Fun rock music themed small breakfast shop. Big flavor and signature drinks/meals. Breakfast is my favorite meal and this place has it all. Always friendly/patient cashier. There are so many options but they can help point in the right direction. Fast service and just a cool little shop. Sandwiches, burritos, pancakes, vegetarian/vegan options. Coffee specials you'll never see anywhere else. Above all my friend's favorite. Dirty Energy drink combos. Pick your energy drink, add some flavored syrup and some candy. It's just fun all around shop. Was unsure when it first opened but quickly became my go to for something unique and delicious. Seating outside perfect for summer. read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Tater bowl. Signature energy drink - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Finally got to check out this new cafe located in newington . The cafe is unique and curates to your inner emo ! From decor to the music to speciality drinks ! The cafe itself has great atmosphere if you love all things emo , however the cafe is small , limited seating ( for a popular cafe ) hopefully they do expand the seating . The food itself although lacked presentation was delicious . I got the egg and cheese. Simple but cooked well , and tasted good . For my drink I tried the "wolf in sheep's clothing " which is a hot or iced vanilla salted caramel latte topped with cookie butter cold foam and biscoff crumble ! And it was amazing ! Highly recommend ! Most importantly what I loved is that it is a full coffee bar they have a lot of options and flavours and you can make your coffee your way. Or choose a speciality drink ! I loved all the options They also had options of food for breakfast and lunch ! Also they have VEGAN options which is amazing too ! Service was really good to staff was friendly and I got my food pretty quickly considering it was a busy time Overall 4/5 for the good food / drinks and atmosphere but I would love for more seating ( and more comfortable seating ) read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Egg and cheese sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

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I love their themed drinks and that they have so many options. The café itself it's such a fun place in the music is top-tier! I found a new favorite song just from being in there :-) I went to EMO tree painting around the holidays and that was such a fun event! One of my friends was gluten-free and the owners remade her cake pop so she could have them. They are so kind and it's just such a fantastic experience. Definitely recommend. read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

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Had a group coffee meetup here and loved it Dirty soda, Irish Cream Mocha and the Hot Honey Turkey Toasty were highlights, the throwback music was fun, and the staff were super chill and helpful. Definitely coming back read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Hot Honey Turkey Toasty & Irish cream mocha - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

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Such a cute space! Purchased an iced Irish cream mocha, and a plain bagel rolled in fruity pebbles. Sat at a table with gal friends perfect spot to listen to music and chat with friends. Staff are very friendly and food and drinks come out quickly. Coffee is sweet but so yummy! read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Irish cream mocha, bagel rolled in cereal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

I love their vegan sandwich. Like I am hooked. Vegan egg and cheese with vegan bacon is fire. I wish they did the loaded tots vegan but I have never asked the chef. I'm willing to bet he'd be open to the idea. Either way, they have a customer for life. I love the music and how homey the place is. Their tots are fire too. I'm always tempted to try their lattes but I haven't yet because I'm just not trying to be hooked on their whole menu haha . Would def recommend. read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Not A Phase Cafe could easily be one of those places where a middle aged guy, who thinks he's still cool, suddenly realizes, he's not so cool anymore; but, Not A Phase is not that place. Not only did I feel welcomed, but comfortable as well, in spite of the mostly younger, diverse clientele, and the skull on top of the Christmas tree (Although I can't speak for the obviously older than me gentleman, wearing a faded ball cap and a union patch on his working man's jacket, that hesitantly entered after me). The focus is obviously on beverages; but, what I ordered from the limited food menu, the breakfast burrito, was well worth the trip. Each bite contained a chunk of thick, chewy bacon with peppered egg and a mildly spicy filling. It's been hours since I stopped in; and, it still feels as if I've eaten enough for the day. Initially, the blue haired, lip pierced cahier told me the wait would be about ten minutes; but, my food was ready well within that time, even with a steady stream of customers coming and going. It did, however, allow me enough time to savor the surprisingly rich, nutty flavored house blend coffee, which, of course I ordered plain, black. The total, with tip, was fair at $20.04. To sum it up, Not A Phase is a cool place (although, not "punk" as the website describes itself. It was more blended, with metal vibe, if you ask me); and, I enjoyed eating there; so, yeah, I'm still cool read more

