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| - With a disappointed sigh, one of the few after hours options limps off into the sunset. Sadly, Dolce is no longer open all night - even on the weekends. Also - of the 5 times I wanted a croissant, they only had it twice. Still recommended... but please! Someone open something that's all-night and non-diner-y!
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
The urban nightcrawler in me danced the dance of joy when I heard there was a 24-hour indie coffeehouse in my neighborhood (at least on the weekends)!
The various bakery options are oversized and decadently sweet - pretty tasty. The real stars are the coffee and the breakfast items. Like a couple of others below, I'm a fan of the caramel bianco, which has a richer, deeper, more complex espresso flavor than the big chains. When you get a ham, egg, and cheese croissant, you're getting a huge, fluffy, buttery croissant with a nice portion of tangy ham, and eggs that are actually fluffy (not flattened into one solid brick of egg). Perhaps a tad messy if you're eating in the car, but if you're going to hang out here (which you should), it's well worth it.
The service isn't as crazy fast as a Starbucks, but it's well worth the quality and personal attention. If you're not in a hurry, consider it an opportunity to get to know Leo, who owns and operates the place and is always a good conversationalist. I'd prefer to chat or read than watch inane pop videos, which kinda get in the way of the whole coffeehouse experience for me.
I've been looking for something to replace Counter Culture ever since it left the McDowell location, and while Dolce is only 24 hours on the weekends, it's definitely got potential. I look forward to becoming a 3am regular.
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