind closed doors for several years, the cafe is now called Essential Foods, owned jointly by Jeni Harrison and Deborah Sandford and managed
by chef James Lambert.
Mr Lambert said the plan is to once again cater to commuters and travellers on the Wairarapa line by opening at 5am but also to woo the workers in industries that dot the Ngaumutawa Road/Lincoln Road area.
With this in mind the menu includes staple diet items like bacon and eggs, a trucker's plate special and more modern fare like pasta, nachos and wedges.
The premises, being part of the railway station, is leased from Toll Holdings and the cafe, said Mr Lambert, is there for the long haul.
An irony is that Jeni Harrison is right in line to be one of her own best customers ? she works on the trains.
Picture: James Lambert astride cafe mascot Thomas the Tank Engine with some of the fare on offer at Essential Foods.
