Coffee Break

As you know, we here at NHIE love ourselves some brunch, and this weekend was no different.  In an effort to keep things fresh for the blog we consulted the ever trusted Yelp to guide us to our new brunch haven.  After about ten minutes of deliberation (and the realization that Rob just doesn’t get out) we landed on The Library Coffeehouse located on South Dale Mabry. I’m not gonna lie… I am not a huge fan of anything named Library. Even while at school I think I only went about 4 times in my 4 years. But let me tell you, this is one library I can get on board with.

At first we were confused about the location. South Dale Mabry– we’ve driven down it a million times and never noticed it. Tucked away in a little strip mall you’ll find this quaint, little, country cottage-esque oasis. While it sits just a little back from one of the busiest streets in Tampa, once you get inside it’s so quiet and cozy you just want to curl up with a good book. This Sunday morning we walked in to the smell of fresh coffee and were greeted by a friendly face. She let us know about their quiche of the day- spinach, tomato, and feta. We all jumped at the chance to get the last slice but Nicholas beat us to it (Shocker, Nicholas got his way) So the rest of us decided to do an egg, cheddar and bacon sandwich on a croissant with a side of fruit.

We took a seat near the front of the coffeehouse and caught up on the news (both of the world and the weekends happenings) and started with our drinks. Nicholas and I opted for water but the others were more adventurous and got a coffee flavored milkshake (Rob) and an Americano (Ryan).

Our food was served shortly after that and we couldn’t have been more excited. The fruit salad was a fresh, colorful mix of apples, oranges, strawberries, grapes and bananas. After enjoying a few bites it was time to put my taste buds to the real test. I took a bite of my sandwich and was immediately pleased. No condiments needed. It was seasoned perfectly and the croissant held all the goodness together.

Not only was the food delicious, but the atmosphere is so inviting I wouldn’t put it above someone to stay for hours. The staff and patrons were so friendly, making small talk and sharing their newspapers, that you may never want to leave. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised when trying a new place and we will definitely be going back soon to try their lunch menu. No matter if it’s a rainy day, or a sunny day- grab a book, take advantage of their free WiFi with your iPad or laptop and get into The Library.

Enjoy! – Allison