The last time I went to Spotted Cow in Mill Creek, I made up my mind I wasn’t going back.
It was one thing after another. First, it was the play area colliding with the coffee shop atmosphere. I found it tough to concentrate if I went there to study, because kids were usually running around screaming. I even witnessed one preschool aged child grab a customers drink from a coffee table and take a slobbery swig of it. Ew.
Then, There was the general appearance of the place. Paint peeling off the walls, and dust so thick you could see clinging to bookshelves and furniture from ten feet away. (And I am not a meticulous housekeeper, so that’s saying something if I noticed). Smudgy fingerprints covered every table and there was always a sticky coating on everything. The place was going downhill.
The last straw was when the guy at the counter (who I think may have been the owner, or a manager), didn’t even acknowledge me as I stood waiting to order. Despite the fact that a line was waiting behind me, he looked at me, gave me a blank stare and then turned around to talk with the barista. Eventually, I gave up waiting for him to notice me and told him what I wanted to order. All throughout the waiting process, he continued talking with the barista. When my drink was ready, he handed me the receipt as he turned his back to continue talking. There was no “thank you” or “have a great day”. Nothing.
That left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I told Hubby what happened. So, Hubby stopped going there too.
You know what they say, word of mouth travels fast, right?
But a few months ago, Hubby called me and told me he saw a sign that said Spotted Cow had new owners. We both said we were going to give it a try soon, but forgot about it.
Then, when I asked my readers last week on Facebook if they could recommend a local coffee shop, the first reader to comment was Kimberly. She suggested the Spotted Cow, so we decided to try it out. (Thanks Kimberly!)
And I’m so glad we did.
The first thing I noticed was how cleaned up the place was. Warm latte colored walls made the old shabby look history.
A brightly lit Christmas tree stood a top the stage they use for live performances, together with a hanging door they had turned into a calendar of events. Neat-o!
As we ordered, I told the guy behind the counter how nice it looked.
“Oh yeah, the whole place has been remodeled.”
“I can tell!” I said.
I shared with him what my impressions were of the old place and the experiences I had. He agreed and told me that the child to adult ratio had been way off, to the point that it was almost turning into a daycare like atmosphere.
But not anymore. When Hubby and I turned the corner, we saw a whole new section where the play area had been. We grabbed a spot there, underneath another hanging door. ( Which, by the way, is a great way to re purpose an unused door with a lot of character).
“Wow. This looks so good in here!” Hubby said.
The Spotted Cow is a cheery, cozy, happy place.
And the coffee, chocolate peanut butter and candy cane gelato were pretty good too. We split a cup, but Hubby totally hogged the candy-cane gelato. Now I get why he kept saying “Oh look! isn’t that cool?” and diverting my attention while he grabbed another bite. (Oh well, keeps me skinny, right?)
We got out of there at just a little over eleven bucks. What a deal!
Atmosphere (romantic appeal): 5. This place has it all-style, service, good food and gelato. It can be a great place to study, or go on a date.
Budget Friendly: 5. We were way under budget, and we felt satisfied with the amount we got. One thing I forgot to ask though, do they do punch cards?
Food: The gelato was excellent. Not to sweet, but creamy and light. Coffee was nice for an evening decaf cup, but you may want to ask for extra espresso shots if you like it strong.
Fun and unique:5. This was a victory for us. To see a local place make a comeback and provide for customers needs and comfort-that’s just awesome. And, I love the decor. Make sure to check out their live events next time you go in. I didn’t see any posted on their site yet.
Memorable: 4. We are realizing we love coffee dates. They’re cheap, fun and darn-there are some really neat places out there!
Here’s where to find them:
15118 Main St. Suite 700
Mill Creek, WA 98012
www.spottedcowcreamandbean.com
What do you look for in a coffee shop when you’re on a date with your spouse? Share in the comments.
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