Nature’s Brew should be on your list of favorite study cafés

As one of the closest non-­USC affiliated cafés near campus, Nature’s Brew is a convenient, and hip study spot among students. Located on South Union Ave, the café is about a 15 to 20-minute walk from campus and offers customers a humble abode to study or chat while snacking.

The café’s lunch and dinner menu consists of freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, sides and en papillote. Customers will pick their own protein, starch and seasonings to roast together in a parchment bag. Nature’s Brew’s behind-counter walls are also covered with large boards that list drink items ranging from tangy smoothies to Vietnamese-inspired coffee.

Over several visits, a friend and I have sampled several menu items on our Thursday study nights. I can’t say the sandwiches are my favorite. For $7.99, I got the Beef Brisket sandwich but it left me wondering whether I just wasn’t a brisket person or if the sandwich just was not up to par with my tastebuds. The sandwich, tender meat and cilantro squished in between a crispy baguette, was decent sized, but would have gone well with a side of fries or a bag of chips. I really enjoy the bread, but was not a fan of the mixture of flavors that sat in between both slices of the baguette. I found the pickled red onion to be a bit overpowering and the cilantro a bit too spicy. The tender meat clashed with the over ingredients and made the sandwich appear heavier than it should have been.

The salads are a better hit, but come in at a higher price. My friend ordered the Nicoise salad which came in at $8.99. Salad prices range from $7.99 to $11.50, but that price can easily jump with the addition of extras like chicken or avocado. Though they can be a bit costly, the salads are served in large metal bowls that should fill up a hungry stomach.

The Nicoise salad was mixed with fresh vegetables in a white garlic dressing with an albacore tuna salad situated on top.

I ordered a smaller portion of a salad, the Chicken Waldorf Salad, for $3.25 off of the sides menu. Though the portion was small, I enjoyed the variety of flavors presented in the small dish. A bed of greens was covered with a creamy chicken mixture that was well complimented with the addition of apples, grapes and walnuts.

If you’re struggling to decide what to order, start out with a drink. Nature’s Brew’s hot menu offers basic coffee beverages along with specialties like flavored mochas and lattes. The cold menu can be a bit pricey, but this is due to the quality of ingredients; the cafe blends together fresh fruits and gives customers a nutritious and flavorful smoothie or juice.

The Vanilla Sky ($4.50) is a blend of strawberry, pineapple and vanilla. For me, the smoothie was a bit thinner and sweeter than I would have preferred. It was almost like a bubblegum flavor that emerged after a few sips. I also tried the Tropic Pinch ($4.50), which had a strong, distinct flavor to it. The smoothie, which consisted of mango, pineapple, watermelon, agave and ginger, was definitely sweeter than most smoothies I have had before, with the ginger a bit overpowering.

When it came to the coffee based beverages, I tried two of my go­-to’s at popular coffee chains: a vanilla latte and a salted caramel latte. Both were up to par, but I really enjoyed the vanilla latte over my other favorite. The latte was not overly sweet, and the foamy texture was incredibly smooth and pleasant to taste. The salted caramel latte was a bit lacking. “A” for presentation, but the salty/sweet aspect was slightly lacking.

Overall, when it comes to food at Nature’s Brew, customers might find themselves spending just a bit too much for meals that are not completely satisfying flavorfully. I would recommend sticking to the beverages and pastries displayed in the front window for more affordable options.

Though I have noted some flaws at this cafe, I still truly enjoy regularly visiting Nature’s Brew for its welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. The cafe is spacious enough to fit in around 10 tables with additional couch seating. The atmosphere is quite rustic with wooden paneling along the walls, white wooden chairs illuminated by overhanging mason jar lights, various art pieces on display along the walls for daydreamers and beverages being served to tables in mason jars.

Even if the food has not been completely desirable or affordable so far, I still plan on trying other items on the menu and will continue to count on Nature’s Brew as one of my regular and favorite study spots.