By Philip Conklin

By now, Kaldi’s Social House, located on Lyon Park’s north edge at the corner of 10th Street and N. Highland Street, is a familiar Lyon Park landmark. And yet there are enough features to the Kaldi’s experience to warrant an introduction.

Kaldi’s describes itself as, “a trendy inner-city style coffee shop…[with] an industrial chic look, great coffee, amazing food, selection of beer, wine and in-house baked goods.”

As regular customers, my family and I have fact-checked Kaldi’s claims hundreds of times over the last four years and can say that they are neither over- nor under-selling themselves in terms of food, drink, and ambience. Certain features stand out:

The baristas use filtered water in every beverage. To really understand how much this enhances the taste of their coffee, espresso, and tea beverages, try a glass of their filtered water always available on the coffee/wine bar.

There is more than coffee to drink. They offer is fresh squeezed orange juice, Harney and Sons teas, wine, beer and spirits and more.

The seating and ordering are relaxed. There is a line to place your order. If you prefer, you can find a seat and relax while you decide on your eat in/take out order. QR codes take you to the varied menu for ordering and payment. Service is prompt and you can relax without pressure either to hurry along or to wait for your check. Online ordering (via Toast) is available for pick up.

The layout is accessible. The entrance, take out line, seating areas and restrooms are all on one level. There is a lot of space between tables, sofas, and in the take out area.

The menu caters to diverse dietary preferences. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and omnivore options are available.

The restaurant accommodates reservations. With a day’s notice, you can reserve a table, sofa, or particular seat in the varied sitting areas. There is a reservation tab on their website, or you can reserve by phone.

The restaurant is well-maintained. Despite being open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the space at Kaldi’s is clean and inviting.

On a recent Saturday morning, I asked Kaldi’s manager, Jessica, to name the top things she would like new customers to know about Kaldi’s (she didn’t know I was writing this piece). Her response was immediate and earnest. She stated, “everyone is welcome” and “we will do our best for you.”

The speed and sincerity with which Jessica spoke tells me this is top of mind for her as she manages Kaldi’s. And I must say, in my many experiences at Kaldi’s, Jessica’s words resonate. Every staff member I have interacted with and observed is very welcoming and is doing their best for their customers. And the energy of the crowd is always a gentle, warm, welcoming buzz. Clearly there is something to this claim on Kaldi’s website: It is “the favorite spot of the civilized world.”

Kaldi’s Social House: Hours of operation are 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone number: 571-312-1502. To order, and to assure up-to-date information, go to their website: kaldissocialhouse.com. Also, find them on Facebook and Instagram. Credit card, Apple Pay/Google Pay, and
cash accepted..