Lux Central

December 7, 2011 · Posted in Places I like, Restaurant Reviews

Main Entrance

So I have a bit of a crush on this place. Lux Central happens to be about 20 miles away from home past about just as many coffee shops but I find myself making the trek here several times a week.

I find Lux to be a bit of a love hate kind of place. Parking can be a battle as though there are a lot of spots and on street parking, it can still be a battle finding a place to tie up your horse. With free wifi and plenty of seating, Lux is a place you want to plop down for a while and do whatever it is you have to do but here it’s “coolness” works against it as even with plenty of seating, It can be a bit like the 101 freeway at rush hour trying to find a place to sit.

The default mocha

I wish I could say the coffee was what brought me in but to be honest, it’s average at best. The service is pretty good and the staff friendly and attentive. The food items i’ve had both baked and prepared freshly have all been adequate (the Mac n Cheese with bacon and Jalapeno was tasty, served in a large portion for the money and well executed but fire roasting the japapenos prior to adding them in would have elevated this dish to excellence!)

So what keeps me coming? Well, I can’t think of anyplace i’d rather to go hang-out, MacBook in hand, to get some work done and people watch. The atmosphere here is GREAT! A mixture or modern and retro furniture, exposed beam ceilings, varied work spaces, and locally produced art are on par with and in my opinion rival similar concepts in NYC, Seattle or San Francisco.

A bar unlike others

Did I mention the full bar? Fancy an adult beverage to take the edge off of that paper you need to write or the power point you’re putting together for the “big proposal” at work? You’re in the right place. The bartenders here will gladly mix you up anything from a classic coctail to a trendy CenPho treat to whet your whistle. I’d give Lux 4 stars if it were a bar that served food and happened to have coffee.

If your looking for great coffee i’d recommend Press Coffee Roasters, Cartel Coffee Lab or Echo Coffee. Lux is definitely my choice if you’re looking for a place to socialize, sit and get a little work done, plow through homework or just hang out and people watch. If the coffee were better i’d rate it 4 stars but as it stands, they only get the third from me because the whole package is so appealing.