Shay Gregory has realized his goal of opening a café to provide a sense of community and a great cup of coffee in his neighborhood. I first brought this to you in June. While there has not been a grand opening celebration yet, the café has been open and operating for several weeks. The wine license is following on their “to-do” list.
I stopped in with a friend to check out the finished space. I had questions about how the vision for the small café would work for customers when I was there initially. But Shay has created a cozy space without being uncomfortable, and the steady stream of people in and out and those who stayed to study, work, or visit with a friend seemed very happy that it is here. The use of mostly neutral colors and the variety in types of seating allow you to find the vibe that fits you for the day.
The menu includes a variety of coffee and teas, and, true to his word, no upcharge on the types of milk you choose. Something unique that I appreciated was a listing of coffees and their origins. Coffee beans from China, Colombia, and Brazil were on the board the day I visited. These are prepared upon request. Traditional drip coffee is always ready to go.
The roll-up garage door and table with chairs outside allow for enjoying the milder weather, and the inside booths and bench seating allow for meeting with groups or on your own. The bookshelf wall separating Shay’s space from his landlord and friend, Juilana Eduardo’s open conference room, is decorated with merch, plants, and adorable personalized Partial Cafe building block sets. A food truck selling crepes was outside next to Architectural Antics, but you could also purchase pastries in the café. Shay also partnered with the popular and creative Girls Gotta Eat Good for sweet treats.
I had a wildflower latte once again. This was the drink I first had from Partial Coffee at Open Streets in June. The floral hint of wildflower has become one of my favorite flavors in coffee, tea, and cocktails. It didn’t disappoint. My friend, Julie, had a flat white and was also delighted with her drink. We found the service to be quick and courteous.
UT students get a 10% discount on game days, so be sure to stop in on Saturdays before kickoff. The current hours are Wednesday-Sunday, 7:30 am-2 pm. In my initial interview with Shay, he told me he would open for evening hours once he received his wine license. You can follow on Instagram for updates on this progress and extended hours.