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Solid breakfast spot with really good coffee. I had the breakfast burrito and a breakfast bowl, both were tasty and filling. The staff were friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. Would come back. read more

Good coffee and breakfast sandwiches Came here after hearing about their opening on social media. Got here as they were just opening. Space is a little small but lots of character. Lots of metal, dark tones and black lights. It's funky but not over the top. The menu is standard breakfast fare, iced and hot coffee. Avocado toast and breakfast burritos. The owners were handling the kitchen and front end. Very friendly couple, were polite and helpful. Got an iced coffee and a sausage egg and cheese bagel. Food and drink came out pretty quick, saw them snap some pics of a really good looking cold brew, then dug in. The coffee was strong but not overly bitter. Milk helped, but needed a little to counter the bitter bite. The bagel was good, eggs cooked well, sausage was seasoned, and there was a good amount of cheese. Portion for the price was reasonable, and the quality was there. As a local breakfast spot, it's got a good start. There's some character in the location, food and drink is good. Would like to see some highlighted drinks on the menu, espresso drinks, and something unmistakably dark. Maybe some ube or charcoal rolls for the sandwiches? For the area, it's a very solid eatery. Worth a try if you're in the area read more

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Newington has a New Emo Themed eatery -- Not a Phase Cafe. And Team Emo is already there for it. They serve lunch and breakfast, and coffee made with Bones Coffee beans, and they've got all the syrups. They serve breakfast sandwiches on a choice of bread, including on banging bagels made by a guy named Wes. True Story You may recognize the owner/cook from his stint at Goldburgers. My Funnel Cake Iced Coffee was good My Bacon Egg and Cheese on Wes's Sesame bagel was up there with the Best Bagel Shops. You should definitely check them out. 4.25 Stars read more

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The space is cozy without feeling cramped, perfect for catching up with a friend or just soaking in the ambiance. The drinks are custom made while you wait, with the baristas actually encouraging you to taste your order so they can tweak it to perfection. That kind of attention to detail is rare, and it shows in every sip. Honestly, their coffee blows the big chains out of the water. Service was friendly and genuine, and the prices were refreshingly reasonable. Bonus points for the outdoor seating: ideal for prime people watching and enjoying a sunny afternoon. All in all, a fantastic experience. Check it out for yourself! read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

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First visit and loved this spot already! We were big fans of the old place, so happy we have a new spot to get our breakfast sandwich fix. We didn't order the coffee, but got a sandwich on a bagel and the breakfast burrito. I absolutely loved the burrito and it wasn't too heavy. The salsa verde absolutely made this a 10/10! We can't wait to try more and see how their menu expands as they settle in. I for one vote for more sauces to add to brekkie sandwiches like a chipotle mayo, etc! Bonus points for having hashbrowns we can add to our sandwiches as well - big win and harder to find than you'd think! read more

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So you know that sound when someone's finishing their drink with a straw, and you just want to say, "It's done!"...but they keep going? That was me today at Not a Phase because my drink was THAT good. I tried a custom creation Dirty Energy Drink that I spotted on Instagram with a blue raspberry Celsius and green apple cold foam (yes, it's real, and yes, I need it). I was over the moon. I love that this café offers energy drink options because coffee doesn't always agree with me, so it was such a fun, refreshing change. Next time I'm coming back for one with a Sour Patch Kids! My son had a bacon, egg & cheese and called it the best breakfast sandwich he's ever. I went with the blueberry pancakes that were fluffy, delicious, and served with high-quality butter and syrup. They easily rank as some of the best pancakes in Newington. I also spotted the rainbow pancakes at another table (so fun!) and the breakfast burrito is on my must-try list. Inside, the vibe is everything: cute, retro café décor, Instagram-worthy logo, and a cozy atmosphere that honestly didn't even feel like Newington. Service was warm and friendly, about a 20-minute wait on a busy Sunday morning, which is totally fine for brunch. Overall, this is a new local favorite in the making for Newington. Between the creative drinks, solid breakfast menu, and funky vibe, I think the town really needed a spot like this. I'll absolutely be back to explore more of the menu, and I'm wishing them all the success! read more

