lux central

recommended by a well-traveled las vegas chef, the hip vibe and coffee program cited in addition to a substantial number of house-baked goods, it was just past nine on a rainy new year’s day that three visitors settled into a couch of pink leather at lux central, the house already more than 3/4 full with a growing line as a middle-age dj spun shoegaze intermixed with other mid-tempo tunes.

generally open 6am to midnight, the late night leading to 2017 allowing staff to sleep in a bit, those arriving at 4400 north central avenue on 01/01/17 consisted of all ages and genders with a lean towards millennials, a hirsuit young barista taking orders from the line and passing them on to a colleague inorderto expedite traffic while a team of clerks gathered pastries and generated tickets for orders requiring preparation from a postage stamp-size kitchen in the back.

focusing mostly on quick breads and american classics, glamour-shots of david bowie and chewbacca contributing to the décor, it was after slow perusal approaching the counter that a sizableorderwas formulated, a total of six pastries presented on five plates with twenty-minutes quoted as the wait time for a $9 dutch pancake.

not in any rush, the leisurely morning a welcome change of pace from days prior, it was with self-gathered silverware that a tasting got underway, first bites of the strawberry scone trending sweeter and softer than the british staple while the raspberry muffin was minimally different in texture, the small chunks of white chocolate simply replacing pockets of melted butter in the former.

smiling at the $1 friand with a cursive “l,” essentially a hostess cupcake made dense with better cocoa, lux central’s coffee cake as well as the banana bread do an admirable job of negating phoenix’s dry-air by dialing up the wet ingredients, the blueberry corn muffin also showing well with what seems to be a 1/3 each ratio of butter, berries and cornmeal.

a bit compromised by crowding, a lack of table service requiring diners to be attentive to their name being called out from a kitchen nearly 30-yards away from the door, it was precisely nineteen minutes after ordering that the high-walled pancake was collected, a crisp rim surrounding no less than four types of fresh fruit plus a sizeable dollop of hand-whipped cream that made any thoughts of syrup unnecessary.

lux right on central is the hallowed hipster coffee spot. it's quirkily curated interior whose modern cinder block walls hold work from local artists while an assortment of work tables, lounge areas, raw wood low coffee tables, family style table with antiquities (old teal typewriters) are scattered throughout the coffee shop. it can be difficult to find a space to study or sip but the expansion to a back room and a fully stocked bar makes it slightly easier to snag some corner to have creative meetings or afternoon sip sessions. the only issue is that it can be packed and the music can be hit or miss sometimes it verges too much on the electronic and sonically obscure and you al pat think that your phone is constantly ringing.

the coffee is some of the best in central phoenix. the velvet is a popular item but it's most stellar component is the in house made espresso whip cream that the dollop on top of it. the whip cream is that one item that strikes chords every time i see it unveiled to finish off someone's drink. i tend to stick to hot drinks here and the basic cappuccino which is executed well.

the addition of a full kitchen which is open, an always happy thing in my book, means breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings are available. the breakfast sandwich is a personal favorite. placed inside an english muffin a fried egg, bacon, cheese, and stovetop roasted tomatoes make for a killer crispy and satisfying combo. another favorite is their mac and cheese (options to add jalapeño and bacon, do it!) and since the kitchen cranks out food until late it's one of the few non fast food options as midnight approaches. their pastries baked in house are equally enticing and sit in behind a glass barrier and make it feel like your window shopping, tempted always as you approach the counter toorderyour drink.

overall, the cafe that i've ways known as the one that was one of the first in catalyzing a cafe culture. unfortunately, sometimes service is slow and not warm or friendly, the ambiance can sometimes feel slightly overly done and trying to be something, and though it moves fast the lines can be long. despite all this, still one of those great spots to grab a mug of mac and a macchiato and chat with a couple of friends.

an authentic experience. we're regulars... which is remarkable considering we live 15 mi away... it's the only truly authentic food experience i've found in phoenix.. the retro hipster/diverse/student vibe suits me and my family... we love it all... early morning breakfast before thrift shopping all the cool retro boutiques on 7th ave... try the bloody mary's ... the bartenders are true artists... there's always something new and organic on the dinner menu... just enough menu choices where everyone canorderand share and not miss out on a single inspired selection... speaking of selection, you'll have your choice of many hard to find beers... i suggest the organic pinkus... our girls love the mac and cheese... you can always get some fresh cut jalapeño's on the side... but the always new and seasonal salads and soups are a must. the seating is unusual and not for the shy or those worried about how it might appear to be having a meal while lounging on a couch your sharing with a complete stranger while supporting your plate on a log. if your older like myself, bring a big smile and your long lost hippie vibe and you'll be fine.

they’ve nailed the efficiency thing, taking my americanoorderwhile i’m standing in line. it’s ready, with a little nametag on a saucer, by the time i reach the till. en route, i pass tempting scones and mixed-berry corn muffins, but the most spectacular dish is a puffy, fruit-laden dutch pancake (only $6) that’s made to order. lux is a cool place to people watch from a retro couch or a table lined with old-fashioned typewriters.

if you can get over all the non prescription glasses and macbooks, then the food is very good. service is confusing. no menus? oh wait menus are at the bar.ordersodas at the coffee bar but your beer over at the bar-bar. i guess we weren't underground enough to know how to order. after we figured that stuff out, the food was yummy. bacon jalepeno mac n cheese and a yorkshire pudding burger!

cool vibe and friendly staff however, if you like starbucks then this could be a great alternative as long as you sugar the daylights out of your espresso based drink. if you want serious coffee, look somewhere else. i had a double espresso with 2 ounces of "steamed milk" (more like bubbly nasty foam) so i could really taste the espresso. unfortunately, the lack of actually grinding the coffee fresh toorderresulted in bland espresso flavors in the cup. they also did not clean espresso shot glasses between extractions, which further kills the flavor of their shots as the old bits of pulled espresso adds bland flavored to subsequent drinks. also a slight over extraction made the flavors bitter as it hit the front of my tongue instead of the back. they need to slow down the process just a bit to keep the quality high and make sure that the guy tamping is also the guy that finishes the cup out in the end. never hand off a shot to someone else.

liked the bathroom sink. great place to meet up w/ friends, loved their furniture, friendly crowd. went during my lunch break, brought my own lunch but didordera slice of strawberry/peach pie, not sure if they warmed it up for me or if it was still warm from the bakery, very good, not too sweet, just perfect for me. will visit again, in the pm next time.