Magpie Cafe — Restaurant in Baton Rouge

Wow. Just wow. I was incredibly surprised by this little cafe. Judging by the location, I did not think it would be anything special, but boy was I wrong.

There is a very adorable outdoor seating area. It is not very big but definitely gets the job done. There are also multiple seating areas on the inside of the cafe. This would be a great place for schooling or working, as it is quiet for the most part.

Magpie's includes a wide variety of options for people who are vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc. My dad ordered a decaf latte, and I the beet latte because I wanted something healthy. Both were excellent and extremely creamy. I was very surprised by the smoothness of my drink considering all that went into it. There was a bit of a wait for our drinks, which did not bother me, but keep that in mind if you are in a rush. While we waited, I walked over to the corner of the cafe where many organic, natural, and locally made things are sold, including nut butters, soaps, essential oils, and more. There is also a wide range of various healthy products sold throughout the store like raw chocolates, mushroom teas, and immunity boosts. I loved the whole earthy vibe of this place, and love how they have many options for health conscious people.

I unfortunately have not tried any of the actual food from magpies, but if it measure up the quality of their coffee, I am sure it is excellent. Overall, I completely recommend...

It is a pleasure to see once abandoned and neglected spaces downtown rise phoenix-like into glory. Okay, that may be a little much but it's not far from the truth.

As part of the rehabilitation of the Commerce Building, Magpie Cafe Downtown has taken on old, long abandoned department store on street level and changed it into an open, bright (but not TOO bright), welcoming space. In that space they serve breakfast and lunch from an ever-changing menu based on what's in season (for the most part), an array of baked goods, coffee and espresso drinks, teas, and - interestingly - beer, wine, and craft cocktails.

My only quibble is this, I like lemon in my water. The attentive wait staff bring a small glass and a carafe of water with lemon on a side plate. I squeeze the lemon into the carafe and . . . no napkin, anywhere. It seems a napkin is only in evidence when ordering something on a plate from the menu. It's a small thing but I really don't like having to wipe my fingers on my pants or get up to go to the restroom to wipe my hands on a towel. It's easy to fix and I hope they do.

Otherwise, everything I've had to eat and drink from Magpie Cafe Downtown has been...

Went to Magpie Perkins today to get a non-dairy matcha.

When I asked what non-dairy milks they had, I was told they “had them all.” I blinked back at the register, what exactly does that mean?

I slowly said, “almond? coconut? soy?” She said, “yea.”

Then, after waiting 15 minutes, I was brought back a poorly steamed, and messy coconut milk matcha with the drink sloshed carelessly down the sides and it wasn’t full (picture attached). Looks like she possibly spilled it on the way to the table.

When I approached the barista to ask what coconut milk they use, and if she would be willing to make it again with Almond milk, she was reluctant to fix the problem and agreed, but only after warning me that it would take a long time because she had other drinks.

35+ minutes after ordering, she placed an almond matcha in front of me with an “Im so sorry.”

To wait over 15 minutes for a non-espresso drink when there was no line, and then for the re-make to take 20 minutes, when there was still no...