The Pendulum Features Thursday, November 6, 2003 • Page 13
Starbucks Roaster’s Cafe is not, but does offer a oozy escape from the bubble
Chick compliments Roasters’ on their selection of coffees; good for students seeking a boost
Jason Chick
Columnist
Step outside the Elon bub
ble and off Huffman Mill
Road, also known as chain
restaurant row, and into down
town Burlington. It’s here at
404 S. Spring Street that
you’ll locate Roaster’s Cafe, a
small, independently- owned
coffee shop specializing in a
wide variety of great coffees..
Yet, Monday through
Friday, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.,
Roaster’s serves lunch.
Deli sandwiches, salads and
soups are available for order
and are hand-delivered to your
table.
Recommended favorites
include two panini sandwich
es, which are Italian-style
grilled sandwiches.
Try the Turkey, Provolone
& Bacon ($6.00) or the Roast
Beef & Cheddar ($6.25).
Two favorites from the deli
are the Smoked Turkey ($4.25)
and the Honey Ham ($4.75).
All sandwiches are served
with chips and a pickle spear.
Salad plates are also avail
able. Daily varieties of home
made soups are available and
are delicious.
If you happen to catch a day
when Cheddar & Bacon Potato
Soup is being served make
sure you order a bowl. Also,
the Broccoli & Cheese soup
may be the best in Burlington.
Being as lunch only extends
for three hours on five days of
the week, you may find your
self at Roaster’s during a peri
od when food is not being
served.
In that case you can experi-
Roaster’s cozy atmosphere is accentuated by eclectic decor seemingly
picked from grandma’s house ... I escaped to Roaster's for a quiet place ...”
Photos by Behzad Rassuli
Roaster's Cafe located at 404 S. Spring Street, is a small independently-owned coffee shop spe
cializing in a wide varitety of great coffees. However, Roaster’s has more then coffee, offering an
assortment of sandwhiches from their lunch menu as well as speciality drinks. This cafe’s cozy and
quiet atmoshpere offers students a nice retreat, allowing them to either go and relax or study.
ence Roaster’s main forte; caf-
feinated beverages.
When imagining a small
cafe serving espresso,
Starbucks and modern art deco
design may flash through your
mind; however. Roaster’s
atmosphere is neither.
Roaster s cozy atmosphere
is accentuated by eclectic
decor seemingly picked from
grandma’s house.
The clapboard walls are
cluttered with dried floral
arrangements and various
posters depicting cafes.
Bar tables for two and
tables for four have chairs
covered in antique, floral pat
terns.
Jazz and soft rock music
flow through the space, com
pleting the feel.
I escaped to Roaster’s for a
quiet place to concentrate on
homework while drinking
mochas.
The atmosphere at
Roaster’s is much more sub
dued than many of the other
area cafes serving espresso
drinks.
The scent of roasted coffee
stings the nostrils of each
client, and with so many kinds
its no surprise you may find
yourself reading the selection
a bit before ordering.
Several of Roaster’s coffees
are Kenyan, Columbian, Costa
Rican, Organic Mexican
Chiapas, Mocha Java Blend
and Hawaiian Molokai.
If you’re the typical college
student, then a large coffee
still won’t contain the neces
sary caffeine xiontent to carry
you through the day. In that
case, turn to espresso.
Roaster’s Cafe has a few
specialty drinks that will perk
anyone up.
Try the Mexican Mocha, a
spicy creation of espresso,
chocolate, cinnamon and
steamed milk. Served in a
large glass mug, topped with
whipped cream and dusted
with more cinnamon.
Another favorite is* the
Oreo Mocha. Mimicking the
Mexican Mocha, the Oreo
Mocha substitutes crushed
Oreos for cinnamon. A blend
of espresso, chocolate,
crushed Oreos and steamed
milk, this decadent drink is
sure to satisfy any Oreo lover.
Other specialty drinks you
Beginners' fiuide to Espresso
Latte: Espresso steamed milK topped with a thin laijer of foam
Cappachino: Espresso, steamed milk; topped with a thick layer of foam
Mocha: Espresso, chocolate, steamed milk, topped with whipped cream ^
might want to give a try: a
chocolate caramel latte, a
vanilla cappachino, a raspber
ry and white chocolate mocha
or an iced chai.
Many drinks are made from
the standard base drinks: the
latte, cappachino or mocha.
Roaster’s has a variety of
flavored syrups available. If
you want to test the barrista,
ask for your own creation.
How about a caramel praline
mocha?
Just be aware that for every
additional shot of espresso,
syrup or chocolate there will
be an additional charge.
Most specialty drinks run
between $3 and $5.
The next time you and your
entourage of friends need to
escape the perils of typical
restaurants and no one can
answer the infamous question,
“Where to we eat?” head to
Roaster’s.
Even if you can’t get to
Roaster’s for lunch, just stop
by to sip drinks and relax in
the quiet, casual atmosphere,
far removed from the Elon
bubble. Pull up a chair, grab a
paper from the racks and relax.
Contact Jason Chick at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Hot Spot?
Request a restaurant
review for Jason
Chick for the next
edition.
Contact The
Pendulum:
pendulum@elon.edu
or call X7247