I love trying out new coffee shops and to find one close to home is a bonus. I guess Babble Coffee and Boba Tea Bar has been in it’s location at Hefner and Rockwell since 2017 but I never noticed it (and truthfully I’m at that Crest once a week). So I picked a nice late morning to get some writing done while sipping a coffee and enjoying a croffle.
They have a huge menu so it took me a few minutes to decide what I wanted but after I did order, I got my food quickly. I had an iced peppermint mocha latte with a Oreo croffle. The iced coffee was good, I really enjoyed it. The croffle was amazing. Basically a croffle is a combination of a croissant and a waffle. I loved mine. It was served warm with lots of whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and an Oreo on top.
This is a really good place to go if you need to work in silence, now there were plenty of other people coming in but everyone stayed quiet for the most part. The had lots of coffees and teas on the menu, I could visit everyday for the next year and not try them all. They also had more than just the croffles to eat, such as chicken nuggets and French fries. I loved the quiet atmosphere as well. The space is large enough to meet with friends but not be too overwhelmed by others. I will give them 5 strips of bacon, on a croffle of course.
About a year ago it was announced that Oklahoma City was about to get a cat cafe. They are a big deal in Japan, the first opening in 2005 with many more afterwards. In 2015, the fad finally came to the United States and now they are all over the country. It took a while to get the permits for Don’t Stress Meowt but they finally opened in May 2023.
We knew a visit was in our future since Mae declares herself “catgirl”, but with a busy summer it has taken us a while to get there. Now the cats are kept in a separate room from the food, and you need reservations to visit with the kitties. But you can just go in to enjoy the food and drinks in the cafe section. We decided against getting a reservation, seeing as how we already have 3 cats, we don’t need more. So we just went in to try out their small menu. They have coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to drink along with light desserts from The Loaded Bowl. We ordered the summer special called Calico Kitten, a latte with caramel, chocolate, and white chocolate, we got ours iced but you can have it warm as well. Mae got a cat cookie and I tried a brownie. We took a seat near the cat room, so we could watch them while enjoying our food. Mae’s cat cookie was lavender lemon with pink icing, I tried a bite and it was good. The brownie was perfect, very chocolatey filled with chocolate chips. Our drinks were also really good, I hope they keep with calico mix on the menu. It had a rich flavor, the 2 different chocolates mixed quite well with the caramel. The whole time we were entertained by the cats in the next room, watching them play and drink from the water fountain.
This place is really good, the only downside I see with it is the parking situation. It shares a building with several other businesses and is hard to find parking. I went around the block 3 times before 1 spot came open. I have read on social media that the cafe owners are trying to work with the building owners to rectify the situation. Makes it hard to visit a restaurant when you can’t find parking. But other than that, the food and atmosphere were great, the service was wonderful as well. Now like I said earlier, you do need a reservation to go into the cat room to play with the cats. You make it online, and it does cost to help with the upkeep of the cats. All of the cats in the cat room are up for adoption through Safe Haven Animal Rescue, so if you do fall in love with one while in the room, you can take him home. Since the grand opening they have helped 31 cats find homes and I love seeing that number, hope it goes up more. Also, leave your own cat at home, this is only to enjoy the cats that are up for adoption in the cat room. A side note, they are doing so well here in Oklahoma City that a Tulsa location is in the works. I will give them 5 strips of bacon.
Address: 1900 Linwood Blvd., Suite 300, Oklahoma City.
I know coffee places are all the rage now, we have a Starbucks on damn near every corner or a Scooters to drive up for a quick pick me up but I have been looking for local coffee shops. I was lucky to find Stella Nova a few months ago and with every visit they just get better.
Now I’m going to be honest, I’m not a coffee lover. Hate the taste of it just by itself but over the past year with my barista daughter I have learned to like it a bit. I really like it in the Frappuccino or frappe form. It’s really a coffee milkshake. I started liking them back when McDonald’s introduced the caramel frappe in 2009. Only in the past year did Mae introduce me to Starbucks and Scooters. So now I am actively seeking them out. In March during spring break, Mae needed a caffeine fix so we tried the location at NW 150th and Western. I had the chocolate chip frappe, which has now become my go-to drink when I visit. Another favorite of mine is the cheese danish. This danish is so good, first they are large and second, filled with cheese. So good that I have to get one when I visit, no matter what else I have. Their breakfast sandwiches and wraps are also really good. Much better than a quick breakfast item from a chain.
I have now visited the Crown Heights location as well and every time both locations are clean and the employees are nice. Even in the morning rush, they get my items out quickly. I will give them 5 strips of bacon.
Address: 1415 W. Main St., Norman; 119 N Robinson Ave., Oklahoma City; 4716 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City; 1041 NW 150th St., Oklahoma City; 6604 Snider Plaza, Dallas.
Coffee Corner is a new addition to The Fat Okie, this will be written by my daughter Miss Mae. She will feature a different coffee shop each week. So join us on Wednesdays to discover new places for coffee.
Working as a barista for a year is a good way to gain a perspective into the inner workings of coffee shops and the nature of their products. It is for this reason that I enjoy going to coffee shops (with no affiliation with a certain siren) to see how they differ as well as how they are similar.
One of the coffee shops that I recently visited was Stella Nova, which I personally enjoyed. While I was there, I ordered a hazelnut mocha and an everything bagel with cream cheese, which were personal favorites of mine during breaks at my own coffee shop.
The hazelnut mocha was smooth and creamy, topped with whipped cream and made with milk steamed to be warm but not too hot, as is the problem with many coffee drinks. I found the drink similar to a Starbucks mocha, as it was not too sweet but also not too bitter. The bagel was perfectly toasted and came with cool, plain cream cheese.
Overall, I enjoyed the meal and hope to visit again soon. Written by Mae.
Address: 1415 W. Main St., Norman; 119 N. Robinson Ave., Oklahoma City; 4716 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City; 1041 NW 150th St., Oklahoma City.
The Fat Okie 