The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 17, 1996, Page 5, Image 5
Wednesday, April 17,1996
Columbia's
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/don't know how it is for the
rest of you during exams, but
this time of year I wake up
every morning and stumble
immediately for the coffee pot.
If a home-brewed cup of joe
isn't possible, though, there are several ,
hip locales around campus that are ready
and willing to offer you any amount of i
that most widely used drug: caffeine.
Columbia's coffee houses also serve
up a variety of tasty desserts and even
"real" food. Three of the city's best?
Cafe Espresso, Adriana's and the
Courtyard Coffeehouse?are close to
campus and definitely caffeinated for
your studying pleasure.
Located across from the Horseshoe
on College Street, Cafe Espresso is a
popular hangout for USC students with
some free time. Opening the cafe's heavy
door to the pungent aroma of coffee
brewing upstairs is an instant wake-up
call. Weeknights usually bring more
studious patrons to Cafe Espresso's smoky
environs, as it is quite easy to tune out
the babbling background. But groups
of friends are always there, as is the
occasional couple engrossed in
conversation.
Cafe Espresso lives up to its name,
offering espresso-based specialty drinks
in addition to the house coffee and
cappuccino common to so many coffee
houses. Their mochas promise a
tantalizing variety of flavors, including
raspberry, almond and caramel. The
Blarney Mocha is an exciting Irish
alternative to the ordinaiy caffeine buzz,
and the Menthe Mocha (my personal
pick) is sweet perfection for peppermint
connoisseurs.
Mocha drinks are $2.45, while
cappuccinos are a reasonable $2.10. All
coffee specialties can be iced?a definite
plus for the coming summer months.
Italian soda, hot tea and a coffee of the
day complete the drink menu.
If caffeination is not on the agenda,
Cafe Espresso also sells a variety of gooey
desserts and filling sandwiches. (Reese's
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Columbia has coffee
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Cajfeinate. Keep as
pie and cappuccino cheesecake caught
my attention, but the selection changes
daily.) At $2.50 a slice, these desserts
are a bargain for your sweet tooth.
Sandwiches and salads are under $5.
Cafe Espresso also welcomes local
artists to perform or exhibit their work
there. Art by Marcello Novo presently
hangs on the cafe's moody red walls, and
acoustic shows entertain patrons on the
weekends.
Just a few blocks farther from campus,
on Saluda Street in Five Points, Adriana's
will satisfy those caffeine cravings and
tempt you with a variety of desserts as
well.
Prices at Adriana's have recently
gone up, as a small notice behind the
counter proclaims, but a specialty drink
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and the most chocolaty, if that is
important. The typical espresso,
cappuccino and coffee of the day are also
available, as are hot and Russian teas.
Fortunately, Adriana's dessert case
does not announce nutritional information
per serving. Who would really want to
know the truth about peanut butter
chocolate fudge, or Black Forest torte or
chocolate truffle mousse cake? Selections
change periodically, and desserts are
under $3 apiece.
Apparently, coffee is a secondary
concern for many patrons of Adriana's.
This establishment, with its Italian flair,
is just as well known for the gelati (Italian
ice cream) churned on the premises daily.
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ir coffee preference,
ur noise tolerance,
houses for all types,
iring exams, take a
r one out. Relax,
teady hand at Jenga.
then mocha, malaga, and pistachio might
Employees will provide a samplinj
spoonful upon request?and customer!
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rareiy turn uown a uavor alter a taste
Adriana's gelati is served on class]
silver dishes in small, medium or larg<
portions?that's molto, molto grande
and grandissimo, to be culturally correct
Milkshakes are available for $3.40, anc
they are almost enough for two people
The atmosphere at Adriana's is Kveliea
and louder than that at Cafe Espresso
but probably because of the more eclectii
crowd. Adriana's location farther fron
campus means college students do noi
monopolize its tables, and it seems t(
attract both younger and older patrons
Jazz music blares in the backgroundtoo
loud for intimate conversation a
times, but appropriate for the smoky
bustling atmosphere.
Adriana's also promotes an extensivi
menu of Italian lunch and dinnei
specialties. Daily Italian specials, fron
manicotti to fettuccine shrimp alfredo
are under $7. Sandwiches, salads, an<
soups are served, as are 6-inch persona
pizzas.
