Calm atmosphere? Check. Fireplace? Check. Delicious meals and delightful drinks? That’s a given.

Tastebuds Bistro & Catering, located on the corner of Main Street and Route 6, is now open for business and ready to serve. With a menu spanning from mixed drinks to comfort food to dessert, owner Carol Lareau says it’s a one-of-a-kind place for the area.

“Basically everything in here is handmade,” she says.  “We make our own desserts, our own dressings. We’re roasting our own turkey breasts and ham and roast beef. We try to be different.

After a two-year process of looking at several locations and evolving an idea from a takeout deli to all-out bistro with a full liquor license, Lareau says Tastebuds is exactly how she envisioned it years ago.

Lareau, who is also in the real estate business, has been involved with food and restaurants for roughly 20 years. From bartending to preparing salads to catering for fishing fleets, she's done it all. She says the two industries have many similarities.

“There’s a lot of common ties between real estate and restaurants, especially with my customer base,” she says. “Real estate customers become family, and the people [at Tastebuds] are treated the same way. I’ve been very blessed with good connections and having so many people here support us. With anything, as long as you have a good product and treat it special, people will come.”

The food and the atmosphere wowed first-time customers Jackie and Margie Pullo.

“We’ve been waiting for it to open,” Jackie said. “It’s just an adorable place. Very inviting. We don’t really have a place like this in Mattapoisett.”

Margie agreed.

“It’s got everything. The food is fantastic and the dessert is amazing,” she said.

Though Lareau admits it is risky to start a new business, especially one as volatile as restaurants, she believes her venture will do well and has a strong commitment to the town and customers. She also works alongside her children Josh and Brittany.

“This is part of that homemade character,” she says. “We’re family here. And the customers are a part of that."

Tastebuds is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

For more information call (508) 758-8524.