Cafe in the Bend @ Carolina Park Mt. Pleasant Offer a Plethora of Beverages, Brunch & Lunch Items
Jeff Walker, Restaurant Review
Since opening their doors on Monday February 7th, the word has quickly spread, The Front Porch Coffeehouse & Creamery in the Bend at Carolina Park Mount Pleasant is an awesome place to enjoy invigorating food and drink. The best way to describe The Front Porch is ‘a locally owned coffee shop meets a great tasting brunch and sandwich cafe.
Open 7am until 7pm, The Front Porch is literally the front porch to greater Mount Pleasant when you’re travelling down Hwy 17 from Awendaw. Nestled at the corner of Park Avenue and Faison across from Costco, The Front Porch serve up fresh ground morning brews and sweet treats all day long, alongside one-of-a-kind light and nutritious breakfast fare, bagels, sandwiches and salads from 7-2pm daily.
Their beginnings are equally inspiring. After operating the successful Charleston Pops food truck for several years Webb and Diane Cheshire decided to take a bigger leap of faith and open a brick-and-mortar location. Due to COVID-19 Webb’s account executive position with Blackbaud was eliminated. However, with finances in good shape and Diane’s job as Associate Provost at the Citadel secure the couple knew it was the right time to pull the trigger on a new dream.
Not sold on the idea that Charleston Pops would be sustainable as a permanent location, they researched what was missing in the booming Carolina Park business corridor, and much like the milkman of yesteryear, they arrived at The Front Porch, a cozy coffee shop serving up an amazing array of brewed blends as well as easy to eat daytime delectable.
Their menu isn’t extensive but it’s impressive. Four signature beverage blends that will give you that much needed boost no matter what time of day you drop by including fresh brewed piping hot coffee and iced brews crafted from the low country’s own King Bean Coffee Roasters. Maybe opt for the fully caffeinated or decaf selections of espresso. You’re darn tootin’ they serve up lattes, frappes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and hot chocolate. A hot or cold caffeinated elixir to satisfy every liquid palate.
The Front Porch don’t just cater to coffee lovers. Their Bubble Tea (a cold frothy tea-based drink) comes in four designated flavors including Brown Sugar ‘Tiger’ a classic milk tea drizzling with brown sugar. The Boba Fruit Drinks come laced with any combination of strawberry, lemonade, mango, and honeydew. It’s like a taste of tropics. Not straying far from the norm, The Front Porch steep hot teas using blends from Charleston Tea Garden.
Had your caffeine fill for the day but still want something refreshing that might add a bit of pep to your step, then order up a cool smoothie. The Front Porch offer up three signature infusions that easily tingle the taste buds, including two fruit based (Strawberry Banana & Mixed Berry) and the slightly healthier Green Goodness, a mix of spinach, banana, and pineapple swirled in luscious coconut milk. A double bonus. Yummy and good for you.
Hot and cold liquid concoctions aren’t all they do. The Front Porch offer up several healthy and traditional breakfast and brunch items from 7am to 2pm before overlapping all day lunch fare from 11am until they shut down the kitchen at 2pm. On the run early maybe grab Waffles on a Stick’ or a Breakfast Bagel complete with eggs, bacon, tomato and cheese.
Dropping in mid-morning than I suggest their Avocado Toast, an ample slathering of mashed avocado adorned with tomato and feta cheese on top your choice of sea salt or multi-grain bread with a balsamic drizzle. Their heart healthy Acai Bowl is teeming with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and granola under sweet golden honey.
Mid and late day fare is equaling inviting adding three classic sandwiches that carry a low country feel. The Magnolia comes with turkey, tomato, and spinach blanketed under provolone with pesto, served panini style on sourdough bread. Their sister sandwich ‘Carolina Park Club‘ salutes The Front Porch’ surrounding neighborhood and is as imagined, a BLT layered with ham & turkey sourdough. The Front Porch live by their creative creed, ‘Great sandwiches aren't born. They’re bread’!
Don’t think for a minute just because Webb and Diane opened up The Front Porch, they opted to put Charleston Pops on ice (pun intended). The veteran owned gourmet dessert business specializing in natural, locally sourced frozen, baked, and custom pops is alive and well, and popping up at festivals and catered events all over greater Charleston and available every day at The Front Porch.
While the Cheshire’s new coffeehouse and creamery menu pays tribute to the Holy City, Charleston Pops ice cream and confections have reflected their love of the low country fromn day one, with gluten free creamy blends such as King Street Key Lime Pie, Isle of Palms Pineapple Coconut, East Bay Grey Lavender, and everyone’s favorite Cooper River Chocolate Cream.
Plenty of non-dairy frozen options that include their signature Queen Anne’s Avocado Raspberry. Want to go old school, The Front Porch gladly dole out one and two scoops of ice cream in cups or waffle cones. You can delight in a sundae, root beer float or a thick & creamy milkshake topped with Nutella or chocolate drizzle. Their dessert menu provides a select cornucopia of confections meant to satisfy sweet tooths of all ages.
The Front Porch offers modern convenience in comfortable surroundings. With USB power ports positioned on several walls the Carolina Park cafe doubles as an office and student study hall. A stationary front porch swing is nestled in the corner and provides a nice retreat for coffee & conversation or for young ones to enjoy games from yesteryear.
Bringing it full circle The Front Porch Coffeehouse & Creamery is a home-grown gourmet coffee shop serving up light, fresh, and appealing cafe food. You can dine or order ahead. The Front Porch is convenient to Carolina Park and neighboring communities Park West and Dunes West. Serving breakfast fare, brunch, and light lunch 7-2pm Monday thru Saturday. Beginning mid-March they will welcome patrons on Sunday.
For more visit https://www.thefrontporchsc.com/ For more on Charleston Pops visit their website at https://www.charlestonpops.com/menu
