I have been to Burlap & Bean dozens of times. I meet friends for coffee, my son and I stop by to play checkers, and I saw the screening of Forks Over Knives there last fall. It's a cozy little place in the Shops at Springton Pointe, in the same strip as The Little Gym and Fresco (that's another review). Burlap & Bean opened its doors in 2006, and it has quite a following of regulars. Aside from the fact that it has great coffee, this place has great food, live music, and it's community-minded.
The cafe is very warm and cozy. When you walk in, it's like being in your living room. Plush leather sofas, and a coffee roaster tucked away in the corner set the scene.
There are handmade clothes and items for sale, and all of the snacks at the counter are locally made. Burlap & Bean does it's part in the community too. They offer assistance with book collections for a few non-profits, including my own Newtown Public Library. Oftentimes I will see a basket brimming with collected books. The walls are covered with artwork done and sold by local artists. You can watch as the Fair Trade coffee is roasted in the store. Every Friday and Saturday night, they have live acoustic shows, and you can BYOB. Thursdays are Open Mic night. Free Wifi...you get the point. This isn't your average coffee house.
The coffee is fantastic. It's never bitter, and it tastes like coffee should taste. They offer a soy option in any of the drinks, for dairy free.
Wraps are my favorite. They import their wraps from a local restaurant called House in Media. The wraps are delicious! There are four vegetarian options, usually one of which is an option daily. Greek Lady: hummus, red pepper and olives. Lightweight: tomato, basil & mozzarella. Mighty Veg: squash, red peppers, mozzarella. Last but not least is the Veg Head. My personal favorite. It's a combination of squash, charred onions, and chevre. According to the website for House (www.eatathouse.com), they go out of their way to offer food that uses locally farmed greens, organic produce and fair trade items. The Greek Lady is a nice Vegan option, but it's not always available.
There is always hot soup on, and every time I have been in, there has been a vegetarian, and sometimes a Vegan option. Best of all, you have a choice of white or the elusive whole wheat bread to accompany. The bread is great too. Some of their soups include Vegetarian Three Bean Chili, Vegetarian Curried Potato, Sweet Corn, Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant (Vegan), Tomato Rosa (my favorite!), Sweet Potato, and Ginger Carrot (Vegan and Gluten free). I haven't had a soup I did not like. Soups are made either by House in Media or by Kettle Cuisine. All the soups taste like they were just made in the kitchen. New on the menu are salads. I have not had the opportunity to try any of the salads yet, but I am looking forward to it, as these are also made my House, and as far as I am concerned, I know they will be good, too. Some of the choices include The Greek Lady: House whipped hummus, red peppers, kalamata olives, goat cheese and greens, House Salad: organic apples, walnuts, bleu cheese with house dressing, and a Spring Salad. You won't leave hungry, that's for sure.
What else can I say about Burlap & Bean? It's a wonderful addition to Newtown Square!
