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| - Barebones urban chic, that describes Vesta. Someone took a garage, swept it out, installed some clean concrete, real wood countertops, large roasters and street-view windows, and thus opened a coffee shop.
Their location is primo, settled into another side-street of the arts district. By virtue of that, Vesta (though new) already attracts a steady stream of the ilk who flock to First Fridays or who are permanent residents of the neglected and oft forgotten Las Vegas arts scene. That's right: Vesta is a good fit for anyone wanting a quick cup, but especially those young 20/30-somethings who are in search of a "coffee hangout" in this part of town more than they are a "coffee experience."
I had a macchiato, which though somewhat petit, was well-crafted, not bitter. Accompanying was a bowl of their soup of the day, a carrot ginger, just what my congested sinuses needed. Due to the latter, I can't comment much on the taste, but the texture and temperature were right on, ready for dipping the included bread sides.
On said bread, the melted cheese was somewhat unappealing, its bright orange hue overpowering the muted color of the soup. If I souped here again, I'd ask for toast plain.
There are no creature comforts or unique styles here that make Vesta remarkable, but the prices are right, the location key, the interior sparse but clean, and the taste of the things is fine. They make an effort to remember your name on the first visit which is neighborly, but you must collect your own food and drink when it's ready. There's no pastry display, so if you want a plain croissant, for example, you must order a croissant-meal from the menu. Thankfully, you can get one for $4.
So, a-ok overall. It just needs an ounce of character injected, or a little extra je ne sais quoi to ensure people make them a habit. Until then, I'll be back on a First Friday when in need of a quality grab-n-go.
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