Town Diner's Cosmic Cupcakes & Heavenly Pancakes

My recent trip to Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown had two objectives. One, to treat my Mom who was visting to a nice down-home classic diner breakfast. And two, to check out Cosmic Cupcakes, home of the coolest looking cupcakes I have ever seen.

While the Town Diner is a quick drive from Cambridge, turns out that Watertown addresses don't actually go in order all the time so you need landmarks to get around. As you approach what you think should be 627 Mount Auburn Street, there's no sign of the diner. Just a big Star Market. So keep driving about a couple of hundred yards further. When you see the 7-11 on your right, you are there. You'll see the free-standing, real-deal diner right across the street in all its glory.

The entrance to Cosmic Cupcakes is on the side of the diner (both have the same owner, Don Levy). We spotted their multi-colored "Sea Urchin" cupcakes through the window immediately (they're kind of hard to miss) but decided to have breakfast first and hit the cupcake shop after.

Deluxe Town Diner is a throwback as it should be. Nice, comfortable booths for spreading out as well as bar stools that swivel for those who want to be closer to the action. The menu is immense and covers everything from eggs and pancakes to meatloaf and mac and cheese. But Town Diner goes the extra mile and has some unusual items on the menu you won't find at just any diner.

Exhibit A - Sweet Potato Pancakes. The menu says they have no cholesterol but I'm guessing that the addition of pecans, a heap of butter and maple syrup makes that statement null and void. I have to say I hadn't had pancakes in a really long time and these made it worth the wait. The pancakes were light and fluffy and though you could taste the sweet potato, they were not sweet per se. Just really delicious. Order the short stack. It's more than enough.

Exhibit B - Blue Corn Pancakes. These were equally delicious, and with the corn in the flour, not sweet. But combined with the butter and maple syrup, perfect. They even had a little blue tinge to them which is kind of cool. You don't get to eat blue food that often.


On to Cosmic Cupcakes

When we entered the store, there were two large trays of colorful "Sea Urchin" muffins in the case. What a beauiful, fun display. I asked the woman in the store how long it takes the baker to frost the cupcakes. And she said only about 2 minutes a piece. Clearly she has her technique down to a science.

The frosting is creamy and delicious, so creamy that unless you eat the cupcakes immediately (and why wouldn't you) you should keep them refrigerated since the frosting starts to melt.

There are two cake flavors - chocolate and yellow cake. The chocolate is very good and along with the frosting almost tastes like a Devil Dog (but better). The yellow cake was a bit dry and may need a bit more butter in the batter which seems to be a common problem with cupcakes. They also have a carrot cake cupcake that has a carrot frosting design on top. I think they should abandon the carrot and adorn the cupcake with the sea urchin look like the others. It's one of those foods that's more fun to eat with the wacky frosting design.

I think these folks are on to something. They may soon become the Magnolia Bakery of the Boston area, with lines out the door of people craving these cupcakes. After all, who doesn't love a cupcake? And when it's fun to look at, you just can't resist.


Deluxe Town Diner and Cosmic Cupcakes
627 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 617.926.8400
www.deluxetowndiner.com
The entrance to Cosmic Cupcakes is on the left-hand side of the diner.