brentwood social house

The bride and I sometimes fantasize about opening up a coffee shop, but it’s not so much about the coffee as it is about the shop or, more specifically, what happens in a good coffee shop: Poetry readings, art shows, music, discussions, connections. That’s what makes a coffee shop special (although you still have to provide a damn fine cup of joe).

Suzanne Daniels betters the “shop” term by replacing it with “social house,” a place “where people feel welcome and comfortable to rise up and be their best,” which is a lovely aspiration. Besides slinging up mighty fine lattes and European pastries, southern tea sandwiches, and beer and wine, there is something happening almost everyday at the Suzanne’s Brentwood Social House: live music, painting classes, shows for kids, needle felting workshops, special tea evens (including “Spilling Tea with the Queens” with drag queens Louisiana Purchase and Honey St. Clair), and on and on. Out back is a massive ship-wrecked playscape for the rugrats and pooches.

Besides good coffee, the Social House leans British on the menu with fabulous-looking Thursday-through-Sunday afternoon teas (must be booked in advance and is something I must do), a deep array of savory pastries, sandwiches and salads, gluten-free and vegan options, and a kids’ menu. Everything we’ve ordered has been expertly prepared and hit the spot. I stopped in for a mid-morning Tuesday business meeting and was pleasantly surprised to find a guitar player strumming in the background in one of the Social House’s several rooms. It added a nice backdrop to my latte, ham-and-cheese croissant, and hearty discussion on climate science in Texas. As Suzanne promised, we rose up and were our best!

I wrote this review for the Allandale Neighbor.

web&where: interwebs; 1601 west koenig lane; (512) 362-8656
what’s the deal? neighborhood coffee shop that puts the social into social house; counter service
overall: ** (food**; drink**; atmosphere**; service**; instagrammability**)
cost: $

our scale:
–          meh [think twice]
*         OK [it’ll get the job done]
**       good [solid neighborhood joint]
***     damn good [we’ll definitely be back]
****   yippity-yikes that was amazeballs [fantastic; one of the best]
***** holy sh!t [transcendental; best of the best]