After sleeping in and enjoying some of the most marvelously burned pancakes my husband and two children have ever made, we all decided to cap off our Mother’s Day celebration with a trip to our favorite restaurant in Troy, Ohio.
NightSky Coffee House is an eclectic little eatery located in picturesque downtown Troy. It’s a mixture of a coffee shop and a delicatessen, where businessmen check their emails over lunch, and families can choose from a variety of board games to play as they wait for their orders to be filled.
As we pulled into the parking lot, I knew we would all be in for a treat: apparently we had arrived just in time to see a party of half a dozen or so ladies with their granddaughters, all of them prepared to enjoy the holiday in grand fashion, with huge bright red hats and purple feather boas. The younger girls all sported satin gloves and high heels, and it was obvious they were all having a great time spending the day together. There was lots of laughter as we all walked into NightSky, and lots of silliness. And I’ll bet there were lots of great memories made, for them as well as for us, on that day.
And that’s what we’ve come to love about NightSky: more than anything else, we find ourselves returning, again and again, for the atmosphere.
It’s not just the ceiling painting that gives the coffee house its name, or the various pieces of memorabilia scattered throughout, or the signed and numbered pieces of artwork on the walls, or the neat little tin light globes with stars cut out in them…
It’s also the quaintness of the place, with its fireplace, sofas, and coffee tables, its bookshelves full of books and magazines, and the unobtrusiveness of the food display cases and cash register. The place doesn’t feel sterile, like most other restaurants and cafés.
It’s like going over to Mom’s house for lunch, as opposed to the hospital cafeteria or places so focused on creating a certain kind of ambiance that they end up overdoing it to the point that diners become uncomfortable.
NightSky is quirky and fun, but it’s also casual and relaxed. The menu reiterates the coffee house’s offbeat tastes by offering customers an unexpected mix of food and beverages. Ice cream, anyone? Or how about a Greek salad and some roast beast? Maybe just an iced coffee and a slice of some sweet indulgence? Whatever your mood, NightSky is sure to have something to suit.
My family and I have already established our favorites from the menu, and the four of us can eat for under $35. And although we try to save room for dessert, we haven’t managed to make it that far: the portions are far from skimpy, especially the salads, sandwiches, and kids’ menu selections.
As their website claims, NightSky Coffee House provides a family-friendly dining experience that everyone can enjoy. And I for one am happy to be able to spend some quality time with my children without buzzers repeatedly going off and flashing lights blinking everywhere. I don’t have to worry about tokens or prizes.
Instead, at NightSky we all get to eat a meal of our own liking, play a game of Chinese Checkers or Tic-Tac-Toe, smile at the ladies in their humungous red hats, say hello to the little girls with their satin gloves and tiaras, and ponder the meaning of Mother’s Day.
Okay, that might be going a bit far. But I have to admit, I don’t think I could have picked a better way to spend the day, and I’m glad there’s a place like NightSky around for this-the first of many, I’m sure-kind of celebration.
For anyone close enough to visit, here’s what you can expect at NightSky:
Location: Downtown Troy, Ohio
Food/Drink: Light Lunch, Cakes & Pies, Coffee varieties, Kids’ Menu, Ice Cream
Special Events: Live music every Saturday Night
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:30am- 9:30pm
Friday 6:30am-11:00pm
Saturday 7:00am-11:00pm
Occupancy: 120 guests
Closed on Sunday and Monday
Be sure to check out the website-I’ve provided the link below-to browse the menu and other merchandise available for sale.
