Steve G.
Yelp
I just had an unexpected delightful experience at a beautiful little café near downtown Houston. Nestled away in the building of an old paper company and hidden under the intersection of several major highways, this place should definitely be on your target list. If you have read any of my reviews, you know that I don't simply say things like great, or fun, or check this place out. I typically go into extreme detail, and that only happens when a place truly deserves a review. I eat out more than frequently and most of the time, don't give reviews. This place is a delight.
Upon entering the parking lot, guided by my Google maps, I wasn't even sure if I was in the right place. I wanted a simple café where I could sip on coffee while waiting for the offices for the city of Houston to jump through all of the necessary hoops. Assuming and hoping I was in the right place, I cautiously parked my vehicle amid some of the homeless people living under the bridge. Nice vehicles in the parking lot made me believe that things would be fine and safe. So, I walked up the ramp and opened the big blue door.
First impressions are critical. The very first thing that hit me was the gorgeous aroma. A huge pile of massive sacks of coffee were stacked by the front door while the boss, Chris, was moving them himself. Anybody can throw out a casual greeting, but we all know the difference when something is heartfelt and sincere. An earnest welcome to his establishment was offered and even inquired about my day, not like a simple "how are you?" greeting that is thrown out in casual conversation. Rather, I got the feeling that they actually cared, a rarity in any establishment, certainly one in downtown Houston. Brief chitchat ensued and I was preparing myself for a fantastic, yet simple and elegant experience.
The building looks as you think it might, and industrial makeover to what is now an urban Café. Polished concrete floors and slick looking chairs could mean fast food or simply something that is clean, simple and elegant. Everything looks great, smells great and there really is not a trace of sound from the massive volume of vehicles buzzing by on the highway only feet from the front door.
My plan was to only get a simple cup of coffee while I waited for the city to finish their work. Instead, I opted for a latte and the spinach and mushroom eggs Benedict. Something about the menu and the energy inside drew me to something more than just a cup of Joe and a waiting spot. I made a good choice.
Smiling faces prepared a beautiful latte, handcrafted with care and packed full of flavor. This is not your typical pseudo Barrista crank them out as fast as you can Starbucks type chain coffee shack. This is the real deal.
I spotted a small table with an electrical outlet for charging, and sat down for only a few moments while my breakfast was being prepared. I barely had time to send a text and look at a Facebook post when a beautiful meal was placed in front of me.
We have all eaten at those places where the food looks good and tastes like plastic. We have also eaten at the places that have phenomenal flavor but presentation is lacking. This place, however, has it all. Look at the beauty of the presentation, not just of the latte but of the spinach leaves accenting a beautifully prepared breakfast. Flavor stands on its own. I had no salt or pepper shaker on the table, and I can only assume there might've been some in the restaurant, but neither were needed. Sure, if you like to oversalt your food and plan on having some type of cardiac issue later in your life, you may want to oversalt this meal. If you actually enjoy dining, leave it alone and enjoy.
About halfway through my meal, manager Chris came by and asked how everything was. He didn't ask if everything was okay, but rather how it was. This to me, is a very important distinction. if one is looking for a binary answer of good or bad, ask a question that warrants that. If you truly want quality feedback, ask better questions, even open-ended questions. I laugh now, because my mouth was full when he asked. All I could utter out was "fantastic."
The mix of people in the café varies. There certainly are quite a few bustling college students, laptops open all trying to figure out what is next in their life. There are a handful of city workers and even some general contractors working on projects. I The mix of people,... Works. Everyone does their own thing.
This was a first-time visit for me and it certainly will be the last. Congratulations to the entire crew at the Paper Company Café on a job that requires a whole bunch of words, but when your mouth is full can simply be called, fantastic!