42 & Lawrence — Restaurant in Raleigh

A Hidden Gem That Never Disappoints

I've been coming to this coffee shop for years, and it’s hands down one of the best spots I’ve ever experienced. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with genuine warmth that makes you feel like more than just a customer—you're part of the family.

The food? Absolutely amazing. Whether it’s a fresh pastry or one of their daily specials, every bite is packed with flavor and clearly made with love. And the coffee? Always rich, smooth, and brewed to perfection.

But what truly sets this place apart is the customer service. The staff and owner have consistently gone above and beyond to make every visit enjoyable. Not once have I felt overlooked or rushed. They remember your name, your order, and they treat everyone with the same respect and kindness, no matter how busy they are.

In a world where good service can feel rare, this coffee shop remains a shining example of how to do things right. It’s a place I’ll continue to support and recommend for years to come.

Thanks...

I had high hopes for this cafe, especially given their website’s promise of the “ultimate cafe experience” with “quality, creativity, and style.” Sadly, my experience fell well short of those expectations.

Atmosphere: The space is small and cozy, but part of the seating area near the window was blocked by equipment, making it unnecessarily difficult to find a spot to sit.

Service: While the staff was friendly, they forgot to make our coffee. After waiting by the counter for a while, they told us to have a seat and assured us they’d bring it over. Unfortunately, it took them 20 minutes to realize we’d been forgotten before they finally prepared our order.

Food: The lattes tasted good, indicating high-quality coffee and milk. However, there was no latte art at all, despite the beautifully crafted designs featured on their website. They simply poured the milk in, with no sign of the creativity or style they advertise.

Overall, this was far from the “ultimate cafe experience” they...

Prices are a bit higher than other coffee shops in the area, but the quality of the coffee is really high. I was very impressed with the texture of my cappuccino foam, a tough art to master. They offer all your standard pastries with 25% off day old options. They do not have allergen free and vegan pastries, but there are lots of packaged granola bars that are allergen free or vegan. They also use local dairy milk, with almond or oat milk available at an upcharge.

Great seating inside for one or two people, but small tables mean this is the place to sit for 30 minutes with your coffee (and maybe a friend), not the place to set up for a few hours of work. Tables outside are a bit bigger.

Overall, I definitely recommend this place and would come here again even though there are four other coffee shops on my way to work. I really like that they open at 7, earlier than most of the area shops. I haven't been here in the evening before but I will definitely...