Watts Grocery 1.31.09 11am
Next stop was Watts Grocery (1116 Broad St. 27705). Now, Watts is not a coffee shop, it is a restaurant. However, the creator and owner of Watts, Amy Tornquist is a firm believer in the “shop local” motto and built her business around it. Watts serves almost exclusively local fare from the pea shoots to a pint of beer. So, while there is much more to choose from than a simple stop java shop, Watts remains one of my favorite spots for sipping on coffee (full disclosure, I worked at Watts up until last month).
Watts supports two of the three local coffee suppliers, buying their espresso beans from neighboring JVG and their coffee beans from Counter Culture Coffee. Counter Culture provides a house blend just for the restaurant.
Having been a former employee, I’ve been known to drink a cup or seven during a work shift. The “Watts Blend” will knock your socks off. When dining, the friendly staff continues to fill your cup, so that you never see the bottom. By the time you stand up, you’ve got a buzz about you that makes you wonder if the grits were spiked with some sort of psychedelic.
The coffee has a high level of acidity, that does make your mouth perk up a bit upon the first sip. A great eye-opener for those early mornings. Paired with the coffee, Phil and I opted for the Churros. A delectable treat served with a dark chocolate dipping sauce. The atmosphere in Watts is hectic during Brunch. Folks are actually lined up at the door waiting for a seat to open up. For us coffee drinkers, we opt for a seat at the bar, away from the commotion.
Because Watts has a full bar there are several variations you can have for your morning cup. You can add a splash of Bailey’s, a shot of Jameson or even for an added bit of nutty flavor add a dabble of Frangelico. Phil and I have work to do, so we steer clear of the booze this early, but the bartender is busy curing the hangovers for the Duke students in the back of the restaurant by doctoring up their coffees.
After about 2 cups at Watts and a few tablespoons of dark chocolate, Phil and I have decided that stop #3 might have to wait, that is if we want our hearts to remain inside of our chests;)
