Tia Maria’s European Cafe in New Bedford Has Expanded its Restaurant

One of New Bedford's staple restaurants for authentic Portuguese food and freshly brewed coffee has expanded.

If you've ever been to Tia Maria's European Cafe on North Water Street, you're aware of the busy breakfast lines and crowded weekend mornings. To accommodate the customers, owners Jessica and Ryan Arruda have purchased the building next door to allow for more tables and less wait time.

They nailed it.

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The newly obtained Centre Street storefront offers the same great views of Downtown's historic cobblestones and wandering tourists. A vintage black marble fireplace (non-operational) sits proudly beside the barista station, as freshly ground coffee beans' tantalizing aroma fills the restaurant. Tia's went above and beyond to embody the overall feel of a European cafe right here in New Bedford.

Thursday, July 6th, was the quaint cafe's unofficial soft opening to the public, but the word is out and the expansion is officially complete.

"We simply needed a lot more space," Ryan said, "We looked into it for a few years as something we always needed and once the opportunity presented itself, we took it and went right to work."

The entire process took a little over a year to finish from the paperwork to the renovations as the former arts and crafts business The Drawing Room suddenly came back to life with Portuguese flair and decor. The additional room has 10 extra tables and a bonus countertop that seats four more. Even the restroom's decadent design adds character and equity to the newly renovated room.

36 extra seats in total, allowing for more patronage during a busy Sunday morning rush hour.

"I love that we now have a designated cafe section that we never had before, on top of a fully functioning restaurant," Jess excitedly said. "People won't feel as rushed and will be able to sit, relax, and take their time."

The overall aesthetic is pleasing to the eye with the same cozy atmosphere and superb customer service. Menu-wise, nothing has changed. The employees are still buzzing around taking orders as Tia Maria's continues to flourish and preserve the Portuguese culture throughout the restaurant. The expansion is nothing less than a compliment to an already successful business.