With so many options for breakfast and lunch around Berlin, AJ’s Riverside stands out among the rest. When you enter the quaint coffee shop at 170 W. Huron Street, Berlin, WI 54923, you immediately notice its cozy and inviting atmosphere. The smell of coffee and the quiet chatting of patrons fills the air. When ordering, the staff are very kind and the menu is very easy to read. Of the items, three stood out as different from the rest: the pumpkin spice caramel chai latte, the pumpkin scone, and the weekly special, a roast beef sandwich.
The pumpkin spice caramel chai latte was the best by far. It had a good balance of chai, pumpkin spice, and caramel flavors, where no singular flavor overpowered the others. This drink is super delicious, and it is definitely recommended, 5/5.
On a complete opposite note, the scone was absolutely awful in comparison. Scones are a food that are often very dry; however, the pumpkin scone was completely inedible without a drink to wash it down. A likely reason was either it was a leftover from the day before, or it was baked improperly. Whatever the reason, this scone is dryer than the Sahara Desert, 1/5.
The last item that stood out was their weekly special, which at the time was a roast beef sandwich. As far as the presentation goes, it had a little to be desired as it was on a paper plate with chips and a pickle. Taste-wise, however, it was very good; the warm roast beef combined with slightly melted cheese was delicious. To go along with the sandwich, the chips were pretty average but altogether good. The roast beef sandwich and its sides are a fantastic choice, 4/5. Besides the three items, other standouts include the smoothies, the hot chocolate, and the breakfast sandwich on a bagel. Customers can expect prices ranging from $2-$7 with drinks, $3-$9 with food, with many options being mainly around $5.
Overall, AJ’s Riverside was not a bad experience (except for the scone) and it is a very easy place to stop before work or school, or during a lunch break. AJ’s is great for people who don’t even like coffee, as there are many options for drinks besides coffee, like smoothies and hot chocolate. Because of its nice atmosphere, mostly good food, and great drinks, AJ’s has an overall score of 4/5.
