Starbucks Opens A Beautiful Parking Lot Cafe

The new "parking lot cafe" view -- Burger King drive through with cherry trees

The new Starbucks has opened off Dobbin Road in Columbia -- replacing the shop that had been across the road for as long as I have been in Howard County.

The new Starbucks replaced the old location of Mango Grove (now reopened a few blocks south) with new construction that includes a drive-through lane.  This is just south of Rte 175 at Dobbin.

It's a nice coffee shop set between a Wendy's and a Chick-fil-A.  Small, but I'm a fan of the communal tables where people can rest, read or even work on a computer.  Unlike most Starbucks, the workers included a white-haired woman who kept a rapport with customers:  Customer: "I will have a tall blonde."  Cashier: "The men all like tall blondes."

There is also a small patio nestled against the building with a prime example of Howard County's indigenous architecture of the "parking lot cafe."  At least this weekend, you can sit your coffee with not only a view of your own car, but also the most-beautiful fast food drive through that you'll ever see.  \

Check out the pink cherry trees in full bloom.  Don't they deserve a haiku?

(Update: I fixed the restaurant name.  I thought it was Burger King, but it is apparently a Wendy's.)

Parking Lot Cafes 2010: Eat And Watch Your Car

I don't like to just throw around the term "My Contribution To World Civilization," so let's just say that the post about "parking lot cafes" is my favorite HowChow idea to date.

Last spring, I pointed out that Paris has sidewalk tables, DC has rooftop dining and country inns nestle you in gardens.  But Howard County has it's own indigenous experience for al fresco dining:  The parking lot cafe.

Victoria Gastropub offers a perfect example of the parking lot cafe.  A patio seat to enjoy dinner on warm, breezy night -- and a view of your car.  This isn't a view of the street.  This is a restauranteur that knows we like their food, but we love our cars.  So we want to be close.  Close enough that the key fob can unlock your car from your seat.  This is le cuisine voiture.

The May 2009 post introduced the term and listed a half dozen places where you could dine and watch the waves of automobiles crest upon the parking lot.  Maiwand Kabob's two tables overlook cars to the horizon.  Mad City Coffee almost lets you put your feet up on your bumper as you sip your brew.  Another year of observation has turned up new examples to show our dominance of this oh-so-American way to dine:

• Strapazza in Columbia had seats last year that looked across the parking lot at Rte 108.  The view was free as was the live jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.
• The new Sidamo coffee shop in Fulton just put out tables and chairs.  A few are, unfortunately, aimed at Maple Lawn Boulevard, so the parking that you see is uncomfortable far away on the other side of the development.  But the tables near the front door cover the Looney's lot where you can park.
• Facci mirrored La Palapa Too in their shopping center on Johns Hopkins Road.  We can disagree whether that neighborhood should be called Laurel, Scaggsville or Fulton.  But you have to admit that it's exciting to be able to choose which part of the parking lot you want to watch.  (Plus, the new patio offers a few extra seats in a crowded restaurant, and Facci did it up in style with landscaping.)

But the revelation of the "parking lot cafe" post was that other people joined in the fun.  They proposed their own places, and many got in on the joke.  Rdonoghue talked up Donna's on Rte 108 and notes that "on a clear day" you can see all the way to Eggspectations.  BillZ noted that River Hill Grille let you eat, watch your car, and see the Columbia Gym where you should be working out.

So what others can you suggest?  A place where you can sit outside and see the parking lot.  Extra points if you can touch a car.  Funny comments are always appreciated.

Parking Lot Cafe: The Ultimate Howard County Experience

The great bistros of Paris offer sidewalk tables. Converted row homes in DC offer rooftop dining. Country inns nestle you into garden cuisine.

As the season warms, the question arises: What is the quintessential Howard County experience for al fresco dining?

The answer: Parking lot cafes.

James Rouse banned churches so that Columbia could worship the automobile, and several Howard County restaurants have taken up his charge by offering food with a view of the parking lot. Sure, Elizabeth Large offers the limited view in her Top 10 places to eat lunch outside with back gardens and enclosed patios. But what about good food where you can see your car?

Victoria Gastropub offers the finest parking lot cafe around. We went for my favorite local burger last week and enjoyed a warm, breezy night watching the sun set and watching our Chrysler. You could feel the vibrations of the hot rods on Rte 108. How can Citronelle compete? Victoria built its patio last summer, and the open feeling is a nice contrast with the dark, cozy feel of the indoor rooms. But they're just the vanguard for le cuisine voiture:

• Ranazul in Fulton has a handful of tables right on Maple Lawn Boulevard. Come early so that you snag the street parking close enough so that you lock and unlock your car remotely while you enjoy tapas.
• La Palapa Too in Laurel captures the parking lot cafe vibe. The patio out front juts into the parking lot, and the weekend ceviche appetizer is even more delicious with the taste of a cold Corona and the sound of traffic. (As bemoaned by BillZ on Live in Howard County, the shopping center with La Palapa Too and Kloby's isn't really in Laurel. It's on Johns Hopkins Road just west of Rte 29 -- very convenient to Columbia, Scaggsville or Fulton.)
• Mad City Coffee in Columbia is built for car viewing. In winter, you can watch your car through the plate glass windows while you have house-roasted coffee, breakfast or sandwiches. In nice weather, the tables right outside let you almost put your feet up on your bumper as you sip and read the paper.
• Maiwand Kabob in Columbia only has two tables outside, but the view is spectacular. It's cars to the horizon (or at least to the supermarket and Rita's). You could take out these wonderful grilled meats, breads and the pumpkin appetizer. But you'd have to sit in your driveway to capture the full experience.
• Touche Touchet Bakery in Columbia offers you the chance for dessert. My favorite cupcakes in Howard County, plus an array of coffee, other desserts, and a handful of savory croissants. If you're not careful, you could end up on the side of Touche Touchet's outdoor seating, staring at a peaceful, wooded yard. But the front tables are all-parking, all-the-time.

What parking lot cafe am I missing? Where can you eat and watch your car? Great Sage in Clarksville doesn't count because the creative vegetarian restaurant tucked its patio on the side of its shopping center. The seats overlook a slopping hill and trees. It's so lush and natural that you might think you were in . . . Baltimore.

(Update: People are already pouring in other great examples in the comments. They're worth reading in full because people captured the tone in which this post was offered. A sample of the early ones:

• rdonoghue talks up Donna's on Rte 108 in Columbia. As he notes, "on a clear day" you can see all the way to Eggspectations. Take that San Francisco Bay!
• Billz of the Live in Howard County blog has his own list, including the River Hill Grille "that lets you contemplate automobiles and the Columbia Gym where you should be working out.")

(Update #2: You have to check out Strapazza on weekends when you can get a view of your car -- and live jazz.)

(Update #3: Check out the 2010 update on this "parking lot cafe" idea.)

Does anyone know the Cocoa Lane restaurant mentioned by Eve in this comment on Elizabeth Large's blog? She says it has a series of decks. Can you see parking? (Update: Julie says Cocoa Lane has a great view of Ellicott City's skyline, but no cars. Sigh!)

This is part of the "What I Learned" series of posts. They're organized in rings. See below to continue on the ring of ideas about food in Howard County. Or click to switch to the posts about different cuisines or posts about shopping.

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