Good Eats Review: Corner Bakery Cafe in Las Cruces

Television is not real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. ~ Bill Gates

The best of coffee shops can be idyllic places.

My first time at a Corner Bakery Cafe happened to be on National Cappuccino Day. But every day is the day to treat yourself to a hot cup of this smooth Italian classic beverage and one of the rich desserts it was created to go with.

Particularly if you live in or near Las Cruces.

Because this city’s Corner Bakery Cafe ~ the first in New Mexico ~ is fresh in more ways than one. The decor is upscale, modern but cozy, too. You who prefer to sit in a comfy booth, take note. This place has plenty of them.

Best of all, every single member of the service staff oozes high-energy and seems enthusiastic about serving. Could be their upbeat attitude has to do the sugar rush from eating too much of their own dessert offerings at break time, but I can’t be sure. Whatever the reason, I like it.

Not everything on the Corner Bakery Cafe menu is sweet, of course. The restaurant features an array of savory food in the form of panini, salads, and sandwiches. However, sweets are my typical object of pursuit.

My eyes light up seeing all of the colorful creamy, chocolatey, caramel-filled, crunchy goodies in the dessert display case. Apricot walnut rugelach, lemon bars, fudge brownies, blueberry hand pie with lemon glaze . . .

The maple pecan bar I ended up chose on my very first visit tasted oh-so buttery, good to the last bite.

My cappuccino, too, was a beautiful thing. The barista had blended the espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam perfectly for me. Even my husband, who doesn’t usually bother to say much on food-related things, bragged about the smoothness of his own coffee.

Maybe we’ll decide to buy an espresso machine someday and learn to churn out delicious coffee beverages for ourselves and others on a regular basis at home.