Giles F.
Yelp
Not just a coffee shop, a family ran center of ideals for humanity. Yes, they have their own way of doing things. No, they aren't built to serve 1000 customers a day. Yes, Mo will ask you to give up your table after 45 mins to an hour on the weekend if you are just buying a coffee (so more people can actually sit and enjoy a meal with their friends or family).
The food is at a very high standard, everything must be fresh. The kitchen is extremely, extremely clean. The health inspector prefers to eat here - that says a lot.
The prices are reasonable, they try their best to be affordable so the everyman (and woman) can enjoy the Chauvin espresso lattes and fresh fruit and veggies. May not seem so be yesterday's standards, but today to keep a business open prices did have to be raised.
And I haven't even touched on the fridge behind the bar. It was front and center with Mo, the owner, when the Riverfront Times did a story on the coffeeshop a month ago. For 30 years it has been a center of activism, a place where all walks of life are welcome (except bigots). Lobbyists meet here to discuss disability advocacy, sober people practice the 12 steps together, hungover patrons score their coffee fix, and every misfit in the world is welcome. You'll see Dungeons n Dragons cosplay, homeless advocacy groups, cyclists and skateboarders and chess matches and all the people in high school who weren't with the "cool kids". Although they are welcome too of course.
I could go on, you'll see people practicing for the BAR exam, people in wheelchairs easily accommodated, pride fest organizers, a few smokers on the patio sometimes even I'm the winter. Everyone is welcome, the food is fresh, it's affordable for the quality, and they do their very best to minimize their impact on the environment
I'm sure I left out 1000 more awesome things, and this reads more like a rambling rant, but it wasn't teargassed by the police for sitting by and doing nothing while the world demands equality and change.
So much more than a coffeeshop, the entire family that works here is changing the world. Hell, they even gave paternity leave to one of their family members, unheard of in a small restaurant. Your cashier might also be a lawyer, your barista might be a crime fighting bad ass, your cook might be qualified for retirement but still hitting the gym harder than the young guns doing it for "likes".
It's a place many have spent decades growing themselves and society the best they can. The family works damn hard, is the nicest ever, and the food and drinks are amazing. It's quite a lot more than a coffeeshop. Stick around and you'll never know who you will meet.
Pro tip : the veggie burgers are homemade and better than most actual burgers, especially like the black bean burgers for their huge flavor and meatiness. Haven't ate a moo burger since. Upgrade to baked fries or fresh fruit or a salad, they are all a step above other places sides. Definitely worth the 2.50