First look: El Rancho Grande

Make yourself at home at the Ranch

By Molly V. Strzelecki

Special to Metromix
March 10, 2008

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It was a dark and stormy night. …OK, no it wasn't. It was, however a rainy, gloomy, Friday evening when Metromix popped in to El Rancho Grande for some quiet time. Hampden's newest coffeehouse is the simple answer to the tricky question of where to go late at night when you want to get out, but aren't in an adult beverage kind of mood. (Apparently it happens.) The Ranch, as some patrons have affectionately renamed it, is just the place to hang, grab a cup o' Joe and relax in the evening. There's no room to be uptight in these cramped quarters, however there's plenty of room for conversation, which ranges from cultural diatribes about recent art exhibits to indulgent rants of scandalous gossip. And if you don't want to talk, that's cool, too.

Drinks: If you're looking for a mochafrapposhamalamadingdong, you're looking in the wrong place. The Ranch offers you two options—coffee or tea—in one size. You can vary your drink order, though, with the usual caffeine accouterments like milk, honey and sugar. And feel free to grab a lid and drink on the run. Drinks are a mere $2, and tea-lovers will make out best, as there is a fine array of teas, including jasmine, green, black, white and English breakfast.

Digs: The one-room coffeehouse is small but offers many places to sit. The décor seems to stem from the "whatever we could find" school of thought, as it features a collection of broken-in chairs, a couch, a table for two and random memorabilia that adorns the walls. The place is also stacked with books and magazines, if you forget to bring your own reading materials. It's kind of like walking into someone's living room, if, in that living room, you ponied up for coffee or tea. Unlike most coffee shops, there isn't so much a counter with a barista behind it, as there is a credenza off to the side that holds the tea and a couple of coffee makers. Patrons can also start looking forward to the outdoor seating available once the weather improves.

Vibe: Harried Harriets will be served a big glass of Insta-Chill upon entering the Ranch. The place seduces with a "Come on in, take a load off, buddy. Stay awhile" sensibility. And, before you know it, two hours have gone by and a warm, happy glow washes over you. There aren't any elaborate sound systems, just an iPod playing on a stereo in the corner, but it rolls out an eclectic mix of tunes from artists you've never heard, but will want to know. Alt country, blues, mambo-infused—anything is possible on El Rancho's airwaves, and some nights feature live music, typically starting around 9 p.m.

Bottom line: Whether you're a regular or it's your first time stopping in, El Rancho Grande is a friendly, laid-back place. You know that "life in the fast lane" expression? Yeah, it just doesn't exist on the Ranch.