Fresh Side

39 S Pleasant St, Amherst, MA

★★★★★4.4(367 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

“This Amherst gem goes beyond standard coffee shop fare with a serious tea menu that locals genuinely rave about, offering everything from traditional drinks to creative specialty selections that show real craft and attention to detail. Beyond beverages, Fresh Side surprises with thoughtful food—from teriyaki rice bowls to tea rolls and ribs—that comes out quickly without sacrificing quality, plus generous weekday lunch specials that make it perfect for both a fast grab and a leisurely sit. The owners' genuine warmth and kindness create the kind of welcoming local spot worth making a deliberate trip for, whether you're meeting a friend or discovering unexpected flavor combinations that feel both fresh and thoughtfully considered.”

What to expect

Specialty drinksQuick grabLight foodSlow sitMeetingsMatcha & teaTraditional drinks

Google Reviews

Jennifer Bugos
★★★★★a month ago

The owners are so kind and generous. The tea selection and quality is absolutely fantastic! A great local business to check out and support.

HH Woodhouse
★★★★★2 months ago

I love going to Fresh Side for lunch. What makes them extra special is their serious tea menu! I love when a place pays attention to details like that. The food is great, comes out quickly, and somehow always feels healthy and light.

Bright
★★★★★8 months ago

Great food. The ribs were so good and the tea rolls are a classic. So unique and tasted great!!

Dahlia Miller
★★★★★8 months ago

Amazing local spot! I tried the teriyaki rice with tofu from their weekday lunch specials menu, definitely recommend! Was a great price and the perfect size for a quick meal, and great vegan options!!. T-rolls were also super good last time. Staff were super friendly and attentive, will definitely be coming back to try more from the lunch menu :)

Jennifer McPherson
★★★★★a year ago

Went here on a whim after our normal lunch place was closed. So happy we gave this place a try! Everything was fresh, delicious, and the flavor profiles are both a surprise and delight! Each dish had us pausing to discuss and reflect, dissecting what we were tasting and marveling at the way the flavors compliment culminate, making this more than just lunch, it's a culinary experience! Was not prepared for how wonderful the food would be, what a hidden gem! The beverage selection is also vast and appealing, I had the hibiscus honey, my husband had the mint tea. The subtlety of the flavor profiles and the way everything worked together so well was such a treat! For our meals, he had a beef bowl (lunch special) which he enjoyed, but the real stars were our shrimp tempura appetizer and my Apple Curry Chicken lunch dish. We also split some crab Rangoon, which was light, airy, flavorful, crispy shelled and without the greasy texture some crab Rangoon dishes have. Can you tell I was blown away? This is just the food. Now let's talk service and seating. You can sit outside or inside. It was a very hot day, they brought us to a nice, cool table inside in the back after we asked for inside, and the service (we interacted with three people) was top tier. They were the absolute nicest people. 10 out of 10, we will eat there again.

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