Field of Creams Cafe, Mahwah

The crisp cracks of baseball bats ring through the air as crowds cheer on young athletes at Continental Soldiers Park, a haven for those nostalgic for midcentury Americana. Just off to the side of the baseball fields, hiking trails, and bocce courts, Field of Creams Café completes the sensory tableau with creamy scoops of hand-dipped ice cream and the meaty aroma of grilled burgers. Though a throwback to a simpler time, the walk-up eatery opened in 2006 to feed the hungry players of the Mahwah Annual Memorial Day softball tournament. Its popularity has grown over the years, thanks to a counter that stays open seven days a week to feed park-goers, players and spectators between football and lacrosse games.

Despite the eatery’s burgeoning renown, little has changed in the years since it opened. Dr. Praeger’s veggie burgers and 100%-beef burgers still fly from the sizzling grill into the soft embrace of buns, and crinkle-cut fries and onion rings continue to don crispy coats in the fryer. The eatery also blazes new ballpark traditions; among its most popular items are bubble teas laden with chewy tapioca pearls and dessert crepes that can be folded into gloves for catching errant fly balls.