Restaurant owner to bring nostalgia and gourmet breakfast eats to downtown Keene

Kane, N.H (Mayken Now) Keene’s downtown restaurant scene is about to get a warm and inviting addition this spring with the opening of Yellow Bell Café.

The “breakfast, lunch and bar” concept comes from local restaurateur Adam Berube, known for his success with Fireworks Restaurant and Muse Bistro. Berube is expanding his culinary footprint with a spot targeting comfort breakfasts and delicious cakes, inspired by nostalgia for home-cooked meals at his grandmother’s house.

For Berube, the concept of Yellow Bell Café is very personal. He was named after the yellow curtains in his grandmother’s dining room and her collection of “hundreds” of bells. The café is designed to evoke warmth and familiarity. It is also the name of a flower, recently discovered by Berube.

“Imagine waking up at your grandmother’s house on a Sunday morning, and the smell of breakfast wafting through the air,” Berube said. “This is the feeling we want to recreate — a relaxed, warm atmosphere with a Cape Cod aesthetic.” Decor plans include comfortable seating for up to 60 guests, creating a cozy, homely atmosphere.

While delicious cakes will be the cornerstone of Yellow Bell Café’s offerings, the focus is on the full-service dining experience. The menu, created in collaboration with Chef Rebecca Wheeler, includes farm-fresh eggs, pancakes, French toast and signature dishes like corned beef and huevos rancheros. For those on the go, grab-and-go options like hot breakfast sandwiches, fresh pastries, yogurt parfaits, and specialty drinks will be available at the counter.

The donut selection promises variety, with yeast and doughnuts featuring signature flavors like tiramisu, limoncello, and peanut butter and jelly. They will rotate seasonally, ensuring new surprises for regular visitors.

“We want the signature cake to be a highlight but not the first thing we roll out,” Berube said. “Our focus is on creating a full-service breakfast experience.”

Yellow Bell Café will also feature a full bar serving signature cocktails like bottomless mimosas and innovative Bloody Marys. A selection of specialty coffees and teas will meet the needs of morning patrons, while lunch options, including market salads, daily soups and sandwiches, complement the café’s offerings.

Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Monday, Berube envisions the café as a hub for morning and midday dinners without competing with existing cafés and restaurants in Keene.

The journey to open Yellow Bell Café began by chance last fall. After discussions with her husband, Armando Rangel, who has a background in finance and human resources, the couple realized Ken needed a dedicated breakfast place. “It just made sense,” Berube said.

Having worked at Fireworks for more than a decade before opening Muse Bistro, Berube is no stranger to the restaurant industry. However, he learned valuable lessons about balancing complementary concepts.

“My biggest competitor is myself,” he admitted. “This time, we’re working strategically to make sure the menu and atmosphere are different from Fireworks and Muse.”

The location of the café, formerly known as Yahso Jamaican Grill, carries a bit of history. Berube recently learned from owner Mitch Greenwald that the place was home to Bon Ton, a restaurant in the 1940s. Coincidentally, the original Bon Ton doors became the French doors at Fireworks, tying the story together.

With renovations underway and an expected opening in March, Berube is eager to welcome the community to his new venture. “Cheers to new beginnings!” he wrote on Facebook. “We are thrilled to bring our delicious breakfast and lunch meals, grab-and-go options, and of course our signature hospitality to downtown Keene.”