This might be my new favorite study spot, especially on days with nice weather. I haven’t explored their dining options as much as I have enjoyed their pastries and coffee. First off, Ascension makes the best cold brew I have ever had in Dallas. It is always consistently bold yet balanced, and refreshing on warmer days. when the weather’s feeling nice, the porch in front of the café is a great spot to enjoy coffee with friends, have a little time for solitary reflection as the nice cars roll down Oak Lawn, or sit down and study for long periods of time. The quiet bustle of the café and the city is the perfect atmosphere to focus on a confusing textbook or a tough read by Shakespeare assigned by your 12th grade English teacher. The service is actually great, and bonus points for the one barista who went out of his way to somehow find me a pen around his modern, paperless work area so that I could do my homework. I love this place!
Jeff B.
Place rating: 4 Plano, TX
Loved the Cortado, so much so that I had two even though it was decaf. While ordering I saw a meat and cheeseboard come out to another table, and I will definitely be back for that. French toast caught my attention too but I went for a little lighter, healthier option in granola. The granola, berries and yogurt order had an earthy taste to it but was the just right amount – filling but not too much. Other reviewers described this well – a restaurant that specializes in coffee – but the food will also bring me back.
Hillary D.
Place rating: 5 Garland, TX
«Dear Ascension, Your Lavender Latte’s pervade my dreams and lead me into Dallas to your sweet embrace.» All jokes aside, Ascension brews THEBEST lavender latte I have had in the DFW. It is even better than The Pearls. The lavender syrup or concentrate that they use is distinctively fragrant and tantalizing. Added to their latte, the taste is just strong enough to assert its dominance but docile enough to let the espresso play its part. Not overly sweet or floral, the Lavender latte is a must have. While you’re sipping on heaven, don’t be afraid to pick up one of their croissants. They’re flaky, buttery and golden brown!
Ce C.
Place rating: 4 Lancaster, TX
Nice trendy casual spot. The staff was very personable and down to earth. I imagine Ross, