Greenhouse Effect Coffee and Crepes UT — Restaurant in Millcreek

Greenhouse Effect is a homey, warm, artistic space which allows people of all kinds to feel welcome. Whether you're in and out or choose to spend your day see the coffee shop using their free WiFi, provided board games or to read one of their many books from their bookshelves, this is your place. They have a wide menu of coffee to choose from (warning: they don't speak "Starbucks"- many of us will appreciate that bit of humor!), as well as crepes of all sorts. There is plenty of parking around back and if the lot gets full, there is on street parking by the apartments just north and also across the street. Definitely enough parking to go around. In good weather, you will love the different patios which are surrounded in vines, succulents, and an abundance of sumptuous potted plants. Though Greenhouse Effect sits facing 9th East, you'll never know as it is separated from the traffic by tall boxwood hedges. They allow smoking on the lower decks but not on the upper deck and because of all the well grown and incredibly tended grape vines, you'll never know anybody is smoking below you if that isn't your thing. Greenhouse is very pet friendly and puts out several large bowls of ice water around the deck in the summer. They have their own dog on the property nearly all the time. Greenhouse is like a hidden grotto; a hidden garden; a secret which isn't well kept. The patrons of Greenhouse seem to respect one another and the shop which is provides a great experience for all of us. The one wish I have is that I was able to capture the scrumptious scent in either words or a photo for you. The smell is... exotic. I smell cinnamon and perhaps a bit of ginger. I thought to ask but decided I like a little mystery in my...

I was excited to try an independent cafe, but from the moment I parked, that excitement began to fade. First, parking is ridiculous! Very limited spots in the back and the driveway to get back there is only wide enough for one car. There is no easily noticeable sign warning patrons of this. The blind spots and the thin drive is a big risk area for hitting another car or an unseen patron. Second, the outdoor seating area looks like it was built by a 12 year old with some scrap wood, a hammer and a few nails. I mean, steps, posts, rails and boards are coming apart, loose, and uneven. Third, the coffee is subpar and maybe that’s the reason it’s the same price as Starbucks - except if you order a “medium” at this place, you get a cup that looks half the size of a medium at Starbucks. Tastes burnt - not dark - burnt. Fourth, the interior is very cramped. If you want to sit on one of the couches or cushioned seats, you have to squeeze by the people already sitting in the area. It also is not well lit. Fifth, the wait staff is basically no existent. I started by sitting at a high top table, and when I realized the table was littered with powdered sugar and crumbs, I decided to move to the couch. A couple behind me immediately swooped in and took that table, also not knowing it was filthy. When I moved to the couch, the cushion had crumbs all over the place and there was a discarded plate, fork, and napkin on the coffee table in front of the couch. Crumbs also littered the coffee table. I didn’t see staff walking around cleaning anything while I was there and the order line was only one person deep at a time.

Try...

I've taken many friends and first/second dates here (good ones and bad). The fact I keep returning says something. For an evening coffee excursion, it's the go to place that I can count on to be open late. It's quirky and unique which is what I want from a coffeeshop, especially at night, and as a bonus you can get a crepe also. With a surprising menu of them offered. They're even good quality crepes, the Nutella crepes are on par with most crepe stands in Paris, in my experience.

There's a good vibe here. Not perfect, but pretty dang good most of the time. Staff are chill and friendly, and there are lots of cool trees outside. Sometimes a patron will have a dog (always friendly) which I dig because dogs are the best! Another quirk that I live is that you can play chess here, if you want. Just ask for a chessboard. 👍♟️

They sometimes do live indie music performances, on certain nights, and that can be fun, or you can avoid it altogether by sitting outside. Though I haven't been there for this in a while. Overall, good mix of inside and outside seating, so you can have a more extroverted experience or a more intimate experience.

The neighborhood surrounding it is not my favorite place in the world, but the coffee shop itself is like an island oasis that is totally separate from anything around it.

They would also benefit from more parking, but it's not too inconvenient to park a little ways down the street.

All in all, I dig it here. I keep coming back. So I...