NU Cafe – Organic coffee & a Healthy Lunch in Worcester!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
NU Cafe (update: it’s now NU Kitchen) is a wonderful place to sip an organic coffee, refuel with a real smoothie after a workout, or enjoy a healthy nutrient packed lunch. According to their website, they named this cafe NU because nu means “naked” in French and everything on the menu is free of junk. You will find lots of healthy entrees and allergy friendly options here.
We stopped in NU Cafe for a cup of organic coffee/Mocha before a trip to the Worcester Art Museum (which by the way is wonderful).
The menu looked really tempting, however, it was too early for lunch and I’m not a big breakfast fan. Mike did try a muffin, which he said was great. The organic/fair trade coffee was absolutely delicious and I loved the rustic mugs! This is a really chill place to enjoy a drink before exploring any attractions in town. The ambiance and decor were so much cozier than a typical chain like Starbucks. This is why I love independent coffeeshops so much.
A cozy setting
The inside of the cafe is really nice with a fireplace in the dining area, comfortable seating, and a separate computer hangout area if you need quieter place to read/get work done. There is free Wi-Fi, books to read, and magazines to browse through during your visit. As you can see from my pictures, the vibe is so much comfier an local than a common coffee chain. You can hang out here for a bit without feeling rushed and drink your coffee in a real mug vs. a paper cup,
Healthy food that tastes good!
After the art museum, we decided to return to NU Cafe to try out the tempting menu. We just loved the vibe so much that there was no point trying to find somewhere else to go. I debated between a Quinoa bowl (my favorite) and a wrap. In the end, I chose the Grilled Veggie Wrap.
This wrap consisted of a multitude of vegetables including: carrots, spinach, mushroom, onions, hummus, and yogurt in a whole grain wrap. I skipped the feta cheese and corn on my wrap. It was healthy and delicious.
Sandwiches are served with tortilla chips and salsa and a pickle. I opted for a bag of Pita Chips over the tortilla chips. The sandwich was on the smaller side, but nevertheless filling and delicious!
Mike ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap which consisted of a tortilla stuffed with breaded chicken, romaine lettuce, and blue cheese. He loved it!
In the morning hours, NU serves breakfast burritos and bowls, sandwiches, superfood waffles, and avocado toast. Vegans can enjoy various egg-free entrees such as a Harvest Tofu Scramble and a burrito featuring Impossible sausage.
Smoothies, juiced drinks, and acai bowls are the perfect cool down during the warmer months. Lunch includes various grain bowls, salads, sandwiches and wraps, and paninis. Options to substitute tofu or vegan chicken means there are plenty of options for everyone. This is a great breakfast or lunch choice if you are following any type of special diet.
On our next visit to Worcester, Mike and I will definitely be back for another delicious lunch. I am looking forward to that delicious mug of organic coffee and possibly a Quinoa bowl the next time around.
After enjoying breakfast or lunch, I definitely recommend strolling the art museum. It’s a really cool place and their stained glass collection is amazing! You can see the largest floor mosaic which is pretty cool. For anyone on a budget, they offer free admission dates throughout the year.
Additional details
- Address: 335 Chandler St. Worcester, MA 01602
- Cafe Hours: 7 days a week, 8am-8pm
- Other cafes: Somerville and Newburyport
UPDATE: Mike and I have enjoyed our years living in Massachusetts. If you are looking for some healthy exercise to go along with your meal, I recommend taking a look at my Boston park guide. There are a number of great hiking areas located throughout the metro.
One of the things we enjoyed most about living in this area is that it is so easy to find both healthy restaurants and beautiful natural areas where you can get in some healthy exercise away from the gym.
