Pearson's: A Tucked Away Gem (Coffeehouse Review)

Vegetarian: Yes

Vegan: Yes

Gluten-Free: No

Cross Contact Safe: No

PEARSON’S - 23 Somerton St, Rochester, NY

Come along with a ghostwriter as she embarks on another coffee date with a friend. Pearson’s was on the docket for the day, and boy was it chilly outside. Thick snowflakes were pelting us in the face as we hustled through the parking lot to the entrance. Judging off exterior alone, Pearson’s doesn’t give you much to work with. The painted gray bricks are tidy and the thick, glass brick window is sleek. But the building is down a little side alley, and while the sign out front is big it’s neutral enough that you still may miss it. My friend did while we were driving. However, there is a large enough parking lot out front. We didn’t have to worry even though it was already quite packed.

Originally called Glen Edith, the coffee shop renovated and made the change to Pearson’s in 2023. Once you walk through the door you’re greeted by a long circular counter and the sun beams stretching through the brick window that wraps around the wall. Ahead was an assortment of barista gadgets, products for sale, plants, splayed atop another white marble surface. Pearson’s clearly likes a marble tabletop, or, at least ones that appear to be. It’s likely that these were all quartz, or something else engineered. Looks classy, better at withstanding stains and heat.

The interior is influenced by the 50s, which is atypical for a lot of businesses now, and coffee shops, in my experience. Cafes may have retro fixtures for aesthetic, sure. But, the bright color palettes of Pearson’s coupled with furniture and pieces that looks like they were inherited from a Montgomery Ward catalog, wow. I appreciate attention to detail, and the owners knew just how to hit that sweet spot between stylish and functional. I live in black, and adore dark, rich tones. Even I couldn’t stop the excited little flutter that bubbled up in my body, seeing touches of canary and lemon yellow and other inviting tones all throughout the building. It felt very Hygge, for sure.

The bathroom on the second floor is probably the fanciest one I've ever seen for a coffeehouse.

The astronomer’s globe hanging from the ceiling was a quirky touch. If I worked there, I’d probably spend most of my shift terrified it would fall, smack the floor, and roll away fast like it owed the shop money, taking out a patron in the process.

But that’s just me.

Pearson’s is as distinct as it is bright and welcoming. As previously stated, my friend and I arrived to a bustling dining area, and nearly every seat on the ground floor was taken. No matter, there was a quieter second floor we wanted to visit anyway. He had music to work on with his computer, and I had my illustrations and sketches.

I had quite an appetite this morning. I decided to start with a smoothie, and a croissant from the bakery. My smoothie of choice was the Bluey; blueberries, raspberries, banana, some protein powder, greek yogurt, and oat milk. I’m often picky when it comes to smoothies. I don’t like drinks loaded with sugar, which is typical for smoothies made with fruit juice or extract instead of the ingredients themselves. Fortunately Pearson’s uses natural, whole produce for their recipes. The Bluey ended up being the best thing I ate. The texture was ideal, for me. Chewing on a smoothie is gross. There wasn’t even a stray blueberry skin. Both sweet and refreshing, it was a tangy treat that paired well with my pastry.

Croissants are something I often order at a bakery or a café. While not the absolute hardest thing a baker can tackle, it’s certainly not the easiest food either. Over or under proving bread is hard to avoid when you have tons of other tasks. Timing is everything with the multiple steps and layers you have to attend to. Lots of bakers I’ve known have sited machines or techniques bolstered by patience as the key to producing the delicate, flaky texture synonymous with the puff pastry. It’s one of my favorite baked goods, and when consumers (like my friend who suggested Pearson’s) rave about a bakery’s offerings, I love to order one to gauge how well the establishment rises to the challenge.

So, I ordered an almond croissant. The verdict?

Well, the layers were balanced and flaky enough that I enjoyed the initial bites. As it sat on my tongue and I had the chance to sample it more I found the dough a little dry. I would’ve liked a little more butter. It was garnished well with shaved almonds. Some sea salt would’ve been a nice final touch. Still, it was a solid croissant to go with the flavor and texture of an almond paste. That was smooth, if a little to sweet for my taste, hah. Funny to say because almond paste is meant to be. But, perhaps I’m being picky. An oopsie of a little extra sugar and a slightly dry pastry leads me to believe that I caught the bakery on an off day. Or, maybe my taste buds weren’t calibrated properly.

We enjoyed our cozy table in the second floor, tucked in the corner by the window for an hour, chatting and working on our projects. It didn’t take much longer for me to start craving a hot beverage, especially as even chunkier snowflakes fell beside us, floating just beyond the small pane of glass.

I settled in with a Bee Sting Latte, with honey, cinnamon, and oat milk. I don’t really drink coffee because of a caffeine sensitivity, but lattes are easier for me to enjoy every once and while because they’re diluted by the milk. I also will ask coffee shops for decaf if I can. I was able to get this latte with tea, so it was all of the cozy without none of the heart palpitations. As far as flavor it was a pretty standard tea latte. However, I appreciated that just the right amount of cinnamon was added. Balancing it with a hot beverage is important so it doesn’t just burn someone’s throat. It was great to sip and there wasn’t a swig at the end loaded with cinnamon that choked me out.

Oh! And don't you worry, I did have one final cup of earl gray tea.

Fortunately for those with dietary concerns, Pearson’s does take allergies into account, and have separate machines so nuts and fruits won’t pose a problem. However, I couldn’t confirm the same thing for the bakery, and they don’t offer gluten-free desserts yet that I could see. That said, there are gluten-free dishes in the way of smoothies or drinks. Check with the servers before ordering, something you’re used to I’m sure, but I’m sorry it’s not more straightforward on the menu.

The last thing I’ll say is Pearson’s has a pretty large selection of merch, and other little trinkets. I always love to see businesses support local artists and others. They had some plants for sale. Maybe next time I’m in I’ll purchase the daffodil I saw...

Overall, everything at Pearson’s was very sweet; literally. If you’re looking for a trendy, comfy place to settle in with a book, or work to do, this spot offers it all with nice meals to boot.

Rating: 7 /10