Feed the parents: A Little Cup of Heaven

By: Dustin Looney
Features Editor

Near most college campuses (or at least the really cool ones) there is usually a little coffee shop where local students can go to surf the net, read a book or just hang out and drink coffee…or at least some fancy new-age drink that has some coffee in it.

The town of Monmouth did not provide this type of restaurant until June 2005 when A Little Cup of Heaven opened on Main Street, a short walk from campus. Monmouth College has finally arrived!

The owner of the restaurant is Maureen Storm, who is an alumna of Monmouth College, and Maureen reported that so far she is happy with her new venture.

“Things have gone really well; we’re actually busier than we had anticipated,” Storm said.

A Little Cup of Heaven--as indicated by its name--is primarily known for its coffee. The restaurant offers a wide variety of “Specialty Drinks,” including Latte, Flavored Latte, Mocha, Black & White Mocha, Cappuccino, Breve, Espresso and Americano.

All drinks can be made hot or iced, with skim, 2 percent or whole milk, regular or decaf bean and regular or “sugar free” flavorings.

Drinks are available in sizes small (12 oz. single shot), medium (16 oz. double shot) or large (20 oz. triple shot). The small drinks range in price from $1.25 to $3, with the Black & White Mocha being the only selection that costs $3.

I guess I have expensive taste, as the Black & White Mocha was my selection. Although I am not a huge coffee fan, I was very happy with this drink. It had a delicious coffee-chocolate flavor with just a hint of sweetness from the raspberry syrup and whip cream on top.

Exotic coffee drinks are not the only item A Little Cup of Heaven offers, however, as it also has a wide selection of food items on the menu, including: breakfast and bakery items, soups and salads, specialty sandwiches, frozen smoothies and panini.

Some of the sandwiches that looked particularly tasty to me are the Philly steak, almond chicken salad and bagel bruschetta. All sandwiches are $4.50.

The restaurant also offers very reasonably priced all-you-can-eat buffets on the weekends. There is a breakfast buffet on Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. for $6.50. This buffet has a wide variety of breakfast dishes.

There is also a soup and salad bar buffet on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $4.95.

On the front of the restaurant’s menu, it says “Featuring Delectably Delicious Desserts,” so I expect the bakery items are pretty tasty. Among the dessert offerings are: scones, croissants and pastry items.

Overall I thought A Little Cup of Heaven was a cozy little restaurant that fills the role of a college town coffee shop very nicely. Offering high speed internet to its customers, it is a good place to go and unwind while getting a quick, inexpensive meal, or just a cup of coffee…and if you are really looking to “feed the parents” without going too far from campus, the buffets would be a good choice for breakfast on the weekend.

“I like doing business in Monmouth, I think we fill a niche that wasn’t here before,” Storm said. “We offer a quick deli style lunch, kind of a bistro style, but also espresso and coffee.”

Located at 226 South Main Street, with easy parking on Main Street, A Little Cup of Heaven is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.