Meandering drives sometimes find nice surprises.

I went here today:

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I had started off at church over in West Central Austin, and had some things on my mind, so I decided to detour on the way home to a coffee shop. I had intended to go to Jo's on S. Congress, but there was a long line and parking was terrible, so when I turned off of SoCo, I kept going on the roads I was on, then found myself at the corner of Elizabeth and S. First at Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse.

There was a line there, too, but there was also parking, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I stood in the crowd a while, then a woman (who is apparently the owner) came around to take drink orders. I ordered the "Thai Take-Off" and was able to cut out of line early.

Admittedly, I didn't even look at a menu. I wasn't hungry, so I wasn't terribly concerned about it. But judging by the conversation around me, Bouldin Creek a favorite among many. In fact, according to a public letter on the wall of the shop, the coffeeshop is soon moving; they've simply outgrown their current location. I'm not surprised, having witnessed the fullness of the store and seating areas -- both inside and out -- and the constant activity of both the cashiers and the food runners.

I sat outside, in a covered awning area with a mishmash of chairs and tables. Bike wheels hung from the roof in haphazard display - just one of the many eclectic details that make Bouldin Creek so fun and unique. The crowd was no different than the decor; from the girl wearing an animal ear hat to the fairly conservative-looking middle-aged couple to well, me, who fits somewhere in the middle, it seems that Bouldin Creek is a place for everyone.

I wasn't there long; I took enough time to savor my drink (2 shots of espresso with condensed milk over ice) and write a little, then I gave up my table for others who might still be waiting.

However, now that I've had time to see the menu online, I hope to soon return and sample the fare. Yum.