B W.
Yelp
The food, pastries, and drinks are all expensive, but are good. You really can't go wrong with a Mix Bakery pastry! They also serve a small selection of wine, beer, kombucha, and cocktails. Just remember to ask them to heat up your pastries and most food, otherwise they default to just serving everything cold. They have two sandwhich options, which are super good, but I stopped ordering them. They used to be served with a small side of dark green salad with tasty vinaigrette, which I was happily ordering because the sandwhiches are $8.75 and I felt with the salad it was worth that price. However, recently they haven't been including the salad, so I'm paying the same amount--$10 (including tip)--for a small, artisan sandwhich with a few thinly-sliced pickled beets or carrots. No thanks. That's a rip-off. This was a really disappointing change to the menu.
The environment is awesome. I'm glad we finally have a large coffee shop on this side of town with good food options and plenty of seating. It's also got an awesome outside seating area, but there are no outlets out there. So far I haven't had any trouble finding outlets inside, but I've only been coming here summer term, so that might change once the SOU students return in Fall. WiFi is faster than the cheap crap I have at home, so that's a plus. The coffee shop is next to a busy street, and when the large garage windows are rolled up, it can get pretty loud inside, so bring noise-cancelling headphones.
Parking can be difficult. I usually ride my bike, but there are no bike racks and VERY FEW nearby structures to attach bikes to it. I usually have to lock my bike up at an electrical meter thing near their bathrooms, but sometimes there are already one or two bikes hooked up there, so I have to go somewhere else in town to study.
Finally, the most annoying thing about this place are the little, black flies. I've heard customers complaining about them at least twice, and one lady asked for a fly swatter, but the employer said they didn't have any. He said he had opened the large garage window to let them out, but honestly I think that makes them worse sometimes. They just do not leave you alone, no matter how much you swipe at them. They are so annoying, and it's been a problem all summer whether or not the large windows are open. I don't know what they could do about them, but surely there's something to deter them. It's gross! I remember when Alan Bros Coffee was in this location, they also had fly problems, so maybe it's just this building?? All in all, it's a good spot, but it probably won't be my regular spot anymore. The prices, flies, and lack of bike racks are frustrating. But if you're looking for a clean place to stop by on occasion for good coffee drinks, pastries, plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, and friendly staff, this is a good spot!
