Restaurant Review : Gossip Coffee

     A new coffeeshop opened in Astoria: Gossip Coffee.  Lewis and I were excited to check it out today.  The chilly first day of October was the perfect atmosphere for some warm brewed deliciousness and sweet delectability.  Below are pictures of their interior and rear outdoor space.  They invested in unique design (lots of curves and circular shapes) to make the place stand out.  Lewis admired the giant houndstooth pattern on the counter and floor.

     Below, their cold brew tea and coffee were "on tap".  Remarkably, they make all of them fresh, each night... and they have 10 varieties of tea!

Above & below, you'll notice all the professional barista accoutrement--just like their competitor, Astoria Coffee, a few blocks away on 30th Avenue.  However, Gossip's barista served me a poorly-made Cortado.  Very disappointing.  That will never happen at Astoria Coffee!

     Their doughnuts are made in-house: 9 flavors rotate to keep things changing.  Unfortunately, I had their pumpkin one... and it and its icing were both tasteless.  

They also have a whole counter of homemade rice pudding, and those flavors rotate, too.

     Lewis ordered pudding: scoops of "Oreo" and "Banana Coconut".  Both were excellent in texture, consistency, and flavor.  Their cold-brew iced tea was AMAZING: Green Rooibos with peach and strawberry (which I could smell through the straw opening)!  

     Gossip Coffee doesn't utilize its seating areas well: 5 seats at the window (for people watching), 6 seats along a wall, a communal table, 4 oversized armchairs, and the garden space.  However, unlike 60 Beans (which has counters that face INTO the shop), Gossip's counters face a blank wall.  And their armchairs waste space in the front of the shop.  Tea Plus Cafe (on 31st Ave) does a much better job at utilizing seating space! (both have similar dimensions).  The garden lacks any tables, and you merely sit on wooden benches.  They must've tried to add nostalgia with a rusty tricycle but it just looks like clutter in the middle of the floor.  Lastly, their rear door has to be pulled (into the shop).  They should've made it push out.  After all, when going to the garden, you'll probably have a full cup, and pushing a door is easier.  (Astoria Coffee's door swings both ways).
     The patrons were a mixed group of congenial people, seemingly happy with this new eatery.  To me, it's just okay.  Maybe they'll improve their $4 doughnuts.