And Now a Word from Our Sponsors...

As many of you have likely noticed, Kacy and I have not done a review for a hot second.  With the craziness of our schedules and Kacy being out of town, time got away from us.  Rest assured, we will be returning to the hott caffiene path for excellence this week and will be posting a review this week! Please be sure to tune in for all the details.


While I have your undivided attention, Kacy and I would like to invite you to join our fun by officially becoming a "follower" of our blog.  We know that so many of you visit and comment off-site, but we would love to start building this fanbase on the actual blogsite as well, as we work to spread the word about Java Journeys throughout the St. Louis area.  You can greatly aid in this by becoming a "follower" and it's easy! On the left hand tool bar on our page you will find a section entitled "Followers" where you will also find a "follow" button.  Simply click that button and you will be directed to a page that will give you an option to either 1. Follow Publicly or 2. Follow Privately.  By following publicly others will be able to see that you follow us and are part of the fun.  Following privately hides your subscription and you will not show up in our "followers" list.  We completely respect your privacy so if you choose to follow privately we understand, but we would love to see your lovely pic in our followers section.  When you follow us it shows that you value the local businesses in the St. Louis area and want to further the exposure of such establishments.  Help us help build our community!

We love you all!

Ashlee and Kacy

Rollin' in the Cherokee Mud - The Mud House

The Mud House
2101 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
314.776.6599
www.themudhousestl.com


At the corner of old world antique and new world convenience lies The Mud House.  Guardianed quaintly under the "Cherokee Lemp Historic District" rod iron sign, you will find the picture perfect representation of coffee shop culture, complete with hardwood floors, eclectic decor, overstuffed couches and the soothing sounds of earthy indy artists. If you're looking for an escape from the usual drive-thru brew and seeking more of a "shop-around-the-corner" step back in time, this would be the right place for you.  As soon as you walk in the staff are prompt to greet you like an old friend and invite you into their home for a smooth cup of comfort.  Their menu is chocked full of flavorful coffee creations such as the turtle latte, Caramel Macchiato, or even just your run of the mill black special.  To add to the unique feel here, owner Casey specializes in "Coffee Art" and can turn your latte into a masterpiece fit for the Louvre'.  Don't forget to treat yourself to one of their many culinary delights for lunch or breakfast. The crepes are a much buzzed about offering as well as the Cobb salad. We love the charm, the cozy eclecticity, and the community feel cultivated here and we're sure you will too!

Below you will find our ratings of The Mud House, in 5 different catagories, from 1-10:

COFFEE: 9.5 - Their coffee has a rich, smooth flavor. The owner Casey, does coffee art in your cup. Kacy has gotten a ninja turtle and a gorilla drawn in her lattes on previous visits. They have great specialty drinks, non-coffee drinks and tea. The coffee is Fair Trade, for those who are interested. They also have a coffee punch card, so once you purchase 8 coffees you get a free one on them!

FOOD: 8.5 - Interesting flavor combinations! They offer a great Cobb Salad which is big enough to feed two people. Housemade granola and pasteries are available daily. From the looks of it they are expanding the menu, which is very exciting.

ATMOSPHERE: 9 - Fun, cozy, eclectic excellence, customer friendly, and the right balance of stimulation. The customer has access to a wall to wall book shelf that is color coordinated and antiques that are available for purchase as well. The customer can open doors in the eating area if it gets a little warm and there is great interaction between the staff and customers. There are great comfortable couches and overstuffed chairs to sit and get emersed in a book for hours on end. People watching in this coffee shop will be sure to bring you entertainment as well.

PRICES: 8.5 - The prices are good for the area. They do serve some organic food but the good thing is the prices do not show it.

PARKING: 8 (4) - During peak hours it could be bad due to the limited off street parking, but during slow times it could be good becuase you might get a parking spot close to the door.

