A trip off campus to a quaint Benton Park coffee house is a great way to mark the seasonal transition from sweatshirt weather to scarves-and-mittens weather. The Mud House cafe highlights the neighborhood with its delicious array of coffee, breakfast and lunch options.
The charming interior creates an ambiance perfect for time spent with family or friends. With sounds of classic rock music, gentle conversation, espresso machines and baristas announcing coffee orders, the Mud House is a pleasant setting for any morning or afternoon.
Numerous tables and chairs are placed systematically throughout the cafe to provide the maximum amount of seating- handy for the popular establishment. A Saturday or Sunday equates to a nearly constant line of people patiently waiting to place their order.
Needless to say, the welcoming ambiance of this cafe is thanks to the quirky and oh–so friendly baristas and cooks. The service leaves you with a smile on your face.
Simple, yet fun decorations are placed throughout the cafe. The decorations do not seem to correlate with each other; however, it definitely adds to the charm of the interior. A large frame of a young Bob Dylan, a deer head and bookshelves are complimentary items that are hard to miss. The Mud House acts as a bookshop, in addition to a café, with a small self-explanatory sign on top of the book case, “Buy a Book”. It is not a riddle- prices are listed inside the book cover.
The cool and funky vibe of the Mud House is only half of the noteworthy experience.
Quality is a word that comes to mind when describing the menu options. A well-balanced selection of pastries, breakfast and lunch entries, and beverages are available. It would be a disservice to identify the Mud House as a mere coffee shop. The full title of the cafe is “The Mud House Coffee and Kitchen”. The freshness and tastiness of the food is something to write home about. Plenty of fruits and vegetables are included in the meal descriptions. Specifically, a sandwich known as “the Goat” is a crowd pleaser. Breakfast and lunch options are served all day.
The assortment of beverages is extensive enough to earn its own separate menu. Lattes, espresso drinks, coffee and loose-leaf teas are all included. Any of the choices are satisfaction guaranteed- you can’t go wrong. The cafe features coffee from St. Louis, as well as other cities, including brews from Blueprint Coffee, Dogwood Coffee, Counter Culture Coffee, George Howell Coffee, Mad Cap Coffee, Sight Glass Coffee and Broadway Coffee. The baristas work efficiently to ensure every beverage served is better than the last.
The Mud House is located at 2101 Cherokee St., and is open every day, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
