by Serenity Joy Miller
On Monday night, I visited High Brow Brew in Westhaven for the first time. The tables out front were full, which I took as a good sign. Busy coffee shops are good coffee shops, and High Brow Brew was no exception.
When I stepped inside the shop, I was welcomed with the rich, delicious aroma of fresh coffee beans. The atmosphere and décor were cozy and modern with wood walls, silver countertops, and simple accents. Light, instrumental jazz music set the tone for a relaxing, quiet evening. A large wooden table, perfect for groups or solo guests, with glass display cases of fresh pastries, muffins, and other baked goods sat in the center of the shop. Electrical outlets lined the walls to provide customers with an enjoyable place to work on their computers away from the office.
Fresh bagels, muffins, doughnuts, and ice cream were displayed at the front counter, along with the daily menu, which consisted of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soup, cheese and charcuterie plates, several tea options, and a variety of coffee types and flavors. After looking over the menu board, I decided to order an Iced Peppermint Mocha Coffee and a Ham & Cheddar Panini. The baristas were friendly and personable, and they brought the food and coffee to my table quickly.
The Panini came to the table piping hot, so I let it cool off for a little bit. Crunchy cheese toast surrounded the creamy sharp cheddar and delectable ham to create an enjoyable texture and taste experience. Even though the Panini was not very large, it was surprisingly filling. I would definitely order this savory toasted sandwich again.
I was expecting a sweet beverage, but the subtle hints of mocha and peppermint allowed the bold, full flavor of the high quality coffee to come through. The integrity of the Counter Culture Coffee (headquartered in Durham, NC) was not compromised or overwhelmed by artificial sweeteners and flavors, which was a nice change of pace from the super sweet drinks that are often served at coffee shops. Don’t get me wrong, I occasionally enjoy sweet coffee drinks, but this time I was happy to satisfy my sweet tooth with some scrumptious ice cream from the Pied Piper Creamery, which is based in Nashville. I tried the Banana Cream Pie and the Pumpkin Pie ice creams before deciding on a small cup of the amazing Lady Goo-Goo, which is a chocolate-based ice cream with marshmallows and peanut butter, just like the famous Goo-Goo Clusters.
High Brow Brew is located at 188 Front Street, #102 in Westhaven near Freeman’s Flowers & Gifts, Ching Asian Bistro, and Westside Wine & Spirits. High Brow Brew is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday from 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Coffee Shop in the November Food Battle.
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