BROWNIE POINTS: 5 - We loved the uniqueness that The Mud House offers. Not only do they offer coffee art but they also feature local events and possess a great community feel.  In addition to the local events, they also host in-house events like food and wine tastings.  If you're a shopper like we are, you'll also love that they are located in the historic Cherokee Antique Row.

OVERALL: 9

Kacy says: "This is my personal favorite coffee shop in STL! Come by for a visit and see why I love it so much!"

Ashlee says: "Not only does The Mud House feed the stomach, but the soul as well.  There is something transformational that happens the moment you walk in the door. Time ceases and you completely forget to remember what was going on out in the world before you walked in.  Come in and get lost!"

Bringing the Flavor - Benton Park Cafe

Benton Park Cafe                                  
1900 Arsenal
St. Louis, MO. 63118
314.771.7200
www.bentonparkcafe.com                                                   



Surrounded by such St. Louis landmarks as Anheiser Busch and Gus' Pretzels you'll find Benton Park Cafe. This coffee and culinary treat will wet your apetite and feed your soul whether you're in for a long lunch or on the go. You'll find that at Benton Park, its as much about the food as it is about the coffee but with such an extensive coffee and specialty drink menu your caffeine craving is sure to be met. But really, what other coffee shop in our area totes a professional chef (white coat and all!) in it's kitchen? This special feature creates such flavorful offerings as the Teryaki BLT, Chicken Salad, Poppyseed Strawberry Salad, and more! Special touches is what makes Benton Park worth the visit.  Order water and you'll find a delightful cucumber slice is added for flavor. Walk in the door and you'll be met with a smile and wonderful service. So next time you're headed to the city, be sure to stop in and grab a bite.  You'll be glad you did!

Below you will find our ratings of Benton Park Cafe in 5 different areas, from 1-10:


COFFEE: 9 - The coffee had great flavor, it was smooth, although, they did not decorate with coffee art, which was a little dissapointing. They had great inventive specialty drinks.  In addition to all of the coffee offereings, they also have a full alchol menu featuring cocktails and brews.

FOOD: 9 - Kacy ordered the chicken salad sandwhich with the tomato and mozarella salad. The food was very flavorful and very good. Ashlee ordered the veggie sandwich (hott sandwhich with tomatoes, spinach, grilled onions, mushrooms, and melted cheese) with fresh fruit. It was like an adult grilled cheese!

ATMOSPHERE: 5 - It was kind of industrial drab. Upon entering you will notice that it is very dark due to the recessed lighting and dark hardwood floors and accents. The decor only seems to add to the confusion of the setting. They have art from local artists but you will also find vinery with christmas lights intertwined over the windows and doors, creating a country kitchen art exhibit. To only add more to the confusion are the Budwiser signs featrured in the windows. We felt that the space had much potential but seems confused and unfinished. The music featured a wide variety from rap to indie. The music seems to add to the idenity confusion of this establishment however.

PRICES: 6 - In general they are not priced for their location. The prices were compraable to other coffee establishements in higher end parts of the city.


PARKING: 8 (4) - Parking could be great during times of low traffic in the coffee shop but during high traffic times it could be less than convenient due to it's location right off the highway and it's location right across from Andhiswer Busch.

BROWNIE POINTS: 4 - We like that they occassionally have live music and that they feature local artist's works on their walls. We also greatly appreciated the local coffee and delicious specialty drinks!     



OVERALL RATING: 8



NOTE OF CONCERN: Kacy saw a waitress eat behind the counter in front of customers with no gloves on nor did she wash her hands after she ate and she imediately served customers. They have an A rating in the window from the health department but seeing this behavior is a note of concern.                  




Kacy says: "The coffee and food is great! The staff is very friendly and laidback. I would get there food to go and not stay and study though."

Ashlee says: "This would be a great place to go to grab eats for a picnic or before the Cardinal's game.  I can see so much potential here and I think with a slight decorative face lift, clientel would grow.  Make sure you try the Tahitian Vanilla Frapp...AMAZING!"