Unlike speedy in-and-out coffee shops, cafés indulge fantasies of sneaking off through misty European streets paved with pain au chocolat and lined with biscotti parking meters. Indulge in savory streetside fare with today’s Groupon: for $7, you get $15 worth of café fare at Mission Mill Café, located at the Mission Mill Museum in Salem. Mission Mill Café is open during lunch hours (11 a.m.–4 p.m.), Monday through Saturday.

Sourcing fresh, local ingredients for their made-from-scratch dishes, Mission Mill Café supports community bellies and businesses with a bounty of sandwiches, soups, and other lunchtime favorites. Stimulate a culinary epiphany with the Dubliner sandwich, which comes piled high with corned beef, fried red onions, melted Swiss, and a side of sour cream-horseradish ($9). Or satisfy a green tooth with a seven-grain veggie burger, topped with mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and swiss, and served on fresh ciabatta bread from local bakery Cascade ($8.50). Diners can also dig into an assortment of crisp salads ($4–$9) or cut through the cold with Mission Mill's homemade soups, which, like excuses for not wearing pants, are crafted fresh daily ($5/bowl, $3/cup). Fill a remaining wedge-shaped stomach void with a slice of fresh, homemade pie ($3.50) and then counter strong desires to hibernate all afternoon with a mug of Allan Bros. Coffee ($1.75).

Reviews

EatSalem.com reviewed Mission Mill Café:

• Tucked away in the historic Mission Mill Museum this cozy nook is a lunch-only place with lots of charm. – Chuck Bradley, EatSalem.com