Without coffee, society would literally crumble under the weight of unsound buildings erected by dozing construction workers and unfocused architects. Help buttress the fragile social fabric with today's Groupon: for $5, you get $10 worth of coffee, tea, and light fare at Thrice Cafe.
The caffeine-dispensing baristas at Thrice Cafe pour a menu of energizing beverages that gently awaken sleepy synapses alongside fluffy confections baked in-house. Select from more than 20 organic loose-leaf brews from Zhi Tea ($2.75–$4.50), Brazilian drip coffee ($1.79–$2.49), or unique creations such as the Caffeine Invasion, a cool libation chilled with coffee ice cubes to avoid diluting the flavor with water or frozen peas($3.50–$4.50). Fresh-baked goods make morning meals for any diet with multiple gluten-free and vegan treats to circumvent culinary restrictions. Thrice Cafe also assembles indigenous breakfast and lunch fare made with locally raised and harvested meats and eggs. Forage forkfuls of the vegetarian thai omelet quiche ($3.50), or crunch into a curried-potato-and-egg taco, which shields sentimental starches with a tough outer shell ($2.75). The chicken-satay sandwich clutches tender chunks of poultry, peanut sauce, and tendrils of pickled cabbage within a dual-clamping bread vise ($6.50).
Gather groups of friends or colleagues within Thrice's chocolate-toned cinder-block walls to listen to live music and build camaraderie over a mutual love of Dutch weather reporting. Classical guitar serenades mellow minds on Monday nights, and some Friday and Saturday nights also welcome eclectic musical acts to inspire cacophonous bouts of toe tapping.
Thrice + Thai Fresh
Chef Jam Sanitchat’s cooking career began at 5 years old, when she began following her grandmother around their kitchen in Thailand. After journeying to Austin for graduate school, she opened Thai Fresh delicatessen, where she began teaching classes and cooking. Thrice Cafe is her newest culinary undertaking—an expansion of Thai Fresh that pairs coffee drinks with innovative Thai-inspired dishes, all cooked fresh when customers order.
Sanitchat and her crew cobble together local meats, eggs, and vegetables into light and healthful breakfasts, sandwiches, and salads. They also concoct vegan and gluten-free baked goods, which pair with specialty beverages brewed from Casa Brasil coffee or selections from the lengthy wine and beer list.
Cushy couches and tables populate the interior, and umbrellas shade a verdant outdoor patio. Throughout the week, the café hosts live music and open-mic nights, where guests can showcase their talents to a receptive audience instead of a collection of unresponsive sock monkeys.