The Stray — Restaurant in Wyoming

Stopped in for the first time last Saturday afternoon, many people were sitting but when I entered the line I was the only one ordering. Was impressed with the space and atmosphere upon entering! Lots of style and space for meetings and projects. The barista took my order, which was a classic cappuccino, and made and delivered it to me at the table herself. When I tasted it, I immediately noticed it was not a cappuccino. The drink I was made was something far closer to a macchiato, very strong espresso and not much milk, with a layer of fluffy, not velvety, bubbles on top. I went back to the counter and said I thought I'd been given the wrong drink, but when she looked at me she said no, I'd received a cappuccino. She told me cappuccinos don't have any syrup, as a reason why it tasted strong. I'm very aware of how an unadulterated cappuccino tastes, but didn't want to be that customer in the store arguing with a barista, so I simply said there should be more milk in this drink. She kindly asked if I wanted her to remake it, but I said no thank you. The drink I had was good, great flavor, which is saying a lot for so simple a beverage. It just wasn't even close to what I ordered. And it doesn't seem like a good sign if the barista is not only unaware that a cappuccino is at least 2 parts milk to one part espresso, but is also willing to stand behind that mistake with such confidence. I also ordered a chocolate croissant and it was good and delivered hot. If I lived in the area I would probably go back and try again, it does seem like they offer a lot of events and live music which is so awesome. But since I don't live nearby I probably won't be back. Hopefully they can do a little training with staff about classic drink crafting! While they will never be as popular as sweetened lattes and such, they were on the menu and as such all the baristas should be able to produce at least decent versions of...

Excellence and passion: these are the two words that come to mind when I think about The Stray. Born out of a thirty-year dream, The Stray brings together coffee, food, cocktails, art, and music unlike any other comparable space. This unique combination sets them apart from the rest. The espresso bar features Fort Wayne's Utopian coffee roasters with an emphasis on transparency and educating the guest on what they're consuming. The coffee menu features a variety of traditional espresso beverages as well as house-made syrups to satisfy coffee lovers both casual and experienced. The food offerings are all well-crafted and quite diverse, featuring a lunch menu served from 11-2pm and an evening menu served 5pm-close. These aren't just thrown-together or borings; these are beautifully crafted offerings that, once again, set The Stray apart from other establishments in the greater Grand Rapids area. Finally, the emphasis on art and music elevates The Stray above the crowd. The culture of Grand Rapids and greater West Michigan is very art-forward and many cafes have tried to incorporate this aspect and fallen short. From the moment you walk through the doors, you're surrounded by local art. On top of that, there is a stage built into the front corner of the space with dedicated sound treatment and mixing booth. Right out of the gate, The Stray has a great line-up of regional acts scheduled to perform, further emphasizing the focus on art and community. I cannot speak highly enough of The Stray. The passion put into the space bleeds through in every aspect from the well-crafted menu down to the...

I am always looking for good coffee shops and right when I walked into the stray for the first time, my life was changed. I was a regular customer at a different coffee shop in town, also a small business that I supported however it has gotten far too busy, saturated with loud kids every now and then, just overall chaos at certain times of the day. I'm glad that the business is thriving but I needed a new space to get time with the Word.

I passed by this place several times but didn't think they had coffee but the minute I walked in I was floored by the setting and the ambiance of this place. I love the local arts and crafts that surround the space and the inferior design is marvelous. There are plenty of seats (my favorite is on the high top by the window). The cleanliness is something that I also noticed right away. This place is INCREDIBLY clean. You feel comfortable in your space and even going to the bathroom because of how clean it is. Staff also wears masks which is also a plus.

The decibel level is also at a comfortable level and never feel like I need to put on headphones because it's too loud. I actually much rather do soft background noise.

Lastly, the coffee is incredible and priced very well. I haven't tried other items on the menu but because this is now my local place, I am beyond excited to...