Banyan Coffee & Tea Co.

When a friend asked me more than once if I’d “been to Banyan yet,” I should have known I was missing out by not going. I finally went and discovered the charm that had my friend so enthused.

Banyan Coffee & Tea is another one of those recession startups that I’ve seen around town. Island Seafood is another. They seem so improbable because of the tough times. I truly hope they’re well capitalized so they can survive the economy. Places like Island Seafood, Banyan Coffee & Tea, and Nitally’s (which I’ve heard from Ester Venouziou, owner of the wildly successful venture, Local Shops1, is moving to Central Avenue) deserve to not only survive but flourish. They have unique character and culinary visions.

Banyan Coffee & Tea (689 Dr Martin Luther King Jr. St., Saint Petersburg, FL 33701-2138; 727-896-6100), is a breakfast and lunch place in a section of MLK Street that is developing into a thriving arts community of its own, featuring the creative arts space, NOVA. Step into Banyan and you’re immediately greeted by a case of baked goods such as bagels and fresh scones baked on the premises. Above the counter is the largest collection of Fiestaware I’ve ever seen anywhere—it includes some beautiful “modern” style tall triangular mugs and an immense bowl.

Banyan is locavore in every sense of the word–everything sold there is local. That is a feature they are proud of. Even the decorations are salvaged from former St. Petersburg businesses. Of course, in keeping with its name—Coffee & Tea—there is a collection of coffee and tea related items such as infusers and coffee pots and coffee. They feature Kahwa coffee, a local coffee roasting and coffee manufacturing company which, in addition to its wholesale business, also has its own little coffee shop, the Kahwa Cafe & Espresso Bar (475 2nd St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; 727-823-4700).

INTERIOR VIEW

I’ve had tea and munchies at the Kahwa Cafe & Espresso Bar a few times and enjoy its quiet, hip atmosphere, but I tend to gravitate more toward the homey, child-of-the-60s-in-Northern-California quality of Banyan Coffee & Tea which serves a full line of espresso, cappuccino, latte, and mocha drinks.

The real hit for me at Banyan Coffee & Tea is its breakfast menu. It’s small, but the selections are extremely tasty. I usually have their hot pressed sandwich of hickory smoked bacon, sautéed spinach, fried egg and white cheddar cheese on Cuban bread. Everything was completely fresh and gourmet quality. They also have several breakfast burritos that look equally intriguing…but I can’t stop ordering that hot pressed sandwich!

The luncheon menu is equally interesting with portabella sandwiches, grilled goat cheese sandwiches, and a fresh greens salad, to mention just a few of the items served at lunch.

They deliver! Their delivery hours are 11am-2pm, Monday through Friday. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday, 7am-2pm, Saturday 8am-12pm, closed Sunday.