RaonJena Coffee & Dessert — Restaurant in Glastonbury

We've been meaning to try this place since it was featured on Instagram, and we finally made it over. It's always a gamble when you see places online, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but they impressed me. The options were unique, the location was beautiful and quiet, the prices were reasonable compared to similar cafes today, and the food was delightful!

My husband loved his bulgolgi panini ($8) and I loved my bulgolgi rice bowl ($11)--we argued over who got the better meal. I was very satisfied with the portions and though it was simple, the rice bowl was an excellent balance of flavors, with a runny egg [which I surprisingly liked], sweet bulgolgi beef strips, sauteed scallion whites, and a very tasty sauce. I would happily order it again!

We also got three desserts to split-- the mango cheesecake ($8) was light, creamy and full of the right amount of fresh mango. Also, it was a very very generous slice. My husband got the creme brulee cheesecake ($8), which we both enjoyed, but I was especially impressed by the creme puff ($6), which I added on impulse to our order at the end. The pasty chef opted for a choux au craquelin style pastry, which I've seen but never had before, and I was so delighted to finally get to try it. It is effectively the standard creme puff dough topped with cookie dough [like the Japanese melon pan pastry]. It's a bit hard to find and I didn't expect to find it here! The result is a crispy, crumbly sweet crumb top absolutely filled with a lovely fresh creme. I got strawberry matcha and it was the perfect mid-point between the flavors. Absolutely impressed!

The interior is larger and more open that you'd expect from outside, with hanging plants and a tidy, clean interior. When we went it was very crowded, with a majority of tables filled, but you wouldn't know it because everyone was just being mindful and respectful of the shared space. It was very quiet and peaceful, with some vintage records playing softly. Way nicer ambiance and volume level than say, a Panera or Dunkin Donuts, or Starbucks!

The only sore spot was my beverage, a blueberry lavender matcha latte with oat milk. I'm not sure what happened, but my beverage wound up tasting overwhelmingly like cinnamon and brown sugar, to the point where if I was blindfolded, I would've guessed it was a coffee cake boba or maybe a chai latte, but it definitely had blueberries in it. I'm sure it was the right drink, since it was purple and had blueberries in it and smelled like lavender...but it wound up very sweet, almost like cinnamon sugar french toast, but since I happen to like cinnamon I still drank it happily. I'm guessing either a creamer/flavored oat milk was used by mistake or some of the mixing equipment wasn't washed properly between drinks, maybe? Still, a minor thing in my book.

I really with we lived closer, because I'd love to stop in here regularly to try new items as they rotate in, and I really love supporting small local businesses that are so clearly a labor of love for the owner and staff. Highly...

I decided to try this place as it was close to where my parents live and I wanted to support an independent cafe instead of a chain. It seemed like they had festive holiday drinks, so I thought it would be a fun treat for my roadtrip ahead. I ordered a hot chai latte, and sadly it was the worst chai I've ever had. There was so much spice in it that it burned my throat, yet it was oddly flavorless. It basically tasted like water with a ton of spices thrown it. I couldn't even take more than a few sips before I tossed it. I also ordered an egg and cheese sandwich and the egg was so runny. It was a mess and not cooked through. That may just be my individual preference, but they did not ask how I wanted the eggs, and I've never actually had an egg sandwich that didn't cook the yolk all the way through as usually it's scrambled. I also threw out the sandwich. It was also simply served on plain white bread which I didn't expect from a high-end bakery. I was hoping for a bagel or croissant or English muffin, but the menu didn't specify and I incorrectly assumed. However, I ordered my friend an iced coffee and she liked it well enough, so extra...

It's my first time here and I already want to come back! Unique drinks like the taro latte and toffee iced latte were out of this world! The dessert selection was tempting so I ended up will a vanilla cream puff. It was fluffy and sweet! The decor of the cafe is adorable minimalist chic. Great for anyone who likes those Instagramable moments. I came here about 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday and they were pretty busy. Looks like a great place for anyone finding a place to study or get some work done too. The service was great and cashiers were helpful with suggestions. Give this place a shot caffeine and sweets lovers!

Updates:

July 24th, 2020 Just tried their Bingsu (Korean Shaved Ice) and it's amazing! Very refreshing and perfect size to share!

July 27th, 2020 Got the Bulgogi sandwich and taro cream puff today and they were so amazing! The brown sugar boba drink tastes a lot like honey milk. It was a nice...