Introducing Zoe King & The Waiting Room

Zoe King

As Sarah mentioned in a previous blog post, “keep an eye out for new bloggers!” Well, here I am! I’ll keep my introduction brief because I cannot wait to tell you about my new favorite place to get espresso and pastry in the Mendocino village. 

Hi, I’m Zoé. If you are a returning guest, I may have poured you a glass of wine at the Inn or possibly lit a bonfire for you on Big River beach! A little about myself: I am an adventurer by nature and love discovering secret places all along the coastline in this area. I have taken an interest in foraging edibles and I enjoy learning about native species. My fascination with plants has grown by leaps and bounds, especially after my move here from the Bay area. This past growing season, I produced enough food to make one meal a day for myself starting beginning in early spring and lasting through the late summer. I have learned a lot! Through the cold months of winter, I can usually be found in my tiny art studio finding an outlet for my creative expression through candle making, leatherwork or dance. 

As you may know, San Francisco has many artisanal roasters and coffee shops that are well-known and highly sought after. I consider myself to be somewhat of an espresso buff. Over the past four years, I have been the Goldilocks of espresso. I think it is safe to say that I have tried every espresso in Mendocino and Fort Bragg several times over. Some were great but not what I would say…just right. Until now…Attention espresso lovers visiting Mendocino, I have found the place to get that dreamy espresso, perfectly foamed latte, or frothy cappuccino you are seeking. Drum roll please… 

The Waiting Room

Lovely sunflowers welcoming you into the cozy space…

Laura, our previous manager and master blogger, has written about Café Beaujolais and the Brickyard. The little yellow building next to the Cafe, however, has not yet been mentioned. It was originally envisioned as a gathering space for those waiting for their table at Café Beaujolais. For that evening crowd, there are several wines and eight beers on tap, along with little snacks like almonds and olives, to warm up your appetite. Just pull up a wide leather stool and enjoy the warm redwood aesthetic.

A sample of current menu options…

This sweet spot is now also the place to satisfy your morning Americano ritual as well. The menu is small and, in its simplicity, allows the staff to masterfully present each item. Enjoy a hand-crafted artisanal espresso drink along with fresh baked pastries that leave you wanting more. Pull up a tufted chair in front of the wood-burning stove and relax with that book you’ve been meaning to start, or snuggle up with your dearest on a redwood bench, made by a local woodcrafter, Mike Rosco, and play footsie. The bar stools are very comfortable as well. During our seasonal weather, enjoy the window overlooking the garden and watch the raindrops on the sill or the sun filter through the trees. One of the mottos tossed around by owner Julian Lopez, and I quote, “the wetter it gets outside, the cozier it gets in here”. 

Pull up a stool & gaze out upon the rainy Mendocino village…

This is not your extra-large, extra-sugar, extra-fast kind of place. This is a savor-every-sip, enjoy-the-tightly-foamed-milk, and an “I'll have it however you make it” kind of place. This place embodies what they call Third Wave coffee style. What this means is that each cup is hand-crafted and made with love. Milk choices are whole, nonfat, and alternative. The choices are dynamic depending on what they have on hand. Espresso beans come from Soul Grinds, the first mall-batch roastery located in Pacifica, Ca.

The Waiting Room is a small cafe, catering both to those who want to sit for a while, as well as to those who want to get a well-made cappuccino and head out on their next adventure. Based on my experience, I would recommend getting two pastries…both a sweet and a savory. Each pastry is unique and made with heart. All contain organically-sourced ingredients. The menu is ever-changing and represents a true expression of the creativity of the Waiting Room’s pastry chefs. When I was last there, I started off with the herbed feta pocket. Flaky crust with the perfect amount of crunch, savory herbs activating the taste buds and fluffy creamed feta cheese. As I bask in this delicious morning treat, the door opens, and a large oven tray of freshly-baked warm cinnamon rolls is carried behind the counter and placed on a baking rack. I must have one. I regret nothing. 

YUM!!!

Frothy goodness…

It feels so good to go to a warm and cozy place where you can just be, especially when it’s raining outside. Although patrons drift in and out, there is an overall calmness that the space provides with the flickering of the fire in the woodstove. The redwood walls wrap you in a down home comfort while still conveying a modern aesthetic. Almost every seat in the house has an outlet, where, if you must, you can plug in and recharge. So if you’re looking for that cozy corner to finish writing your novel, look no further. Seating is in abundance for a room this size. They really put some thought into it. A collection of records and a record player are there for your enjoyment. The staff is friendly, and they blend into this space like a well-composed painting. As the steam wand whistles, you get the growing sense that this may be the place you have been searching for.

Get your groove on with vinyl classics…

The Waiting Room is open Wednesday - Saturday 7am to 10pm and comes with my high recommendation for the experience and flavor. 

~ Words & pictures by Zoe King