Tropical Paradise

Well I'm off to spring break! I'll be in Florida for the week and my goal there is to come back with the best beach drink that the sunshine state has to offer. I'll keep my eyes open for new mixes and will report back in a week when I've sampled the local flavor.

Panera Bread (St Louis Bread Co)

Bleh! I really didn't enjoy my experience at Panera. The atmosphere tries to be like a coffee shop run by "ma and pop" but just ends up coming off cheesy. The food is decent but after more research, you're probably better off eating at McDonalds in terms of health value. The free wireless internet is a plus and it works very well and a sign on the door says that Panera operates the nations largest free wireless network. That's a nice bonus that will give the grade a boost in overall standing but not much else will. The coffee is bland and uninspiring, with only a few flavors that rarely change (if they ever do because I've been there a few times and have never seen different ones). The service is friendly enough and the best part was the bakery. The doughnut and danish selection is good but I personally am not that big a fan of things that sweet so I passed on without purchasing any of them. The prices were reasonable and the armchairs were comfortable enough but nothing about the common space intrigued me. Overall Panera wasn't a very good experience for me. Nothing about it was blatantly bad, but nothing stood out to prove that I shouldn't walk across the street (to either Kaldi's or The Artisan) and spend my money there. Decent enough but nothing to set the world on fire with, so Panera so far ranks last on my list.

Cherry Street Artisan

WOW! I was blown away by the artisan. I've never really spent much time in the artisan before. Thinking it was too trendy and too counter-culture for me to go there and not look like a goofball. WRONG WRONG WRONG. The eclectic atmosphere and live music coupled with the outstanding food menu make the artisan a great place to stop in for lunch or dinner. The coffee is second to none as well, and they serve alcohol and they have a very wide selection of wines, beers, and spirits to choose from if you're looking for some time to kick back. There are comfortable couches for relaxing and chatting with friends, tables for studying/eating, and a few wing chairs for the more intimate feeling of having your own comfortable space without sharing with others. The staff is friendly and prompt and seems to enjoy their jobs. The atmosphere is very conducive to studying, socializing or whatever you're in the mood for. Being a student I rarely make it up to the artisan for coffee because there are other places which are more convenient for me, but after this experience it's clear that I'll have to expand my sphere beyond the campus and check out the artisan more often. It's a winner on all accounts.