The beginning of a new semester is the perfect time to get out and explore the area around campus, so this week, junior and Campus Life staff writer Cassidy Rohrman and I decided to visit the Whisk Cafe. It’s a local establishment open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, perfect for having a nice breakfast or lunch when you’re craving something from beyond the Marketplace.
Located only a short drive away at 98 Masonic Drive, the Whisk Cafe offers a pleasant dining experience. Though its exterior somewhat blends into the connecting buildings of the complex, its interior is inviting and comes across as clean.
The decor suggests a mission to use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the lunch menu appeared to feature mostly hearty, healthy meals. This did appear to be reflected in the price, which was somewhat steep, but still affordable and the large portion sizes made up for it.
We decided to go around noon, and while it was fairly busy, there was no wait to be seated. The cafe was also spacious enough that despite nearly all of the tables being occupied, it didn’t feel overcrowded or loud.
There were many delicious-sounding drinks on the menu, and I settled on the peppermint hot chocolate while Rohrman chose the s’mores hot chocolate to help us warm up from the recent cold temperatures. Both were served in mugs and had a nice presentation of whipped cream and a sprinkled topping and tasted fantastic.
For food, I ordered the turkey club wrap, which was bigger than I was expecting and served with a side of fresh fruit. I wasn’t able to finish it since it was pretty filling, but the ingredients blended nicely and the tortilla was perfectly crisp.
Rohrman settled on the chia berry bowl in an effort to branch out from her usual restaurant orders. It was made with a combination of fresh ingredients, but she found that she didn’t particularly enjoy the texture and didn’t end up eating too much of it. She said she liked the toppings individually, especially the granola, but overall it wasn’t her favorite dish. Regardless, she liked the experience enough to say she wanted to return and try something new on a different day.
The chia berry bowl was also served with a croissant, which was warm and flaky, but the large portions of food prevented us from eating a lot of it.
The wait staff were friendly and generally attentive, and I do have plans to return, possibly for breakfast this time, to try out some of the other menu items.
But don’t just take our word for it! The Whisk Cafe boasts hundreds of great reviews online and it even has a few awards listed on its website. Senior Campus Life Editor Charlie Carberry offered their input as well.
“I’ve been there a few times now, either with friends or on dates, and it’s such a cute place,” they said. “They have great food and great drinks. My favorite things to get there are their Belgian waffles and their lavender lemonade mocktail.”
But, be prepared if you plan on grabbing a bite to eat. While the staple food items are always available, some menu items are seasonal, so I’d recommend checking online before you go to ensure they’ve got your favorites.
