A Charming Cafe Comes to Wallingford
When you think about eating out, the leafy lanes of Wallingford don’t usually come to mind — until now. With the recent opening of La Cannelle Cafe on Providence Road (next to the Wallingford post office), the predominantly residential area now has a delightful breakfast, lunch, and coffee bistro within easy reach. The Swarthmorean sat down with owner Loubna Lemgard for coffee and the backstory on this welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Born in Morocco and now living nearby with her family, Loubna explains how La Cannelle came to fruition. “I moved here a few years ago and love the area,” she says. “When I’d take my sons to school at NPE, though, I always wondered where I could get coffee and something fresh to eat. I’m passionate about all cuisine and have been in the restaurant world for 10 years, so I began scouting for a place to put a new cafe.
“When I saw this space, formerly the dry cleaners, I thought it was too small at first. I had no idea how to start, but then I got a contractor, plumber, and electrician. After eight months of hard work, La Cannelle was born — it’s turned into a surprisingly bright, open space for eating and relaxing.”
With a fun, eclectic menu, the cafe has something for everyone. “Our cuisine is a mix of styles, from American to French,” she notes, “But we also touch on Southern cooking and even Moroccan food. We’re open to everything, but also have classics like avocado toast, eggs, breakfast potatoes, pancakes, and French toast.”
After a few months here on Providence Road, Loubna already has a sense of which items guests enjoy. “The top items are the mushroom omelet with caramelized onions and goat-cheese crėma, and the crab and egg en cocotte with gruyere cheese. For lunch, guests enjoy the open-faced braised lamb sandwich, with melted brie, pecans, fig, and a balsamic reduction. There are vegetarian options, too, such as the apple & brie melt sandwich and salads, such as grilled haloumi and fig or burrata and heirloom tomato salad.”
Considering the strategic location of La Cannelle, the subject of coffee invariably comes up. “People really love our coffee,” says Loubna. “We work with Golden Valley Farms Coffee of West Chester, Pa., and offer regular coffee, as well as cappuccinos and lattes. We have take-out coffee, as well as grab-N-go food items if you’re in a hurry.”
La Cannelle further offers catering for events, as well as a kids menu. Loubna adds, “We plan on adjusting the menu about four times a year, keeping the emphasis on fresh, organic, farm-to-table food. Aside from the bread, we make everything ourselves, right down to the salad dressing. So far, we feel so welcomed by the Wallingford community, as more people discover us every day.”
La Cannelle is open every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 21 N. Providence Road, Wallingford. Orders can be made at 484-445-2108 and at lacannellecafe.com.
