Dine: Rosewater Market 

Recently my co-worker Nicole Galland and I decided to hit Edgartown for our next “Dine” article. We chose Rosewater Market. I’d only ever been there for morning coffee and a treat, but not for lunch. I’m so glad I did. It was a great choice. 

According to its website, “The Rosewater name was inspired by the fictional lead character, Eliot Rosewater, from Kurt Vonnegut’s classic ‘God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater,’ who chose to forgo his family fortune in favor of spreading kindness in his small hometown.” The name is apropos. When you walk in, it’s light, roomy, and very inviting — hard to be unkind in such a serene space.

To the left is a dine-in area with a variety of fun merchandise curated by Rosewater Market’s owner, Julie Celeste. This is a sort of upscale “general store” filled with water bottles, T shirts, cutting boards, hats, interactive things for kids, mugs, crockery, books, cards, and banners with uplifting messages like “read more books.”

To the right is where you order your food. But before you get there, you are greeted by a glass case filled with treats, like scones, muffins, cookies, etc. “There are such yummy ready-to-go offerings that you almost forget to order from the actual menu,” Galland said. 

If you can tear yourself away from the treat case, the counter where you order has a glass display case with an assortment of fresh salads, chicken breasts, and on the day we went, salmon. There are also menu boards. One for breakfast, one for lunch and the specials. There are plenty of beverages to choose from: Have coffee, tea, or a selection of wines, spirits, and beers; in a large glass refrigerator, you can grab and go from a large selection of beverages.

The day we went, the lunch choices were fried chicken sandwich, veggie burger, spicy peanut noodle bowl, chicken wrap, B.L.T. grilled cheese,and kimchi fried rice. The menu also notes local food by emphasizing and listing: M.V. corn, M.V. kimchi. There are options for people like me who are gluten-intolerant. There are also premade sandwich options, ready to grab and go.

I chose to get a small container of broccoli sesame salad and a piece of salmon. Galland got the spicy peanut noodle bowl. We both ordered house ice teas, and decided to eat outside at the cafe tables on the brick patio. The broccoli sesame salad was delicious — fresh and flavorful — and the salmon was cooked to perfection, not at all dry, and seasoned with something wonderful-tasting. 

Galland’s spicy peanut noodle bowl was also tasty. I know this because I took a big mouthful.

“My meal was amazing,” Galland said. “It was alpha-gal safe and so incredibly flavorful and healthy. The fried tofu is just crispy enough without feeling fried, fresh veggies cut thin enough that it’s easy to eat mixed with the softer texture of the tofu and noodles, excellent M.V. kimchi — hot but not too hot — and OMG, the peanut sauce! I would have drunk it if I could, and I almost could have, because the serving was very generous.”

We also got dessert, because life is not complete without a treat. I was so happy to see that they had gluten-free dessert options, and chose a slice of gluten-free coffee cake. Galland got a chocolate chip cookie.The coffee cake was a good-size portion, and I was thrilled to have enough to bring home for later. Gluten-free food can be dry, but the coffee cake was moist and yummy. 

Rosewater is the perfect place for breakfast or lunch, and is open 7 am to 3 pm (kitchen open 7 am to 2 pm). They close for a brief stint from mid-December to mid-January. 20 South Summer St., Edgartown, rosewatermv.com.