Farmer and Fork

Lunch Hours: 11am – 2:30pm  
Drinks and Deserts: 2:30pm – 3pm  

Open seven days a week, the Farmer and the Fork café offers exceptional on-site lunch for Garden visitors. A creative and carefully crafted menu features sandwiches, bowls, salads, soups, kids fare, and dessert, all prepared with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. With a selection of local beer on tap and an array of non-alcoholic beverage options, there’s something for everyone when you enjoy lunch out at the Garden. During warm weather months, guests are welcome to dine on the terrace and take in spectacular views of the Wachusett Reservoir.  

Farmer and the Fork is managed by Peppers Artful Events, a Northborough-based catering company with a commitment to sustainability. In addition to maintaining partnerships with local farms, Peppers sources produce from its own hydroponic Freight Farm.  

View today’s café offerings! Orders can be placed in person in the café or online for pick up at your selected time.   

Do I have to buy tickets to the Garden to eat in the Café?
No, you no longer need to purchase admission to dine in the café, but we ask that you enjoy your meal in the café dining areas unless you’ve purchased admission. Please stop by the front desk and check-in before heading to the café. 

Can I make a reservation?
No, the café does not make reservations. There are plenty of seating options, though, and they are first come first serve. 

Where can I sit? 
You may take your meal outside on the terrace or eat in the café. If you have purchased Garden admission, you may take your meal anywhere on the grounds. There are plenty of seating options available all throughout the property, including patio tables in the Winter Garden and in the North East Link. Or pick a picnic spot! 

Are there any grab and go options?
Yes! Skip the line! The café has opened its new grab and go cooler stocked full of delicious lunch items. Simply purchase your meal at the kiosk beside the cooler and enjoy! 

Do I have to order online in advance?
No, you do not have to order online in advance, though if you’d like to you may. The option is there for those that would like to reduce their time inside and have a quick grab and go option available. 

Farmer and The Fork is managed by Peppers Artful Events, a Northborough-based catering company with decades of experience specializing in highend catering. As the preferred caterer at New England Botanic Garden, Peppers provides exceptional food service for hundreds of private events hosted onsite each year from weddings and baby showers to corporate retreats, holiday parties, and more. A 3-star green certified caterer by the Green Restaurant Association, Peppers shares the Garden’s values of environmental stewardship and sustainability. They incorporate a variety of environmentally friendly practices into their operations such as using high-efficiency kitchen equipment, composting kitchen scraps, and adopting bio-based materials for flatware and packaging. Peppers also sources most of the meat and produce on their menus from farms within 100 miles of the café, including their own hydroponic Freight Farm. Visit their website to learn more or email Farmerandthefork@peppersartfulevents.com.