Old Post 17: Big Dog Coffee, not just for Java

As we all know, coffee shops are rarely serving just coffee these days.  To truly be a cafe, you've got to offer at the very least some sort of pastry or bread or snack to go along with the coffee, a comfy chair to sit in and a newspaper to kick back with. 

Big Dog Coffee at 27th and Sarah St. in the South Side is doing so much more.  If you are a dog lover, you must, must come to Big Dog Coffee where you and your pooch are more than welcome to relax in the cool and quaint cafe or on the sunny deck.  Aside from offering delicious coffee and friendly baristas, the little shop also has an oatmeal bar, a selection of daily fresh soups, and a variety of pastries. 

They get their pastries from a variety of local bakers- from full shops with store fronts to home bakers with businesses to friends who know how to make a killer cranberry bread.  You can also easily recognize the best coconut macaroons in town- no, not Sweet Tammy's, Enrico's!

Months and months ago, they had a chocolate gob which was out of this world delicious, but during this particular visit with Pete and Coop (my dogs), there were none.  Faced with indecision- the oatmeal bar with two dogs in hand or a granola bar - convenience landed on the granola bar.  This homemade granola bar was stuffed to the gills with peanut butter flavor and smooth, delicious texture.  It was a real treat with oats, raisins, peanut butter and nuts packed into one delicious bar. 

The raspberry-filled scone was somewhat of an afterthought.  It hadn't been part of the decision set, but it was intriguing because it was a filled scone.  Upon tasting it, it was almost like have a sweet, lemon-y biscuit filled with raspberry jam and flattened.  It was tasty, but a little unexpected. 

Each treat was complemented with a delicious cup o' latte and a wonderfully friendly set of customers who obligingly paid attention to Pete and Coop who wanted oh so badly to eat some of those treats behind the counter.

Stop by Big Dog Coffee and try the oatmeal bar and send your comments! It's on my list of things to try if I ever make it down that way sans dogs. 

Big Dog Coffee's Granola Bar on the Sugar Love Scale

Taste ♥♥♥.5
Texture ♥♥♥.5
Appearance ♥♥♥
Overall ♥♥♥.5