coffee shop Archives - Good Food St. Louis

Cyndy checks out after a thorough browsing of AO&Co.

AO&Co is a boutique market and coffee shop in the Ben Poremba culinary complex on Tower Grove. You’ll find an array of quality foods, sauces, pastas, charcuterie, vinegars, oils, cheese, spreads, and condiments from around the world, even a cigar emporium featuring 90 varieties. There’s also Olio’s famed egg salad and hummus, as well as chocolate chip cookie dough, salsa from Nixta, and pastries from La Patisserie Chouquette.

The Beverage Bar

Allow Time for Browsing

It was well passed the noon hour when Cyndy and I arrived at AO&Co. Actually, we were wiling away the time, waiting for a table at Union Loafers across the street. During the interlude, we made a number of purchases, including a barbecue rub, bacon salt, artisan crackers (laced with dried apricots, pistachios, and brandy), chocolate malt balls (a fondness of mine), and tomato jam (hard to find).

My impulse purchases

Pottery of local artists

Indeed, this Botanical Heights specialty market is a warm and welcoming oasis for both locals and those browsing the trendy food corridor. Even so, it would be good to see the beverage bar offer an abbreviated sandwich menu for those who become a bit peckish while shopping.

Coffee Cartel is open 24-7.

Say you’re strolling along in the Central West End and you have the urge for a good cup of java. Maybe a pastry, cookie, a sliver of cake or even a sandwich to go with it. Perhaps an exotic tea, a smoothie, or an upscale ice cream. (Drum roll!) Look no further than Coffee Cartel on the corner of Maryland Plaza and Euclid.

By now, dear reader, you know that I prefer the mom and pop, hole-in-the-wall, locally owned businesses whenever possible. Check that box. Coffee Cartel also gets kudos for their hot location and outdoor patio for dog and people watching.

According to the sign on the post, remodeling was underway.

Cyndy and I walked in for a bit of refreshment recently. Like me, I thought the place needed a facelift. They’ve been around for 22 years, which is a lot in restaurant years. The next thing I knew, I’d bumped into a chatty workman with a ladder, who was caulking in preparation for a repaint. There was a sign asking your indulgence during the makeover.

I had to squint to read the menu and finally went with what I could see in the showcases.

We sat is the window—and there’s lots of window space to sit in at Coffee Cartel. In addition to the 24 seats in the main room, there’s another 100 or more, in two adjoining party rooms. I could tell by the decor that this place had the makings for some happy times.

Cyndy and I split a tasty tiramisu and I had one of the best dishes of chocolate ice cream I’ve had recently. According to the lettering on the freezer case, the ice cream was Edy’s. My gripe was that they had no decaf, which is my brew of preference that time of day. I couldn’t tell if the absence of a low octane brew was just happenstance or a store policy.

The tiramisu forklift was invented by women sharing dessert to cut calories.

Giddy from our sugar high, I offered to sing while Cyndy tickled the ivories on the funky-colored piano. It was time to go home.

Coffee Cartel, 2 Maryland Plaza, Central West End. Open 24-7. Menu: coffee, tea, smoothies, lattes, frappes, sodas, shakes, cakes, pastries, donuts, wraps, sandwiches, candy, snacks, salads, drinks and more.