The Bite: Unthaw With Hot Brew & Soup At Coffee Spot Cafe
THE BITE: Last week, damp weather and plunging temperatures abruptly replaced summer’s sunny comfort. (Thankfully, the sun returned). It was on one of those stormy days last week that I ducked into the Coffee Spot Cafe to unthaw with a hot latte and bowl of soup.
The cafe has been located on the corner of Sheepshead Bay Road and Jerome Avenue for more than 10 years. The cozy little nook could be described as a sort of mini-diner — though the bright, cheery atmosphere stands apart from some of the area’s other diners, which seem to have been overtaken by card-carrying AARP members.
There’s plenty of counter space to sit down under the colorful hanging lamps. And there are a few tables tucked in the back — nice for curling up with some coffee and reading the news. Oddball knick-knacks, like brass tea kettles, tin boxes, and a worn antique camera, are scattered around the restaurant.
The Cafe offers some appealing breakfast and lunch specials. The apple pancakes ($6.90) and the grilled chicken sandwich on 8 grain bread ($6.50) looked tasty. There’s also freshly baked scones, muffins and cakes behind the glass display case on the bar. But given the soggy weather, I opted for a bowl of the mushroom and barley soup ($4) to go with my latte. The soup brought a cozy-cabin warmth to my belly and highlighted the flavor of the mushrooms. I could picture them being plucked from a mossy forest floor as I smelled the aroma of the broth. And the ample amount of barley made for a belly-filling meal.
The latte wasn’t quite strong enough to lift me off the floor, but it was smooth and flavorful. And the milk was expertly frothed to make a velvety layer of foam on top of the brew.
Altogether, the soup and latte sent me out the door with a nice kick of motivation.
Coffee Spot Cafe also offers some intriguing meal items, including schnitzel topped with egg and served with mash potatoes ($9.90) — one of my favorite comfort foods. I’ll have to stop by for dinner visit, though the restaurant closes a little early.
Coffee Spot Cafe, 1617 Jerome Avenue, at the corner of Sheepshead Bay Road, 718-769-6666. Open daily, 7am – 6:30pm.
The Bite is Sheepshead Bites’ column exploring the foodstuffs of the Sheepshead Bay area. Each week we check out a different offering from one of the many restaurants, delis, food carts, bakeries, butchers, fish mongers, or grocers in our neighborhood. If it’s edible, we’ll take a bite.