I arrived at 11 am and Ali was a very kind knowledgeable associate. I bought a mint tea and it was delicious. The ambiance was calming. I was able to read my book for a while. By noon, the shop was filled with lots of people buying their yummies. The shop offers some delicious looking pastries, I'll definitely be back for some pastries and tea!
PS love that the drinks are served in proper ceramic cups ☕
Nothing like it in all of south OC. One great aspect is that they're open till 10pm every night, and till MIDNIGHT on weekends. The drinks are terrific- some very unique and even exotic. Service is outstanding, and the staff is very happy to fill any request. Try the chai, which is as true to original form as possible. I've been to India twice, and this chai is the real thing. The warm relaxing atmosphere is not your boring cold everyday corporate coffee place with Taylor Swift blasting. You feel like you're on vacation in an eclectic district in Paris or a cafe in Covent Garden. One highlight is that they will serve drinks in beautiful classy coffee and tea cups. You can order tea service for your whole table, with pots and glasses.
This café may soon be the first American coffee house to require reservations if the business keeps up at its currently stellar rate. They have many elegantly designed tables and chairs, but they are often filled on Friday and Saturday nights, so expect to wait a little if you plan to be seated.
The reason people love visiting this café is because you can meet up with lots of your friends and socialize and have amazing drinks. Or you can sit and work on your phone or laptop. And there's more: the cakes are awesome. Ras Malai cake is epic, and they have all sorts of Indian/European/Middle Eastern varieties.
Also, while most OC cafés love blasting AC all year round, Karak keeps the temp very comfortable (never cold at all) with the front door open for fresh air. Lots of outdoor tables too. This place is where an old Starbucks used to be, and Sbux should learn a lesson- Give customers a place to relax at length with real food and beverage, plus a warm atmosphere. And know your demographic. There is a niche for "non-bar" places that can attract an international spectrum of people to come and hang out with friends into the night, rather than rotting away on a sofa in front of streaming apps.
Excellent coffee but overpriced cakes and pastries. And ... Service could be improved by the following:
As far as atmosphere, it's nice but the place has limited seating and it does get busy at times.
Sincerely hope this place can stay in business for a long time because it's a nice change from the big coffee chains.