If coffee, conversation, and a creativi
atmosphere are your preferences, thei
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destination. This relatively younj
establishment is located on State Street
just across the Gervais Street bridge ii
West Columbia. Unfortunately
transportation is a must, but it is wort!
the extra effort.
Courtyard Coffeehouse specialize!
in coffee. They also have the old mem
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Kristin Adams, a USC junior, works tx
I fee emporium features regular menu i
3 standards (a coffee of the day, espresso, ?
' mocha, cappuccino), but their specialty
a coffees stand out in name and in flavor.
The Milky Way ? my
recommendation?will satisfy even the
j most demanding sweet tooth. Mochacrino
(Courtyard's specialty) steamed with
r caramel syrup and whipped cream makes
this drink heavy on the sugar, light on ^
I the caffeine. This sweet concoction and"
j other specialty coffees are under $3.
t Courtyard Coffee House's surprises
j include French press coffee at $1.50 per
Dot. (Java enthusiasts: take note.) You
_ can pick your bean flavor at the counter
t and watch the grinding. Flavors include
cinnamon hazelnut, Costa Rican tarazu,
Java timor and even Kona. These coffees
B are also sold by the half pound or pound,
r at prices competitive with those of larger
! coffee retailers. L
l; While the dessert selection here is w
i smaller, artistic employees will drizzle ?
1 chocolate syrup on the plate underneath ^
the cookie, brownie, or slice of cake of
e your choice. The Courtyard Coffeehouse
i also serves specialty sandwiches: heart- u
e smart specials and macrobiotic
y sandwiches. They even have hummus.
If entertainment is what you want, a
i you can get it at Courtyard Coffeehouse. P
, Scrabble, Jenga, and Chess are on hand &
i for bored customers, and a map of the C(
world on one wall apparently enchants
3 customers for hours. (You pin a dot tf
i where you're from, a star where you want is
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FRFPFTTM FRFR SPA
Mark you
"LATE NIG
FREE FUN FREE BASKE
Monday, Apr
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FREE TRIPLES SAND VO
Sponsored by:
Offi
Carolina Productior
All activities are
Brii
Actual events may <
This eve
FREE FUN FREE BASKE
ihind the counter at Courtyard Cof
terns such as a coffee of the day, <
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larcus Allen and Bob Sublet pli
ourtyard Coffeehouse, which also
) be.) A new artist displays his or her
ork eveiy month, and guests musicians
sually play twice a week.
The Courtyard Coffeehouse actually
oes have a courtyard. It is not well lit
t night, but the outdoor tables are
opular on spring days. The
5tablishment might sponsor an outdoor
racert series there this summer, too.
Perhaps because it is farther from
le center of town, Courtyard Coffeehouse
quieter and not as crowded. Jazz and
VENGERHUNT FREEM
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TBALL FREE AIR VOLL]
il 22,1996 5
att P.E. Center
LLEYBALL FREE DOOF
Office of Alcohol & E>ru
ce of Campus Recreatioi
ls, GAMMA and the R./
s free and open to USC s
ig your valid student IE
:hange due to funding or program
nt is paid for with student activity
TBALL FREE AIR VOLL
f ?1
J"iAfr? ? iAft>
^.D.I.C.A.L. team.
itudents only!
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matic decisions,
fees.
EYBALL FREE FOOD
5^
Feehouse. The West Columbia cofespresso,
mocha, and cappuccino.
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iy a friendly game of chess at
offers Scrabble and Jenga.
blues played in the background while I
was there, and I could still here myself
think. Hie very first thing I saw through
the coffee house's windows was a cozy
living-room arrangement of armchairs
and a reading lamp. Definitely unusuaL
No matter what your coffee preference,
no matter what your noise tolerance,
Columbia has coffee houses for all types.
So this semester during exams, take a
break and check one out. Relax.
Caffeinate. Keep a steady hand at Jenga.
USIC FREE FOOD
now...
CK!
nnual
BLOWOUT
IE BLATT"
EYBALL FREE FOOD
pm -10 pm
L PRIZES FREE FUN
Lg Programs,
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