Aesop’s Tables Cafe

A café with delicious fresh food, amazing prices for the quality, and all situated in a large bookstore that you can easily spend hours in. So good! The help was friendly, the atmosphere quirky (think origami tulips for table centerpieces and kitschy salt/​pepper shakers), and the selection wide. Italian sodas, artisan coffees, iconic entrees for the region, and so many vegetarian-​friendly options. My family was very impressed, and I will be sure to visit again when I’m back in the area.

Interesting changes under new ownership. Customer service is less than desirable. Waited at the counter for 5 minutes while three employees engaged in various tasks without acknowledging us. The owner walked past and looked right at me with zero smile or acknowledgement! I called after him kindly with a hello. He turned, stone faced and said, «I’ll find someone to help you.» He returned to the back and engaged in conversation for another couple minutes with the three employees about shifts. Finally, a young woman came over and took our order. Menu changes look interesting yet old favorites will be missed. A big disappointment are the café hours. Saturday open 9 – 4 but only serving egg based breakfast until 10am??? Not open at all on Sunday — a big day for patrons in Depot Square. They really should be open when the bookstore is open at minimum!

Great spot to grab a quick brunch or pastry item. Also they have soup that is really good. Nice people, good better than most selection of coffee and convenient. Wish there hours were the same as the book store and seating is pretty limited other than that a great spot.

Aesop’s gets go-​out-​your-​way praise. You can make it your go-​to for lunch and be happy for many consecutive days. It offers a selection of creative and familiar regulars and 3-​to-​5 lunch specials every day. All the lunches I had were excellent. The setting inside the bookstore was pleasant and welcoming.
TIP: Aesop’s is counter service
SHOUT OUT: To Peter and Elizabeth for making my lunches at Aesop’s even better (and evenings at Harlow’s pretty good, too)

Really liked this place but all we got was two iced coffees and a delicious raspberry scone. They use coffee ice cubes to not dilute the coffee. Guy working at the counter was super friendly, we had a nice chat about Russia. And the scone was one of the best I’ve had. Can’t comment on much else but if I go back to that area, I’d def. return.

I visit NH frequently, and was excited to try Aesop’s Table at the suggestion of a local resident. After my sister grumbled about having to drive ten minutes each way in the wrong direction in order to get to the café, I was looking forward to treating her to a delicious sandwich.
I walked in at 2:55 and was told that I couldn’t order a sandwich because «We stopped making lunch at 3:00». Ok, fine. You guys are trying to get out of here a few minutes early. I ordered a soup and a bagel to go.
Soup and a bagel to go: lukewarm soup (soup spilled on the top of the container, courtesy of the caring staff!), no utensils, and no napkins. This made for a fun meal in a moving vehicle, and my sister was THRILLED.
The sandwich menu looked good, but the staff clearly communicated how uninterested they were in helping their customers. It’s too bad, because who doesn’t want to support a local place that seems great in theory?

The new owner has made some basic, yet beneficial changes to the layout… the menu is more user friendly and the fact that the daily specials are above the cashier is really helpful.
Yesterday I stopped in for soup and they had one I’d never heard of…“Colcannon & Bacon”, and it was fabulous! It had tender bits of cabbage in a milk broth, slighted seasoned with what tasted like swiss cheese and tons upon tons of crunchy smoked bacon. It was out of this world!
I ordered a pint of Turkey and Rice Soup to go and that didn’t disappoint either. It was flavorful, fresh, and full of lovely turkey chunks. I heard the old Aesop’s used to roast a turkey everyday… not sure if that’s still true, but it sure tasted like this one was roasted that day!

Nicest coffee/​café spot in Peterborough, and I visit every time I pass through! It helps to be surrounded by BOOKS!

Wow, where do I start? This little café tucked into a book shop serves the best soup. Yesterday I had their Cream of Artichoke, which was dense and thick and redolent of artichokes. Loved it!!! All their soups are to die for. Their sandwiches are inventive and delicious as well. My favorite is the Turkey and Cranberry Wrap.
And yes, the pastries and cookies on the front counter are as scrumptious as they look!

Aesop’s Tables is a small café tucked away in Toadstool Books. There aren’t many tables, but each time I’ve been, it’s packed with customers.
The last time I had lunch there, I ordered a tuna fish sandwich. It was huge! The lettuce used was of a high quality, and the layer of tuna salad (which consisted of chopped celery and albacore tuna, I think) was at least an inch or two thick. It was an excellent value.
The menu is really helpful, especially for customers with dietary restrictions. Keys on the menu that indicate foods that are vegetarian, gluten-​free, and dairy-​free. The menu is expansive for a small place. There’s a wide assortment of wraps, sandwiches, beverages, and pastries. It’s pretty safe to say that Aesop’s offers something for everyone.
The service is very friendly. The café seems to have a lot of local customers, and I’ve noticed that the staff greets them all by name.
Aesop’s deserves five stars for the quality and value of the food they serve. It’s the best place for lunch in Peterborough!

Sectioned inside the independent Toadstool Bookshop is this café, adorned with local artwork on the lowered walls, which offers a mix of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and multiple bakery and beverage items.
Lunch started after I left, so I only ordered the hot chocolate — which was delicious. It was akin to the stuff from Starbucks, steamed and not out of a machine, but it took over five minutes for the hostess/​waitress to bring it to me — despite no line.
They take their time there.
There are tables for maybe 20 people. Very casual. I liked it. I’ll be back.

Slow, but excellent food — not fast food. Service is actually pretty snappy though and served with a smile by a gaggle of nice young ladies, except for one who seemed a little cranky (but still professional.)
The high-​quality ingredients and variety of very tasty soups sandwiches and specials make Aesop’s a hidden-​jewel of Southern New Hamsphire. (It’s also hidden inside of an independent bookstore, which alone is worth the visit.)
*Hint: Ask about their off-​menu items named after local patrons.