Our lives have changed in the way we do business. Many of us have an office or work from home but we also have another place, a “third place,” to connect with people or spend some time in a different environment.
My wife, Maureen and I have been in the residential real estate business for the past 20 years and we appreciate the value of a warm, inviting and comfortable place to connect with clients and people in our community.
There is no better “third place” in Onion Creek than the Opera Café & Coffee House. This relatively new eatery opened in August 2014 and has quickly become the “go to” spot for locals. For our community, having a neighborhood café, located in Shops at Onion Creek, gives us a wonderfully convenient place to grab coffee and a bite to eat, as well as a welcome retreat to unwind, relax and meet up with friends.
Mouthwatering Food, Friendly Staff
We especially enjoy visiting the Opera Café in the morning. We love a steaming cup of their coffee, made with ILLY beans, with a turkey, egg & cheese croissant or a breakfast taco of egg, chicken sausage with cheese, tomatoes and onions. Other tempting offerings are fresh croissants, bagels, raisin coffee cake, muffins and cinnamon rolls. What a great place to start the day!
It’s been a pleasure getting to know the owners, Anas Jawish and Alyia Amanzholova. These two are smart, funny and are adding real value to our Onion Creek lifestyle.
Sweet Allure of French Opera Cake
Taking advantage of their background in hospitality management, Anas and Alyia have created the perfect neighborhood gathering spot. A cozy and clean little café that combines around-the-corner convenience with a full menu of fresh and tasty food.
“What sets us apart from other restaurants is our unique made-to-order menu items using quality ingredients,” says Alyia. “Many customers are surprised that when they order a breakfast taco, we actually crack eggs to make it. It takes a bit longer than fast food but customers appreciate being able to order items just as they like them.”
Eyeing the glass dessert case, I asked Alyia about her favorite bakery item. “We named the café after my much beloved French Opera Cake,” she told me with a smile. “Made with almond sponge cake soaked in espresso syrup and layered with coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache, this classic cake is handmade locally for us by a top pastry chef.”
Promoting Local Art and Onion Creek Community Service
Alyia and Anas are also strong supporters of the Onion Creek community with ongoing involvement in several local non-profits. “These are our neighbors,” Alyia explains. “We try to respond to whatever their needs are. We have recently held events benefiting Wee Rescue and Austin Pets Alive. In addition, we support local artists by displaying their artwork on the walls and hosting gallery showings.”
Opera Café’s reputation as a local Coffeehouse & eatery is growing with an outstanding rating and comments on Yelp and Facebook. Serving from 7am until 6pm Monday thru Saturday, their menu includes sandwiches such as blue cheese and turkey, tomato and mozzarella panini and smoked salmon panini. Their current special is Mediterranean Beef Dumplings topped with garlic yogurt sauce, paprika and sizzling butter. It comes with a house salad and is especially delicious.
Please say hello if you see us at the Opera Café. Whether we are working on a real estate deal or just enjoying the great food and ambiance, Maureen and I love meeting our Onion Creek neighbors and making new friends here in the community. And there’s no better gathering spot to build those relationships than our very own Opera Café. Hope to see you there!
