Indulge has been around for more than seven years now in a space once occupied by a bookstore in Stonington borough, and it has attracted a loyal local following as well as the trade of many visitors to the village.

Located just off Wadawanuck Square, where the Stonington Free Library is situated, Indulge serves up hot and cold coffees, lattes, shandies, cider, smoothies, and a wide variety of muffins, pastries, and breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

Passersby are almost certain to see folks out front sipping their beverages and noshing on sandwiches or across High Street on a bench in the square, watching as other customers enter and exit Indulge. Early on, there was a cozy atmosphere inside that encouraged friends to gather over coffee and pastry or sandwiches, but post pandemic, the interior seating is more spartan and most visitors opt for takeout.

That is easy in the borough, with so many scenic places to go to enjoy whatever you’ve gotten at Indulge. Maybe Stonington Point, or the Town Dock, or Dodge Paddock at the end of Wall Street with its sweeping water and Sandy Point views.

But first you need sustenance. We have gone for breakfast and lunch at Indulge, and both meals were quite good. Beware that breakfast sandwiches, including bagels, are served from 7 to 11:30 a.m., and then lunch sandwiches until 2 p.m.

Quite tasty on the breakfast menu is the Croisantwich, with two eggs, cheese and a choice of bacon, sausage, or ham, for $8.99. The eggs were fried, over medium, with cheese and crispy bacon melted inside a toasted croissant. The sandwich was served warm, wrapped in deli paper, and it was hearty and satisfying.

Also good was the Waist Watcher, $8.49, with an egg, avocado, tomato, and spinach, on toasted multigrain toast. It’s made without cheese or butter, for those who prefer no dairy, but there are other, more sinful breakfast options.

How about the Fat Boy? For $8.39, you get your choice of bagel with bacon, egg, American cheese piled on a bed of cream cheese and sliced with thin red onion. The Sweet Easter, $8.99, is two eggs, ham, and American cheese all assembled on a grilled Portuguese sweet roll. The Portuguese roll is a perfect fit for the borough, which once was a settling point for immigrants from the Azores.

Indulge offers bread and bagel options including gluten-free and choices such as a hard roll, white, rye, sourdough bread or sesame, jalapeno cheddar, or asiago bagels – something to suit everyone’s fancy.

The lunch sandwiches are equally as tasty. The Mama Mia, $10.99, blew our socks off. The house-roasted turkey was plentiful and paired with provolone, roasted red peppers, fresh baby green spinach, tomatoes, and pesto, on a baguette. The ingredients all blended for a delicious flavor palate. Our only disappointment was taking the last bite.

Another favorite was the Sorry Charlie, $9.99, a blend of white albacore tuna and mayonnaise on a New York hard roll with provolone, lettuce, tomato, and thin sliced red onion. We are fussy about tuna, and this sandwich got a big thumbs up. It was loaded and perfectly concocted with just the right amount of mayo – not too little and not too much.

Also on the menu as a special now is the Smart Guy, $11.49, which we will try the next time. It is billed as prosciutto, genoa salami, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperoncini, all dressed with house Italian, and served on a baguette.

It’s November, right? So of course, there is a Thanksgiving sandwich with turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and mayonnaise, all for $10.49.

We have eaten in and taken out, and had good service both times, but others have told us the wait for a walk-in sandwich can be exceptional – 45 minutes or longer. My advice is to call ahead whenever possible. Indulge has a great “order online” system that allows you to customize your order. When you go in for pickup, there’s a big cubby cabinet where your bag will be clearly marked and waiting.

This is a coffee house, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention at least a few. There’s a Pumpkin Pie Latte, $5.75, a custom blend of real pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices, sweet condensed milk with steamed milk and whipped cream and sprinkled cinnamon. Doesn’t that scream fall?

The regular hot coffee is good, but they will do a flat white, an espresso macchiato, or a breve if you please. The beverage menu is quite extensive.

The Indulge website explains that the owner is Geri Moran, a single mother who had a vision that led to Indulge, a community coffee shop and a place for a sandwich and the opportunity to connect with friends or to quietly read. It’s all of that and quite popular. Stop in and give it a try.

Indulge

17 High St., Stonington

(860) 415-8575

@IndulgeCoffeeCo

Atmosphere: The focus here is on takeout, and in good weather, sipping and nibbling on the pink Adirondack chairs out front is encouraged and quite pleasant. There are a smattering of tables and chairs inside, but since the pandemic, the former cozy coffee-drinking and sandwich-eating space has been refashioned to encourage takeout.

Cuisine: Well made, creative coffee beverages and innovative breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

Prices: Reasonable

Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week

Credit cards: Yes

Accessibility: There are three steps up to get inside.

Outdoor Seating: There is a bench and eight big, bright pink Adirondack chairs with tables out front. Directly across High Street is the borough’s beautiful Wadawanuck Square, where there are shade trees, more benches and free Wi-Fi.