Photos by Amelia Goe
Location and Hours:4402 N Central Ave
Phoenix, Ariz. 85013
602-696-9976
Sun. – Thurs., | 6 a.m. to Midnight
Fri. – Sat. | 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
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Gawking at a display table covered with pastries and sweet decadents, I heard my friend murmur, “You’re morally obligated to get dessert.”
Lux Central, an uptown coffee bar, offers much more than just beverages. Located right off the light rail on Central and Campbell avenues, the dull brick building in no way reflects what is inside.
It is hard to say what you first see upon walking into Lux. My eyes — and nose — are always drawn to the long table by the cash register that is always strewn with desserts. In every corner and along every wall there are comfy yet aesthetically pleasing couches and chairs which are paired with long wooden tables. If you’re lucky, you can even snag the plush leather sofa accompanied by side tables that are actual tree stumps — that’s right, tree stump coffee tables.
Food: 28/30
While everything on the menu sounds great, I limited myself to one entrée and one dessert.
The desserts are always made fresh and are constantly exiting the ovens they are so lovingly baked in. There are cookies, scones, cakes, muffins — you name a baked good and I will bet that it has been offered at Lux. I chose a Turtle Brownie, mainly because the presentation of drizzled caramel on anything always looks like a winner. The bitter nut contrasted the silky sweet caramel, which made for a perfect coalescence of salty and sweet.
I ordered the Spaghetti Squash dish as my entrée and was only marginally saddened by the size. Happiness found me again as I took the first bite. A small detail about Lux that I highly appreciate is that their menu is not designed to try and force dishes to sound appealing with over-the-top descriptions. It simply stated:
Spaghetti Squash
basil pesto + broccolini
roasted tomatoes + mushrooms
parmesan + grilled levain
The dish was accompanied by toasted slices of fluffy bread, which I used to absorb the light yet creamy sauce that was atop the squash. The flavors worked perfectly on my palate and in that moment, I swear I was drooling. The portion size was rather small for $12, but after the meal was consumed, I was full and completely satisfied.
Service: 25/30
When the busy hours arise, the staff try their best to meet everyone’s needs, but you won’t get too many friendly smiles. But when the rush hours are over, baristas and other staff are cheerful and well-mannered. The best part is that there seems to be an unspoken decision that all staff must be effortlessly well-dressed. It is not often that I learn fashion tips from someone serving me coffee, but who doesn’t love a man in a bow tie?
Atmosphere: 27/30
The price of food may be higher than a local burger joint, but you’re not just there for the food when you go to Lux. There is a “Lux Experience” that you have upon coming to this gem tucked away in uptown Phoenix. Your dime will extend much further than the register. You’re paying for the music that will make you throw your smartphone in the air to Soundhound a song you’ve never heard before. You’re paying for the vintage chair you’re sitting in that makes any couple look like they’re fresh out of an indie film. You’re paying for the chance to see local celebrities that you probably saw playing in a band at the Crescent Ballroom. Other reviews rave that Lux is a “hipster palace”. I personally have never been to a “hipster palace” therefore could not tell you if that is an accurate representation of Lux. All I know is that I enjoy the mellow music, the constant lull of conversation and the distractions of heavenly smells coming from the kitchen that always make my head perk up from my computer.
Wildcard: 6/10
Lux is great for any student who works well with ambient sounds. There aren’t any quiet corners, and finding an empty table is difficult. Coming to Lux with the intention of working on your laptop is always an iffy bet. The Wi-Fi is constantly going haywire, leaving cafe dwellers looking through their photo galleries and checking their phones until the internet finally works again, and even then it cuts in and out. If I ever come to Lux with the intention of working, it has to be when I’m writing an essay or anything that does not depend on Internet connections.
Final Score: 86/100
Contact the reporter at angoe@asu.edu
