This just in: Buffalo has a lot of great coffee houses. Actually, that’s an obvious statement and not news to anyone. We all know that Buffalo offers many fun places to grab a coffee. I wonder what makes a person prefer some places more than others. My favorite coffee house happens to be Café Allegro. I always feel at home there. Maybe it’s the cozy chairs that remind me of past apartments, or it might be the general laid-back atmosphere. Whatever the reason, I find it the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
There are many concoctions from which to choose. I like The Shorty–espresso, white chocolate, caramel syrup, and vanilla syrup—priced reasonably at $3 for 16 ounces. A few weeks ago I enjoyed one along with a piece of raspberry pie. Life was good with my sweet treats and some time for people-watching. A young woman seated next to me was busy tapping the keys of her laptop, perhaps at work on The Great American Novel. Workers at a nearby daycare were out with toddlers for an afternoon stroll. Across the street, uniformed youngsters scrambled out of St. Margaret School. All in all it was a relaxing way to spend an hour.
I know of no single word to describe the menu at Café Allegro, so I’ll just say it offers a little bit of everything. Among the options are breakfast sandwiches, monster muffins, supersized turnovers, and daily specials. During my most recent visit I had a hard time deciding what to order. Specials included turkey chili, gazpacho, Gorgonzola pear salad, and a spinach-turkey wrap. From the regular menu I selected the Vegetarian Antipasto Salad, composed of lettuce, artichokes, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, chick peas and provolone cheese. Delicious, absolutely delicious. I kept my beverage choice simple by trying the house blend coffee. I really liked it, and will be getting it again soon.
Café Allegro is just a cool place, and one that is supportive of local musicians. Check out the whiteboard that lists upcoming events for the month, including Open Mic nights. They open relatively early: 7:30AM Monday through Friday, and 8:00AM on weekends. Brunch is available on Sundays. To conclude, I’ll leave it to their slogan: “Upbeat place to meet.” Right on.
Café Allegro
1374 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo 14216
716.874.3321