158 Main Restaurant is owned and operated by Chef John J. Foley III since 2004.
“The mix of the traditional and contemporary food is one reason 158 Main has become a local institution, popular with locals and visitors alike” points out Cambridge freelance writer Katherine Quimby Johnson in the Fall 2009 edition of Edible Green Mountains. As we like to say here, when asked about our menu, “158 Main is traditional, with a splash of innovation.”
In the same article, Quimby captures the notion perfectly when she observes, “Those who like to spice up their mornings need look no further than the Breakfast Burrito of peppers, onions, tomatoes, black beans, scrambled eggs and Cheddar cheese, with salsa and home fries, inspired by chef Foley’s years in South Florida.”
Foley’s culinary journey took him from a casino kitchen in Nevada to South Florida where he worked alongside James Beard Award winners Chef Ron Morrison and Chef Mark Militello (also named one of America’s 10 best chefs). Foley also cooked for one of Burt Wolf’s cooking shows exploring culture, history and cuisine.
The influence of such masters of the culinary arts left its mark, effortlessly, and intermingles with Foley’s strong connection to New England. The famous 158 Main Seafood Chowder is a testament to this, as is 158 Main’s line of homemade breads. Foley still fashions every loaf much in the same way his Grandmother and mother did. 158 Main is still equipped with the original Middleby-Marshall oven brought in by entrepreneur Alden Bryan in the 1950’s when he established a bakery in what had been the local hardware store. That oven is part of the scenery here at 158. It is a monument to good food and warm atmosphere.
From our famous Eggs Benedict, Crab Cake Benedict, and Spinach & Artichoke Dip to classic burgers with Bleu crumble, Homemade Flatbread Pizzettes, Breakfast Sandwiches and Wraps or Baguette French Toast, to the deep down Vermont goodness of a Windridge Burger or the comfort of a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, 158 Main offers a full spectrum of flavor to satisfy every mood and palate.
158 MAIN 