Hugs Cafe McKinney — Restaurant in McKinney

Hugs Café seems like a really special place, with an especially wonderful staff and mission. For that reason alone, it would be a great place to spend your money and get a meal, coffee, or snack. But this review is not about that. This review is about the perfection I just ate, the beautiful dance of pastry delight that just graced my palate.

I have worked professionally in pastry and desserts. I have taught baking classes, and I keep a journal of delicious pastries, cookies, and doughnuts I have had traveling all across the country. Many places I go will have one thing that is an absolute must, one style of baked good that they get just right. Then they’ll have other variations on that theme, each a paler copy of their breadwinner that doesn’t quite capture the same magic. Not Hugs Café. There are at least three cookies at Hugs Café you need to go and try right now. Stop reading this, go there, and get one now, it will make your day. Each one is a wholly different style of cookie, each done to perfection.

Let’s start with the chocolate chip cookie. Flat and crispy, with excellent snap in the bite that gives way to soft and well-dispersed chocolate. It bears the hallmarks of a recipe crafted over batches and batches, balanced and re-balanced to reach the state of cookie transcendance I just tasted. If I had to guess, the secret is in a just right ratio of brown sugar to butter, maybe even a touch of molasses. Tremendous.

But if that’s not your jam, then let’s hop to the next cookie triumph, their oatmeal raisin walnut. Each one was a tiny pillow that walked the tightrope between chewy and melting in your mouth. The tri-fecta of plumped raisins, cooked oats, and crunchy walnut pieces was married beautifully, each taking their turn in the spotlight while not outshining each other.

And finally, if what you seek is something soft and buttery, residing in the limbo between baked cookie and still-doughy goodness, you are not forgotten. The iced white chocolate sugar cookie was absolutely divine. It was a classic yin and yang between sugary sweetness and buttery richness, with an acidic and floral note of vanilla playing referee and bringing out the best in both. The white chocolate popped in just enough to give the bites variety and texture, while not overwhelming the dough.

So go get a cookie, and have yourself a happy day. You will...

This is SUCH a cute place!! Of course they are known for hiring adults with special needs which is amazing. The staff is SO friendly!! So it was a little confusing at first with this being our first time there. You choose your own seat and are given a laminated menu to mark with a dry erase marker, which was great! The confusing part was having only one menu for three of us. There wasn't room to indicate 2 cookies or whatever, just a box that you wanted one. Also the menu is limited, however they did accommodate my (unfortunately super picky) daughter in making just a regular grilled cheese. The food was really good, fresh, and came out quickly!! And omg the chocolate chip cookies, soooo good, I would go back just for them!! Just expect if you have a larger party to be patient when you order. You go up to the counter to show the cashier your menu. There was a bit of a line when ordering. We had a pretty noisy party with 2 of my kids and 2 of my friends' and they are always super crazy together. It was awesome that we never felt bad or unwanted, one of the ladies who works there even made them a chicken out of a rubber glove HAHA!!! Altogether we had a great experience and would...

Where to begin, Hugs Cafe is one of those rare finds! Walking in it feels very homey feel like stepping into Grandma’s kitchen. We were greeted by a kind host and were seated in an open area where there was plenty of light. The lunch-like menu boasted a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and tasty sweet teas to wash it all down. I ordered The Mayor which consisted of turkey, cheddar cheese, bacon, and homemade peach chutney with a side salad and caesar dressing. What I liked best was the peach chutney as it contrasted with the bacon and it was good until the last bite. If I had one complaint it would have to be they did not give me the option to toast my marble rye bread. What sets Hugs Cafe apart is they are a non-profit that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a café setting. Overall my experience at Hugs was amazing and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to eat tasty food and support a cause...