Republic, Manchester

On a recent warm Friday evening, a friend and I stopped in at the Republic Cafe on Elm St. for a martini and some appetizers. We ordered the "choose three" appetizer platter with hummus, caponata and tabouli. Accompanied with bread strips and salted dipping oil we enjoyed the divers flavors of our choices while sipping our cosmos. The tabouli and the hummus were both very hearty. The tabouli was mostly cracked wheat with a hint of mint, and the hummus was dense and heavily flavored with cumin. They were nicely contrasted with the sweet flavor of the caponata. Republic boasts local, seasonal and organic foods at reasonable prices. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. I plan to visit again and try an entree.

http://republiccafe.com/