Hidden Gems of Tyler: Boards and Bites
Boards and Bites offers food and fun to the East Texas community. Photo courtesy of Elaina Gonzalez.
By ELAINA GONZALEZ/Opinion Editor
Everyone knows that college students love coffee, food, and games. Boards and Bites, a local business, provides all three!
Nestled in the Green Acres Shopping Center, Boards and Bites is relatively new and remains unknown to many Tylerites. Still, there is truly something for everyone at this cozy spot.
Drinks
Photo of Boards and Bites’ brochure.
As a coffee shop, Boards and Bites offers coffee in a variety of forms – latte, cappuccino, mocha, americano, cold brew, and more are all available. With 15 flavors to choose from (including sugar free options), guests can create a highly customized beverage.
On the board are some popular flavor mixes for more adventurous customers to try.
There are over 10 flavors of tea, which customers can get hot, iced or as a tea latte. Additionally, the shop offers smoothies and fountain drinks.
Food
Boards and Bites has a surprisingly expansive menu for a small, café-style business. Appetizer options include chips and salsa, quesadillas and a locally-admired hummus platter.
For the main course, some of the main dishes are decadent sandwiches piled high with fresh ingredients. Guests can browse the stylized options on the menu or order “The Tylerite” to build their own sandwich.
Also on the menu are a few kinds of wraps, kids’ choices, and sides such as chips, coleslaw, hummus, or seasonal soup.
But, what is a coffee shop without something sweet? For dessert, patrons can have either New York style cheesecake or affogato, which is an ice cream-coffee mixture.
Games
For $5 a person, guests can access over 600 games. Photo courtesy of Elaina Gonzalez.
The most unique feature of Boards and Bites is its shelves upon shelves of games. For only $5 per person, guests can pick from over 600 games and play for as long as they want.
Among these are popular, timeless games like Yahtzee, Sorry, or Dominoes – great for beginners and fun for experts. There are also longer, more intense games like Ticket to Ride or Monopoly. For those in a hurry, shorter games like Bananagrams or poker can be played. Options for younger children are available in old classics like Candy Land or Operation.
This opportunity is ideal for get togethers, family outings or even events like a birthday party.
Atmosphere
Arguably, the best feature of Boards and Bites is the environment it creates. The inviting atmosphere makes for a casual place to hang out with friends; its usually quiet lobby is also a great study spot for students who need to get work done. In fact, students and educators get a discount!
The staff is always friendly and polite in a way that is memorable. The food is fresh, the drinks are well-made and the storefront itself feels comfortable. These aspects solidify Boards and Bites as one place on my personal list of Tyler’s hidden gems.
The business is open every day of the week and can be found at 1851 Troup Hwy, Tyler, TX 75701. View the menu, hours and more information on their website.
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