Seeing someone walk the halls with a drink in hand at school is a routine occurrence, and a predictable one at that: most everyone can recognize the colorful Nutrition Hub teas and Starbucks Strawberry Açai Refreshers sipped at Brebeuf on the daily. However, as winter sets in and our tastes turn from fruit-based drinks to coffee, we thought it fitting to introduce more Braves to a coffee shop less than a mile away from school.
Lulu’s Coffee & Bakehouse is nestled between the Planet Fitness and the Nina Nails on 86th Street. They offer several coffee options as well as items from a smaller bakery menu. We ordered a total of six items from the shop, and below are our honest reviews and recommendations:
We ordered an Iced Indian Chai with vanilla and were very pleased with the drink. Made within seconds by the enthusiastic baristas, the drink was equal parts sweet and spice with sharp notes of cinnamon. Made with whole milk rather than the traditional almond milk in American chai, we found the drink to have a thicker consistency and taste. For all chai-lovers, this order is definitely one to try during the winter season, not to mention worth the $5.
Similar to the Iced Indian Chai, we ordered an Iced Spiced Chai with an added shot of espresso. We enjoyed this drink as well, with spices similar to the Indian Chai but a little bit sweeter. For coffee-lovers the added shot of espresso gives the chai some added depth, combining the espresso’s bitterness with the sweet spices of the chai.
With every autumn comes a seasonal menu, so we decided to try one of their fall drinks. Lulu’s seasonal items included a Blue Moon Vanilla Chai, a Twix or Treat salted caramel latte, and more. We ordered the Granny’s Myth, a green apple latte with caramel. The coffee itself was great but we found the apple flavoring a little overpowering and artificial. The two flavors didn’t blend well together, but this could just be a matter of personal taste.
As for bakery items, we chose to get a small slice of coffee cake. This dessert ended up being one of our favorites from our food selection, and had a very fresh and moist taste. A great pairing with any coffees from the menu, the cake was an enjoyable pick-me-up, especially when served warm.
Along with the coffee cake we got a peach scone. The scone had a buttery texture, crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. Our only critique is that we found the peach flavor to be subtle; however, if you are looking for something stronger or peach is not your thing, the bakery introduces new flavors everyday. If you are looking for a warm sweet treat to start your morning we would recommend!
For our savory food item we ordered the three cheese quiche with sun-dried tomatoes. This quiche was a flavorful and healthy snack. The sun-dried tomatoes added an acidic kick to complement the cheeses and egg, all packaged together with a crunchy crust. We would definitely recommend this for a quick breakfast or lunch.
Less than a mile away from school, Lulu’s Coffee and Βakehouse is a great local alternative for coffee, specialty drinks, snacks, and sweet treats. As the holiday season begins we encourage you to pay them a visit and try their winter menu!
