Phoenix on Lee
If by the end of this review you are not convinced into going to try Phoenix coffee, then I just did not do a good enough job at explaining just how great this place is. Let's start with their coffee. We ordered a hot Mocha and a hot Gingersnap latte with oat milk. The Mocha is rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. It has just the right amount of balance between milkiness and chocolatey flavor, which sometimes when ordering mocha, that ratio can be off. The Gingersnap latte was one of the best lattes I've ever had. Imagine drinking an actual gingersnap cookie(hopefully you're a fan of gingersnap). It's flavorful, creamy, perfectly sweet, and hard not to order a second one once you finish the first. We also each ordered bagels, one plain and one rosemary. These bagels definitely do not taste like boring store bought bagels from a bag. The rosemary bagel is one of the reasons I keep coming back here. It is so flavorful, has a perfect amount of salt, just the right amount of crispiness, and a generous amount of rosemary on top. My only complaint is the small 1 oz container of cream cheese that comes on the side, but for the normal people who don't add an absurd amount of cream cheese to their bagels(not me), that would be a perfect amount of cream cheese. Their menu offers the options of oat or soy milk and different types of teas if you're not into dairy. And if you don't like bagels, you might rather enjoy one of their scones, muffins, or cookie options. Each pastry has a small card with what the item is and its price so you don't have to ask. There is also a small fridge up front with juices, kombucha, and various other drinks.
While waiting for your order, you might find yourself looking at the vast amount of art by local artists covering every wall. There are little trinkets and multiple plants scattered around the room, with a cute little “take one leave one” bookshelf near the 2 unisex bathrooms. You might find yourself browsing the wooden shelf holding plants for sale, or maybe the shelves of different coffee beans for you to purchase(they are all delicious and reasonably priced, we regularly use them at home and have loved every flavor we have tried so far). The room is filled with seating, though you might find it a little hard to get a seat during their busy hours. There is bar seating if you're not able to get a table though! A lot of people go to Phoenix to work or read, with plugs scattered around the room if you need to charge your device. The coziness of the room also makes it a great place to meet up with friends. If you hate having to ask for extra sugar or napkins, you will be happy to find the table by the pick up area with lids, napkins, and extra things you might need to add to your drink. If you need a glass of water after you finish your coffee, there is a self serve area near the bar.
The baristas at Phoenix are always nice and friendly, and the coffee and food are consistently good. If you like relaxing while enjoying great coffee, this is the place for you. If you like looking at cool art while enjoying a good pastry, this is the place for you. If you like plants and want to buy a plant with your coffee, this is the place for you. If you don't enjoy having to go searching for parking, there is a large parking lot behind the building with plenty of parking spaces. Phoenix Coffee is a place I will continue to go to almost every week, and I hope after reading this review, you might choose to come here too