Third Place Coffee Shop

Coffee date with the homies and we decide to visit Third Place. It’s located in the heights and shares the same parking lot with affiliated restaurant Jun. I arrived around 9:15am and there was a decent amount of spots in the private lot, but by the time we left it was full. There is also street parking.

The inside is modern casual and makes good use of seating for the smallish size. We snagged one of the two elusive half circular booths with a round table and seats on the other side. I ordered the nutty brew which boasts a peanut cold foam, pilonsillo which is a Mexican sugar, and peanut topping. I was hungry and added on a tomato bacon jam empanada that was topped with an everything bagel spice. The barista raved about it being it her favorite. My expectations are sky high with the prices they charge. The drink ran $9.50 while the empanada was a tad more reasonable at $6.

After stirring my drink, the cold brew combined with the peanut-ie foam was just ok. It tasted exactly how you’d imagine it. While not bad, I couldn’t help be let down by the outrageous price. Still, it was easy to finish and there wasn’t a lot of sweetness which is a plus. The candied peanuts were nice, but I didn’t scoop much out till they were at the bottom. By that point I was all peanut’d out.

The empanada on the other hand. The outside was crunchy, the everything topping was delectable with the perfect proportion of seasoning, and the savory filling was the icing on the cake. The tomato bacon jam was light, but complex. Don’t get me wrong I like tomatoes, but I wouldn’t expect it to shine as the star of the show like it did. The tomato was the last thing on my tongue after the flavors of each bite evaporated, and that left me craving another. The bacon notes weren’t as apparent, but it didn’t need to be.

The restrooms deserve a shoutout. They were extremely clean and well decorated with tons of wall art. The lit candle is what sealed the deal on the special mention.

Overall it was an ok drink that is hurt by the pricing and a delicious pastry. The baristas and staff are friendly and happy to help with any questions. As a cafe I have to factor in the drink more, but the empanada was a huge win and a reason for me to come back.

Rating: 558/1000