On one of our recent wretchedly hot days, I stopped by Cafe Ambrosia for an iced tea to take with me as I continued on my afternoon of appointments and errands. Just as I was walking up to the door, a very nice gentleman passed by and told me, "They make great coffee there." He smiled as he walked away. Unfortunately, the temperature was hovering 'round 100 and I don't like iced coffee, so I'll have to take this suggestion some time when it's merely summery rather than sweltering. But it was sweet of him to make the recommendation.
Once I found myself in the blissfully cool shop, I found that not only was the iced tea properly brewed (rather than the instant "tea" that is often served in restaurants), but I was also able to stay within my mandatory $5 budget and buy an utterly decadent chocolate-almond croissant to go with my drink. Sugar and chocolate are good, even when it's hot out. Thus, Cafe Ambrosia meets all the criteria to be today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature!
When I do go back for that cup of great coffee, I'll happily be able to splurge on another treat to go with it and still not have to spend a fortune; coffees - from a basic house cup to specialty drinks - range in price from $1.25 to $4.50. Chai and cocoa are also available within the same price range.
Baked goods are provided by the Pastry Peddler Bakery and are lovingly made by Kathryn Loy, a graduate of the French Pastry School in Chicago. My flaky, crumbly, perfect croissant - authentically made in the French manner with sticks of chocolate rather than chips - cost a mere $3.25, an extraordinary price for such an exceptional item. Palmiers and oatmeal raisin cookies cost only a $1 each; and other sweet treats - from pecan sticky buns to almond croissants - are less than $4.
So whether you're looking for a hot drink or a cold one, be sure to stop by Cafe Ambrosia to find what you need. And don't pass up the pastries ... they are utterly sublime!
Cafe Ambrosia
326 Maynard
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
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What a great little oasis for you on such a hot, sweltering day! The croissant looks decadent!!!
ReplyDeleteSo delicious & refreshing. It's only 6am and I am already sweating :)
ReplyDeleteEven on a hot day I probably would have had hot tea (it's the English genes!), and make my croissant a perfectly plain one, please. Wish I could find a good croissant maker around here!
ReplyDeleteI love the name of this place. It sounds heavenly. And that croissant looks amazing!
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