All Entries in the "Coffee Shops" Category
Restaurant Review: Tre Amici/The Bunker Coffee House
If you ask Lucas Price, employee and barista at the Bunker Coffee House (1907 19th Street, Tampa FL 33605, 813-247-6964) why he loves his job, he’ll most likely flash a smile at you and give you the same answer he gave me. “I love this job, and this place.” He says while pouring an aromatic cup of coffee for me. “It’s so cool here. We have performers in and out of here and local art on the walls. My friends used to tell me about this place, and I would come up here. I really like working here.”
That kind of enthusiasm can be seen in everything Lucas does at the Bunker. I walked in a groggy Saturday morning while covering the Flan Fest to find a friendly face who would gladly extole the virtues of the Bunker. He has a laid back approach, but still eager to please. Exactly the right mix of humble servant and ringmaster that any good bartender must be. He shows me around the place, showing off an art collection on loan from a local private collector. He shows me to comfortable seating at the bar, as well as their extensive pastry and wine collection. I watch Ybor moving hurriedly outside the large front windows, but the Bunker seems unphased. It’s a lapse in time that is perfect for that Saturday morning coffee break, and I succumb to it.
Every night, there’s a bustling crowd in the bunker, often filling the place to capacity. Ever Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30, there’s an open Mic Night. Spoken word artists, musicians and other performers fill the stage. On Thursdays between 7:30 and 9:30, there’s Songwriter’s Night. Local musicians, guitarists, vocalists and poets take the small stage to have intimate sessions amongst a captive audience. Every Friday between 7 and 10, there’s a different Live Music performer. The atmosphere is perfect for these performances, with an ambiance that mixes musical instruments with ybor-based cigar culture with the quiet refinements of a low key wine cellar.
Daytime at the Bunker is no less entertaining. My two interactions there have been in the morning and mid day, both dealing with a continual flow of consumers out for their cup of joe. On Saturday mornings, they offer a deal where you get a free cup of coffee with any pastry. I highly recommend the Blueberry Scone. Be sure to steal some of the classy black napkins. They’re a nice touch.
Restaurant Review: Cafe Bohemia
I love a good cup of coffee, and I’m glad for little coffee shops. In a world of corporate coffee juggernauts like Starbucks and the Coffee Beanery serving up overpriced brew with a taste below par, it’s the small shops that give the attention to detail that separates a good cup of coffee from your Average Joe.
On Friday, I was delighted to try Cafe Bohemia (937 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, 727-895-4495). My wife got the Chai, which she said was “very good” and I had the blended frozen cappuccino with a double shot of expresso. It was strong, but not bitter. The drink was creamy and smooth, as it should be, but just the perk I needed.
The cool thing about Cafe Bohemia, other than the great drink, is that it caters to local talent in a series of nightly entertainment spotlights. On some days, they have a DJ spinning a mix of hip-hop, punk, dance music and disco. Other days, open mic night for poetry or spoken word performances. Other nights, they have a live band. There’s always something new and different going on. A large patio area is available for enjoying the warm night air, comfortable couches fill the inside and local art fills the walls, giving anyone an atmosphere they can be comfortable in.
If you’re ever near downtown St. Pete (as I was for the Muse show at the Art Pool), you should drop by and check out this eclectic and fun space.
For more information see their myspace page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=6460166
See their outdoor film festival information as well:
http://stpeteforpeace.org/films.html