Extra Love for Extra Perks Coffee Shop and Cafe

I definitely have extra love for .

I remember back in the day when it was just a coffee shop. My pre-Sophia morning routine included a morning pit stop there for an iced coffee (which is The Best iced coffee in town, in my opinion) and I spent many a quiet hour here during my maternity leave with a sleeping infant in her stroller or the Baby Bjorn.

It’s nice to frequent an establishment where you find the same smiling and friendly faces behind the counter day after day. I think I speak for all of North Old Town when I say we were overjoyed when the Perks' owners opened Thailand on Royal Street in 2006. Now that Perks has become Extra Perks, there’s a new place for brunch!

I’ve had friends over for Sunday brunch for the last two weeks and each time I brought my guests to Extra Perks. It’s a great place to take children because of the early opening hour (8 a.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday) and the environment is warm and welcoming, but very casual.

You still have the option to order from the counter and sink into one of the cozy couches in the lounge area or you can opt for table service in the expanded dining room. There is a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu as well as weekend brunch menu now including beer, wine and cocktails.

Best of all, the old favorites haven’t gone anywhere! I’ve tried many of their lunch sandwiches but my hands down favorite is the Oven Roasted Turkey Sandwich (swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and special dressing which consists of sour cream, horseradish, and Jim Beam sauce. $6.60).

Other Maglio family favorites include the assortment of daily quiche ($4.95/$5.95) and the Intense Green Apple Smoothie ($3.95).

The brunch menu includes standard American and British breakfast/brunch items and I’ve enjoyed the three-egg omelet with hash browns and toast ($7.95). This past Sunday, my dining companions included eleven-year-old Kirby who loved the “Italian” French Toast ($5.25) and seven- year-old Lucy who thoroughly enjoyed her Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($6.45).

My daughter, a.k.a. the child who eats nothing, routinely orders a blueberry muffin and yogurt (I appreciate that, even with the table service, you still have the option of ordering the a la carte items). Children will also love the pretty packaging on the traditional British goods at the counter including two of my personal favorites, Walker’s shortbread and Cadbury Dairy Milk Bars.

Each of the past two Sundays, Perks has had a full house while I’ve been there and I’m glad that it is doing so well. If you have been a Perks regular over the years, you will find the same friendly faces as ever behind the counter and the wonderful service and great food you have enjoyed. There’s just more of it now! Thanks to Perks for giving North Old Town residents two wonderful – and kid friendly – dining options!