Brick & Mortar Coffee Co. is located off to the side of Backwood Ramblings in Spencer.
It really is blocked off on its own and even has an exterior door, but you enter through the small market, take a right, and step into a much moodier space with exposed brick wall and concrete floors.
They serve brewed coffee, espresso and ice coffees on the main menu. But on the board, it's actually much more expansive with tea, frozen drinks and non-coffee drinks, as well.
I ultimately decided to try a frozen latte caramel, which is a go-to. My preference is a sweeter drink, and this sure was. I like that bitter espresso bite with a super sweet caramel that kinda balances out - in my mind, at least. Actually refreshing any time of year.
Grade: A
Backwood Ramblings in Spencer is an "Amish Heritage Bakery" plus specialty foods.
Walking inside, I immediately saw the grocery items, like old-fashioned candies and dry pasta.
At the back, there is a counter with some fresh-made pastries and other goodies.
Here's what I got into:
A strawberry and cream turnover pastry that was pretty tasty between the sweet strawberries and abundance of cream, but it was just a touch too creamy for me, as it gets a bit soggy.
I also had to try a pepperoni roll. This one had a bit of a blowout in the middle, but I did enjoy how thin the pepperoni roll was so there was a decent bread to pepperoni ratio.
Grade: B
Listen, I may be as tired of Gino's as you all are of hearing me talk about it. But, we are on this mission together. And it has brought us to West Hamlin. I do love pasta, though, the options at Gino's are usually pretty limited. But on this particular day, I decided to try the lasagna, which I have had before. It was just like I remember. Pretty average, in general, but not bad. The pasta is well done, and it's not unlike the kind that you may find at many frozen sections of grocery stores. Not bad for a fast food pasta, but don't expect the same comforts of home that you would find with a homemade version.
Grade: C
Isn't it funny how the smallest changes can make food taste completely different? When I went to Spencer, I stopped at the Gino's to knock that location off my list. I ordered a simple cheese pizza with mushrooms, of course. This pizza was on the well-done side -- but not too much. And, it almost gave it a little bit of a sweeter flavor because I think the tomato sauce had more time to develop and some of the edges were caramelized. It's almost like an entirely different meal. I can't complain; I enjoy this pizza, and maybe it's how I will order it from now on.
Grade: A
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