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This is my first time here. I posted a previous review. Here so we may see this twice. I ordered the special egg and cheese on a glazed donut and a medium coffee . They were busy, which was good . They're right next-door to GoldBurger. The owner of this café used to work at GoldBurger . I recognized his face. I chatted him up for a few minutes. Inside is super cute absolutely love it. The vibe is great. The colors are perfect. The music is fantastic. The choice of foods is awesome. read more

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A little sweet on the coffee options but the breakfast burrito always slaps. Service is always so courteous and hospitable, appreciate the friendly faces every morning. read more

Not a Phase Cafe is brand new to the center of Newington. They're an "emo" cafe. Right as you walk in you'll find wall art of a dog with red hair, with a nose ring and a lip piercing, holding a cookie and a coffee. When I was here just a few days ago, they had the cafe decorated in Beetlejuice theme. They of course offered some specialty Beetlejuice coffee drinks. They have a broad menu of specialty coffees, teas and energy drinks. As far as food, they offer pancakes, burritos, bagels and toast. I decided to get The Sharpest Lives off their special menu. This was supposed to be raspberry iced coffee. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to taste the way it did, or if it was missing something. It tasted like a very watered down coke. Since I am non confrontational, I was going to sip on it verrryy slowly, each time making a sour face. Well, my friend walked it to the counter and kindly explained that it wasn't good and requested a drink called Famous Last Words instead. They were very generous to make me a new drink. Famous Last Words is a white chocholate Iced coffee, with cherry cold foam and Oreo pieces. This was very sweet and very colorful. This is not the type of drink I would usually get, but I wanted to try a typical drink from Not a Phase. It was pleasant enough, but not a favorite. The cherry cold foam made my teeth, face and hands red, despite using a straw. We also got a breakfast burrito to share. This burrito had scrambled eggs, avocado, tater tots and bacon. This was fresh and tasty, I enjoyed the spicy kick. Next time I'd like to try a more basic coffee and another lunch option. Not a Phase Cafe is a fun and unique concept in Newington. read more

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Tried this cafe a few weeks ago and i love the emo theme, it's very unique! I got a red bull with blood orange syrup and nerds candy and i thought it was a really nice pairing, it tasted really good! I ended up getting an egg and cheese on a sesame bagel and added chive cream cheese- the sandwich was ok. the egg was super runny making it very messy to eat and the bagel was a little tough. i also originally came in here to try some of their specials but there weren't any available, but i would consider coming back to try them. and i will say i think the prices are a little steep. read more

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This new cafe opened a few months ago in my hometown and it is too cute!!! I included a picture of their coffee specials. I got an iced king for a day and it was SO good. Honestly delicious. Whatever kind of sweet crunchy topping was on it was addictive. They have a huge selection of syrups for coffees and sodas. The possibilities are endless. And this place was busyyy. They do breakfast and lunch but we had just come from brunch so we didn't try any of their food. They had an artist selling his prints as well. Very cool to see a local joint supporting local artists. Next time I'm here I'll be sure to stop back in. read more

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The service was great, people were friendly and the food... absolutely delicious! I ordered the Turkey Avocado Melt and they allowed me to substitute a bagel instead of bread. My daughter's pancakes were bigger than an adult head, and her friend's Buffalo Chicken Wrap packed TIGHT & heavy! We all enjoyed our food. The everything bagel was fresh and tasty. We'll be back! read more

Not A Phase Cafe - Turkey Avocado Melt (Buffalo Chicken Wrap in the back) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

