| rev:text
| - As a recent addition to the Portland area, its difficult for me to find fault with any of the coffee shops here. Cartel, however, tops every cafe I've seen so far.
Their pastries are delicious (try the bacon/choco chip cookie or the blueberry white chocolate scone). Their coffee is excellent and served in recycled/biodegradable cups, but dont ask for your cappucino to go- its expressly forbidden (says the sign behind the counter; "Complain all you want, but that cappucino is for here).
The menu is simple but covers the gambit. You can chose anything from a toddy (good choice) to one of many teas to their tasty chai (excellent at Christmastime).
Cartel also happens to boast some of the nicest and most knowledgable baristas I have encountered in ages (a lot to say considering the sheer amount of cafes here in the Pacific North West). Jeff makes the best Iced Mocha. Ashley makes excellent foam designs. Devon always has an awesome attitude- humor infused with sarcasm, but only in the best way. Athena is sweet and always helpful. Paul can always be seen tending to the day's roast. I could go on about every employee, but to make a long story slightly shorter, all of the employees are friendly, more than competent, and are very good at making you feel comfortable and welcome.
The decor is visually interesting (see; hanging area divider made entirely of metal bike wheel frames. See also; constantly changing featured artists work for sale, warehouse-esque basic interior, bathroom covered in awesome tags and paintings) but is never overkill or distracting.
The Tempe location is tucked away in University Square. The place is easy to miss- with only one small sign that says 'Cartel Coffee Lab' hanging out front and a classic red and blue 'Open' sign, it' is unostentatious and slightly off the beaten path.
The plaza is, however, the heart and soul of Tempe- at least to many of the locals. Right behind to the Headquarters Smokeshop (in business for a quarter of a century), Cowtown Skateboards (ling time locals), El Pollo Supremo (arguably the best Mexican food in the area), Buffalo Exchange (an Arizona based company whose first shops opened in Tucson), near Tempe Farmer's Market, Casey Moore's (unarguably the most popular bar in the area), HTC Piercing (affiliated with High Priestess of Oregon), and Wet Paint Artist Supply (ran by the ever-winderful Jess. Ask her to tell you about mooeds sometime), the location is near ASU, Mill Avenue, and historic Tempe and is prime.
Tempe Cartel will soon boast a bar around the west side of the space which one can only assume will be as successful as the ever-full cafe. Mixed drink aficionados need not apply, though. Straight from the horse's mouth, there will be no hard liquor served here. However, patrons can expect to enjoy the ample comforts of a micro-brewery and wine bar.
Five out of five stars.
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