To the Lazz and the Ladd.
Today, I walked into your premises and from the first moment I. Totally. Liked. It. The cool feel, the wooden features, the communal tables, the array of magazines-or-books, and especially the overly attentive barista who very positively couldn't let me take a seat before ordering from his well memorised presentation of small treats and coffee (which was good because I was ready to party in that coffee cup!). Highlight this - La-la-la-la-liked it!
The coffee was classic greatness from the cafe 'marriage' of the Coffee Branch and Bar 9 (both personal favourites). Creamy, just that right amount of bitter that I love, a good roast, smooth texture - it went down a treat. The nibbles I got - pardon the terrible sales pitch I'm about to sell you - the custard/pastry/chocolate croissant-type thing - was super tasty. It was a lovely early morning treat to say the least.
Three things that didn't quite help tick all the boxes, sadly.
Firstly, with this puppy being the blended creation of two amazing cafe' masterminds, I'm a little confused of what Larry & Ladd is to be? Perhaps its creation is to be in-order-out. Perhaps its to be for elect coffee shots. I was expecting a serious... explosion...KAPOW!! That whole 'knock your socks off" experience. Sensational coffee, or sensational eats, or sensational feels? Maybe I read too much into the review before the opening and tainted my expectations...
Secondly, the groovy music. Its groovy. And its music. And i really liked the range of feels it gave, it was a nice mix! A lover of eclectic tunes I am! However at one point there was only two of us in the place, it would be polite to say the music was a little overpowering to try and talk to each other (myself and super lovely boss of Yelp! Adelaide, Chloe). Perhaps it was location of sitting in the close proximity of the speaker, and perhaps I should've asked for it to be a smidge quieter - except, well, I don't think the consumer should be the adjuster of the atmospheric tunes. Perhaps. Perhaps...
The thing that probably was the most surprising - and maybe it was because there was another bubbly staff member around at this point - was that the overly friendly and attentive barista from my walking in, didn't seem to be so connected with our experience when we were walking out. Maybe he was distracted. Maybe i'm being overly critical.
I'm such a lover of a cafe with staff that loves consumers arriving, and their experience, and their enjoyment of their time, and the whole shebang package of your time in the presence of that place that leaving feels less like you partook of a seat at a table but actually you became part of the experience of being there. I know I've been spoilt in other fabulous places, but I think coffee made with love is much greater than coffee just made. Is that just me?
I'll certainly swing past and visit again, Lazza and Laddo... thanks for the treat today! read more