Michaela D.
Yelp
I wasn't trying to make my 400th review anything particularly special--but I secretly hoped it would work out that way. Well lucky me when I found this lovely coffee shop on my little getaway trip!
I knew I was going to be hungry after finishing up hiking at Shenandoah National Park, so I had just planned to find a little hole in the wall to get into & out of quickly on the drive back south. When I found Before & After on Yelp, I could tell it would be a step up from some of the old restaurants in the area. Once I saw their menu I knew this was where I wanted to go!
Once my GPS showed I had arrived, I quickly began to look for parking as there seemed to be none in sight. Thankfully, I soon after saw a (small) sign directing you behind the building. I got the last available spot! I walked into the shop and was greeted by a sweet woman behind the counter. I ended up ordering the grilled cheese & an iced rosemary latte. The ooey, gooey panini hit the spot with its cheese trio pulling apart just as it should.
Now for my drink: I honestly was ready to write my review immediately, because it was so good that I needed to boast. I literally smiled to myself (with teeth!) after I tried it, I was so impressed. I like to think I know a thing or two about what's good coffee, but whether you do or you don't, you'd agree with me that this drink was divine. The rich taste of espresso cut through the milk and balanced with that rosemary flavor in a way that simply made my taste buds sing. I savored every sip.
I brought my bookbag with me on my drive in case I found a spot to get work done, but I was skeptical of what would be in the area. To my surprise, I really did find THE spot! B&A was the ideal setting: super bright, comfortable seating, outlets, and of course that dreamy historic-mountain-town feel surrounding you. I was SO glad to find a local spot where I could be productive while on travel as a remote worker. I didn't have cell service, so thank God for that good good WiFi they had to top off my already-amazing experience.
Man, I would come here all the time if I were local. As Yelpers we love to find hidden gems in all of the places we travel to, but not all of them stay in our memory past the pictures and review. However, I'll definitely remember this coffee shop long after my trip is over.