Steamworks Coffee — Restaurant in City of Lockport

I'm writing this review from Steamworks, seated at a four top by the window overlooking the historic Erie Canal. It's Sunday afternoon. There are three people working the counter. That may seem excessive for this little small town coffee shop, but trust me, they needed the help!

This place was seriously hopping when my friend and I first walked in here. There was one free table, and we quickly grabbed it before ordering. Since we ordered and received our coffees, it has cleared out a bit, but there are other people working in here, one reading, and a couple of girls chatting. If it starts to pick back up, the third worker will be warranted.

If I lived in Lockport, this is the kind of place I'd hang out all the time. I'd come here to read my book club selections. I'd come to work. I'd come to write my Yelp reviews. I'd meet my friends for coffee and we'd solve the world's problems. I'd bring out-of-town guests, and they'd want a t-shirt and some other cute Steamworks souvenir to be able to take a piece of this coffee shop home with them.

Steamworks isn't really new anymore, but they are somewhat new to me. I came for the first time a couple of days ago and couldn't wait to return. I live about thirty minutes away. I'm much closer to Starbucks and SPoT Coffee, but the vibe in this place is much better and worth the drive from East Amherst.

Parking is easy and plentiful. The view is fantastic. You can even sit out back on a bench or at a small table if you'd rather that than the view of the canal. Or, take your coffee across the one-way street out front and sit on a bench right at the edge of the canal. If you want to get a few steps on your Fitbit, take your cuppa to go and check out the local scenery. And if you're still playing Pokemon Go, there are plenty of stops nearby to keep you busy while...

Max and I were about 30 miles into our 50-mile bike ride from Hertel Avenue in the city to Lockport, and we could feel the burn in our legs as we approached the final stretch. Our goal for the day was to grab a much-needed coffee break at Steamworks Coffee, a spot we’d heard was a popular haven for the local bike community.

As we rolled into Lockport, the sight of the historic Erie Canal greeted us, but all we could think about was that first sip of coffee. Steamworks, nestled on Canal Street, was exactly what we needed. The café was buzzing with energy, filled with a mix of cyclists like us and locals who seemed to know they were onto something special. We leaned our bikes against the side of the building, joining a small cluster of other bikes, and headed inside.

The aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans hit us as soon as we stepped through the door. The place had a welcoming vibe, with cozy corners and a barista who greeted us with a warm smile. Max ordered a Nitro Cold Brew, while I opted for the Lavender Vanilla Latte—something about the blend of flavors sounded perfect after miles of pedaling.

We took our drinks outside, sitting on a bench that offered a view of the canal. As we sipped, the exhaustion of the ride started to melt away, replaced by the simple pleasure of a well-made coffee and the satisfaction of knowing we were almost to our destination. Steamworks had lived up to the hype, not just as a coffee shop, but as a communal stop for those of us on two wheels, making it a perfect...

We stopped in for a coffee and was quickly served. Beverages were barely warm and the biscotti I ordered was so stale and old it was like it had been sitting out for weeks. What bothered me the most was that the girl working told us we had to move our cars from outside of the front because the owner would get mad he came in and doesn’t like people parking there. I said , oh sure we will move I don’t want you guys to get in trouble (which already didn’t make sense to me why we couldn’t park there) and she said that he could come in and yell at US. She said he’s done it to customers in the past too. We asked if we can park on the side of the building and she told us not in the first spot because the owner parks there. One of our friends was parked in the spot next to that and she said “oh you probably shouldn’t park there either.” She said the whole reason we couldn’t park out front was because IF his wife was stopping by with a delivery, that’s where she likes to park. There’s enough room for three cars to park out front. Theres not any no parking signs from the town, just that the owner would come in and yell at us? We left instead of moving our cars. That’s...