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I was so excited to try this place after seeing it pop up online a few times, but I left feeling a little disappointed. With a name like Not A Phase, I was so ready to be transported to such a fun era in so many peoples lives, but it kind of felt like most other standard coffee shops. I was bummed to walk in and see just options for hot or iced coffee, no fun or themed drinks or specials. There's an extensive flavors list, but that's about it just flavored syrups. Their gimmick of different types of energy drink beverages is pretty neat and not super common. That's just not really my jam so it was probably wasted on me and maybe that's my bad. For food I ordered a sausage egg and cheese which was great. Service was a little slow but that's not unexpected for a new place, I'm sure they'll work out their kinks. Overall the experience wasn't bad, and I always root for new small businesses so I hope with time it only gets better. Sadly I can't see myself driving all the way here again when there's so many other places that stand out more along the way for me. read more

Absolutely delicious breakfast sandwiches! Plenty of plant based options! The wait can be long during prime breakfast and lunch hours but it's worth the wait. Pro tip: add a hashbrown to a breakfast sandwich for a delicious crunch! read more

Super rad addition to Newington! I love how they made such a small space so inviting and I was shocked there was even seating inside. They did a great job with the layout! Outdoor seating is also available too. This place fuels my emo millennial heart. I love all the theme specials they have. Think my chemical romance and the used themed coffee specials! So cool. My daughter loved their donuts and mural on the wall. Especially loved all the decorations for Halloween. I am looking forward to trying more of their food items in the future! read more

Stopped by for the first time today & it did not disappoint. A coffee spot that actually has dairy free options for so you don't feel left out lol it's wonderful! And to also have vegan cheese as an option just made my day! To top it off they carry my favorite coffee brand (which is hard to find in stores) was the icing on the cake. But what made it worth it was the customer service. I wish I got your name (how rude of me) but you were amazing! That customer service alone will make me return. read more

Great food! Great music! Great vibes! Any 90's- early 00's punk rock/emo/hardrock fans will love this place, and frankly anyone who likes good breakfast food! Everyone behind the counter is really nice too. read more

Awesome coffee "Cemetery drive" on the specials board had the perfect amount sweetness and raspberry flavor very fast service and friendly staff read more

Nice to have a specialty coffee shop in the center of Newington. We have stopped by several times for lunch - the hot honey turkey toasty is a must - don't get fooled by the name - the hot honey gives flavor but not the heat. The staff and owner give first rate service. read more

Great coffee, the atmosphere and vibe was everything. Service was great, there was plenty of seating and so many drink and food options - i appreciated the gluten free options too..definitely a weekend staple for me for sure read more

Literally so delicious. Got an iced coffee with almond milk (super reasonably priced) and an egg and cheese on a bagel. The coffee was amazing and so was the sandwich. Super nice staff and really great atmosphere. Quick and friendly service!! read more

I went for breakfast before work. 15 min for an egg sandwich. The eggs were undercooked, the sandwich was a soggy yolk mess. Threw 2/3 away. read more

Know they've only been open for a few days so offering a few suggestions for improvement. The good: Overall friendly staff and pretty quick considering the line out the door. Our sandwiches were tasty! The bad: It's odd to me to call yourself a specialty coffee shop when there's no espresso drinks. I prefer oat milk, but they just use a plain oat milk not a barista blend like most specialty coffee shops so it all just dissolves or settles at the bottom. They do have specialty DRINKS--energy drinks with candy in them, etc. which might be a better term to describe. While service went pretty quick, there was a lot of staff standing around behind the counter. There must be things they could do to help expedite the long line. My husband and I both got egg sandwiches and arbitrarily mine was with cheddar and his was with American-- no one asked and no preference was given, which was a bit odd. But the biggest flaw here is the ambiance! There was no music playing the entire time we were there. The emo energy was very minimal. There could definitely be more done to give a proper vibe. If they don't fix a few things...it might be a phase. read more