Try Coffee, Crepes at Sage Cafe

Jill Ingham of Barrington always wanted her own coffee shop. Her dream has become a reality in Riverside.

Ingham operates the Sage Café with her partner and mother, Joan Monti, who ran the popular Nuts ‘N Such shop in Barrington for many years, and her husband, Jason, a carpenter, who lends a hand behind the counter when he isn’t working or taking care of their two children, a boy, 8, and a girl, 13.

Ingham opened the café in the Riverside shopping plaza on Willett Avenue in mid-March after buying the business that used to be Providence Coffee Roasters. She worked there and recognized the possibility of purchasing the business when it went up for sale. Her mother bankrolled her.

“She’s really got the business mind,” Ingham said.

Ingham’s passion for the restaurant business, though, is what launched the enterprise. Ingham has worked at a variety of other eateries over the years, including Pastiche on Federal Hill in Providence about 15 years ago. 

“That experience really put the bug in me,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed meeting people and I really appreciate good food.”

Ingham describes herself as “an avid coffee drinker” who has had no problem in the past driving to Coastal Roasters in Tiverton for the aromatic coffee she now serves at the café.

Coffee may be the best known offering at Sage Café. But her made-to-order crepes – both sweet and savory – are bringing in more and more customers. 

Among the sweet crepes are Nutella, strawberries, apples, walnuts and brown sugar or a combination of ingredients. The savory crepes include combinations of spinach, onion, tomato, cheddar, apples and feta. 

Sage also serves gluten-free products and scones, cookies and pastries from the Eva Ruth specialty bakery in Middletown. And the specialty drinks include a Rig-a-chino – caramel and chocolate syrup with steamed milk and a double shot of espresso – and a Why Not? – coconut, chocolate and almond syrup with steamed milk and a double shot of espresso.

Safe Café’s hous are 7 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 2 pm on Sunday. Ingham is closing up the shop on Mondays for the summer, but it will go back to seven days a week in the fall.