Willa’s Provisions
We’re back today with The Lab’s closest coffee neighbor, Willa’s Provisions. This swanky place is situated on the corner of N Rome Ave and W fig St and shares the same building as its parent company, Willa’s. What intrigued me the most about this place is that they serve locally-roasted coffee from King State and dishes out food curated from their restaurant. The shop's aesthetics are pleasing to the eye and warrant a dine-in experience to enjoy the minimalist styling and laid-back feel. Being only steps away from three different apartment complexes, Willa’s Provisions is an excellent addition to the bustling NOHO neighborhood and a great alternative for those looking for coffee past The Lab’s absurdly short operating hours.
The Experience
This was your run-of-the-mill coffee shop experience. The baristas were neither over-enthusiastic nor under-enthusiastic, but rather, calm with friendly smiles. In the times I’ve come here, I’ve usually never had to wait in line and this time was no different.
Selecting what I wanted to eat and drink was a pleasant experience being that their menu is relatively small but with a good enough variety that you and a group of friends can each agree on something to enjoy.
After placing our order, it was easy to see why there wasn’t a line. The food itself appeared to be premade and ready to be handed over at a moment's notice, and with two baristas manning the espresso machine, drinks came out as quickly as the weather changes in Florida.
We opted to eat outside with the day illuminated brilliantly and not a single cloud in the sky. But before I could make my way to their patio, I quickly took a glimpse at their wall of products that was situated towards the back of the shop. Much like King State, Willa’s Provisions carried wines from various suppliers and the typical branded merch, which, to their credit, was made of high-quality fabrics.
The Coffee
Having just played two hours of Pickleball (my latest hobby smh, blog post coming soon), I wanted something refreshing but at the same time subtle so I went with an iced oat milk latte with an extra shot and asked the barista to pour the fourth shot (Common for baristas to tell you that their machines can only pump out doppios when asking for a solo extra shot) separately so I can taste what they were brewing without obstructions. This also gave me a chance to see how the latte faired against King State’s infamous latte seeing as they used the same coffee.
The espresso itself lacked the same body as the one from King State but I don’t know if that had to do with the shop using a different blend or the grind setting they were using. Nonetheless, the coffee was still light and allowed you to taste notes of fruit and a bit of acidity.
The latte was as close as you could get to King State’s without it actually being from King State. The drink was well-balanced, never once giving you the impression that you were drinking oat milk with a splash of espresso. It also gave me the pick-me-up I was looking for after such a grueling morning.
Conclusion
While I may have enjoyed the espresso from The Lab a little bit more, there definitely wasn’t anything wrong with what they were offering in Willa’s Provisions. This is a great place to come if you’re looking for a nice morning out with friends or a significant other and enjoy an ambiance that favors on the side of upscale. This is a very trendy shop and it has the benefit of serving coffee from one of Tampa’s best roasters. Enjoy a cup of coffee here and then shuffle your way into their main dining restaurant for the full Willa’s experience or walk across the street to Rome + Fig, either way, this shop gives you a great starting point for your day and that’s all many of us can really ask for.
Until next time…
