A New Cafe in Town

The count down began four weeks ago. Soon to be Green Cafe daily customers were anticipating the grand opening of their new, potential collegetown hangout. When the glass double doors finally opened, the usual stale smells of Pita Pit, Starbucks, and Insomnia Cookie were overpowered by the crisp, fresh aroma from the chic, green eatery. The line of customers grew quickly from one to thirty. Some were curious passerbys, others entered the store convinced to leave with a new Ithacan delicacy. 

As a resident of Collegetown who lives close to the cafe, I decided to follow its progression on a day-to-day basis. For the past three weeks my collegetown residence afforded me the ability to walk by the project every morning. After taking a liking to the aesthetics I decided to introduce myself to the builders as well as the owner and vowed my business. Yesterday was my first visit, first three visits actually. 

In the subsequent sections, an unbiased, well-informed opinion will be shared and left for readers to decide whether to push through the glass doors and enter the Green Cafe or remain a passerby. 

Aesthetics: 

It is a refreshing change of collegetown eatery scenery. A bright and vibrant feeling immediately surfaces when one enters. But that novice feeling can quickly turn into an overwhelming sentiment. A lot is happening simultaneously. Understanding its' New York City roots may permit some to understand why it seems the Green Cafe is trying to offer everything. Hot bar, cold bar, salad bar, sandwich bar, but no 'typical' bar. They have yet to obtain a liquor license which could overwhelm others in a different way. What was thought to be a 'typical' bar became a smoothie bar. The marble counter-tops reflect the 10+ flat screen tvs that are placed throughout the cafe. All of these features are not only visible once one is inside, but they are also obvious when staring through the enormous windows that surround two-thirds of the cafe. 

What to eat:

I walked in with no expectations and left with a salmon roll, an assortment of salads from the cold bar and a container of fresh strawberries. Although the aforementioned had already been prepared before entering the cafe, there are a number of at-your service features. A tofu-station, sandwich station, salad station and don't forget the smoothie bar. You can pick out your food or have it prepared for you depending on how much time you have to spend. I suggest browsing through the cafe before making any decisions. It took me three trips to educate myself on how vast a selection they have. 

Staff:

For having opened just recently they seem to know what they are doing. Although some areas are more under-developed than others, there is someone always willing to jump into a new station. I witnessed the man who made my salad in at least three other stations before I left the cafe. The atmosphere amongst the staff as well as the customers is exciting and unfamiliar. We are new to them, they are new to us and it is intense to have to establish ones' reputation within the world of collegetown. 

The down-side:

A common sentiment amongst college students who have recently experienced the Green Cafe is that it is quite pricey. Understandably the cafe has to earn what was put into the construction, but regardless of that fact, after a while the "newness" of the cafe will die down and students will choose their wallets over their stomachs. 

Although they seem trendy and inviting, the chairs are quite stiff in nature. Crowded by the adjacent smoothie bar, the seating area lacks space and comfort. Customers at first feel compelled to sit down especially during the grand opening but days after that, the seats became less frequently occupied. It would be nice to see some outdoor seating as the warm weather melts collegetown. 

Closing remarks:

Somehow in this mess of an economy, the Green Cafe managed to open and they seemed to do so successfully. Ithacans welcomed the new place with open arms and mouths. It is surely not destined to simply be a late-night stop-in. Although pricey, it does have an enormous selection which may intimidate some but attract others. The idea that one can choose there own salad, or make their own sandwich has compelled many collegetown residents to visit the cafe. The New York City aura has satisfied some customers and disappointed others who see it more of a "mainstream" venue. I welcome the refreshing change of scenery. The multitude of options rather than just sandwiches or pizza suits the university atmosphere. So as one passes by the enormous glass windows, keep going until one hits the large glass double doors, open them and take a peek. 

Ithacoffee

Students as well as Cornell staff are in continual pursuit for that perfect cup of coffee. Although the recent transition from Seattle's Best to Ithaca Coffee Company satisfies many people on campus, the coffee itself still isn't great. Fortunately there are alternative options for Ithacans who wish to get more than just ones' average cup. The underground coffee life in Ithaca is buzzing with stands, stores and baristas just waiting to serve. Luckily, my quest to study off-campus has challenged me to find such locations two of which will be subsequently touched upon. 

Gimme! Coffee: 

This hidden gem is located on Cayuga Street in the Commons. It is definitely a place for the locals but they seemed to welcome a stranger when I walked in. The stand has a simple and understated decor matched with deep, wonderful smells of coffee, tea and baked goods. As one moves from the front of the stand to the back is when the noise kicks in. Steaming a pitcher of organic milk, grinding the dark brown specialty beans, blending a frothy mixture are sounds that resonate as soon as one reaches the counter. The service is well-trained. Each of the baristas seemed to exercise their own form of 'latte art'. Their passion to perfect their customers drink of choice is mirrored in one of their company statements: "We're convinced that coffee-just pure, brilliant coffee- can bring sensory pleasure on a par with fine wine or artisan chocolate." Their dedication to using their own line of beans instead of mainstreaming their company to marginal brands is what makes them unique. And in Ithaca, uniqueness is treasured. 

Queen of Tarts: 

This tiny spectacle is located on the opposite side of college town and is known to very few students. An early jog up Dryden road last thursday ended with the finish line at this unobtrusive cafe. I had seen it earlier on my drive to 'Wings Over Ithaca', and its quaint appearance immediately drew me back for a closer look. If it looks small from the outside, it is even smaller on the inside. With the menu changing daily as well as a dangerous selection of home-made desserts, 'Queen of Tarts' is the perfect place for an afternoon snack as well as an awakening cup of joe. There brand of choice is no other than Gimme! Coffee, but the barista seemed less interested in perfecting the shape made in my latte rather more excited to tell me what the soup of the day was as well as which dessert she recommended. The vegan brownie, although sounds like an oxymoron, was my dessert of choice. It satisfied my carb-fix as well as sweet-tooth. I left satiated with a feeling similar to the one I had experienced as a child leaving my grandmother's notorious kitchen. The coffee was nothing short of spectacular, with several blends being offered as well as a variety of prepared drinks. Although it is not as bustling as Starbucks is in the morning, the few that do make the trip up to 'Queen of Tarts' clearly know good coffee and good desserts.