Clover

Clover is a vegetarian counter-service restaurant in Central Square, part of the Clover Food Lab group. Its sandwiches, fries, soups, salads and drinks are made from scratch every day using ingredients it describes as actually local and actually seasonal, with produce such as sweet potatoes from Next Barn Over in Hadley and tomatoes from Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon. The food philosophy favors simplicity and care over exotic ingredients, fancy technique or flowery menu descriptions.

Speed matters as much as flavor here. The kitchen times itself constantly, with average serve times around three and a half minutes, and it calls itself fast food that runs a little slower than McDonald’s. Almost everything is made in-house each day, though the team does not make its own ketchup or mayonnaise. Seasonal sandwiches come and go, such as an heirloom tomato pesto sandwich and the egg and eggplant, and morning customers can see soups and salads being made for lunch.

What to Know

• Clover caters events.
• The company shares recipes and stories online, including how to make everything in its zucchini sandwich.
• Clover is listed by the Central Square Business Improvement District.