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closeWednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
Java Jo'z panini, drinks will perk up your coffee break
By TERESA GUBBINS
Special to dfw.com
The place: Java Jo’z
The cuisine: Sandwiches/coffeehouse
The concept: Independent coffeehouse serves espresso-based drinks, smoothies and panini
The background: Arlington resident James MacDowell had an interest in coffee and opened this spot in June in a new strip center on Green Oaks, north of Six Flags.
The grub: The kitchen is small with just a microwave and panini grill, so the menu is limited to sandwiches and snacks, plus a small assortment of smoothie drinks. But it does a serviceable job on the sandwiches ($5.50), starting with good bread from Panera — especially the wheat bread, which adds some nubby texture and grains.
A thinly sliced roast beef was the right balance of lightness and heft. This isn’t a deli — you don’t want your panini too thick, you want just enough proportion between the filling and the bread. A vegetarian panini was a nice effort, with a thick slice of tomato, pesto and cheese; it would be nice to see a couple of spinach leaves to give the sandwich some extra nutritional points.
Cookies and pastries are brought in, as are the bagels, which come from Iris Bagel & Coffee House in Arlington. Java Jo’z rotates selections; in early November, it was offering pumpkin muffins with apple cider.
The coffee: It does a very good job on the coffee drinks. A small cappuccino ($2.70) came with a nice head of foam that showed some barista proficiency, and a mocha ($3) topped with a spoon of whipped cream was chocolaty without being too sweet. The coffee beans come from Globex, a roaster based in Dallas.
The atmosphere: The space is large, with plenty of room between tables, which can feel cool, especially with the super-shiny cement floor. But it’s an old-school coffeehouse with lots of community events, including art openings, an open-mic night on Fridays and poetry readings Wednesdays.
The service: Friendly but distracted; a small staff means you might wait during rush hour. We were disappointed when we asked for our drinks "for here" and got the same disposable cups you get for a "to-go" order, especially when they have ceramic cups.
The details: Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. All major credit cards accepted; no alcohol; wheelchair-accessible; smoke-free.
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