The Nook on Gottingen

I love coffee and I love the NOOK! Have been meaning to write about this spot for a while, since I do go here at least twice a day. The North End has a few really good coffee spots and this is in my top 3. They have a great mix of good coffee, tasty food and they also are licensed. Sadly I have never gone there for a pint but it is reasonably priced based on the menu.
They recently were sold to new owners that have kept everything that is great about the NOOK and added a few things to make it more of a destination. Art exhibits, live music and longer hours.

I recently made it to The Nook for the first time, as I was on the hunt for a new trivia night to attend. It had a few things going for it on paper, including an early start time of 7:30pm, and cool, close by location, so we made the move.
Primarily a coffee shop, it isn’t a huge space, sitting 30 odd people at an eclectic mix of seating options. There’s the counter along the windows, regular little tables, a high top, a couch, and two booths with oddly low tables. Plants hanging along the window add a nice feeling to the place, while local art dots some of the wall space.
On our first time at The Nook, we came a bit early and were able to snag a booth. As I mentioned above, the tables in them are at a bit of an awkward height so you’re basically forced to lean back and stretch out if you’re of any height. My shorter companions found it better than most tables, so I guess it’s all about perspective.
They’ve got a diverse menu here, with some fancied up sandwiches, including a commendable selection of all day breakfast options, as well as salads, shareable apps, and of course lots of tasty looking baked goods. Being in the north end, there’s plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-​free options, as well as stuff for us old fashioned omnivores. And if you’ve got what it takes to win a round in trivia, you’ll get a plate of sweets!
I was feeling like something more substantial and less diabetes inducing, so I went with a recent addition to their menu, the «A Lot Going On» wrap. With chicken, bruschetta, goat cheese, red onion, spinach, maple curry dressing and guacamole, it certainly lived up to the name. They also have a commendable booze selection so I grabbed a bottle of Boxing Rock’s Hunky Dory Ale and went back to my nook.
My wrap was soon dropped off and I dug in to my late dinner. Despite the menagerie of flavours, everything worked really well together, with a balance of tangy, salty and sweet. It was a bit on the messy side, but that’s what napkins are for.
Trivia was a good time, with a well-​balanced selection of questions, and we did well despite just being three. Wrapping up and getting home before 9pm is great for work nights!
The Nook is a well-​rounded café that takes things to the next level beyond your typical coffee joint. Hit em up, and add a shot of maple Bailey’s to your coffee for a couple bucks.
*Ethical warning: The Nook changed owners last year, one of whom is a friend of mine and was present at the time of my visit.