The Villar Group of Companies has come up with another novel idea for a coffee shop. It started years ago with a cafe called Coffee Project that attracted visitors with its French floral and bike inspirations.
The first time we chanced upon a Dear Joe coffee shop, I asked the staff how this was different from Coffee Project. She answered that Dear Joe was the masculine version of Coffee Project.
As we entered the premises, we noticed the cozy ambiance and mood lighting. Not sure about masculinity but I think women may also like the interior design of the space.
What made us stay at Dear Joe was not necessarily the ambiance. We discovered that they offered a wide selection of foodie choices that visitors can actually stay to have a meal before or after drinking their coffee.
We have yet to try all the food selections. The initial impression was good.
Aside from hearty lunch meals, they also offer pizza, pasta, and even breakfast meals. So many menu items to choose from that one can actually spend a whole day ordering at Dear Joe, it seems.
There is also a wide selection of cakes and pastries.
For a minimum purchase or fee, customers can write postcards or letters to family and friends that will be snail mailed by Dear Joe. Stationery and postcards are available. The small mailbox at our table seemed to be getting filled up with notes.
The big question is how fast does Dear Joe mail these letters? Also, given the uncertainties of the Philippine mailing system, have any of the letters reached their intended recipients? We have yet to hear from someone who has received a Dear Joe postcard.
It's a very nice concept whose ending we have yet to see. But yes, Dear Joe could be the new coffee shop to beat in the Philippines.
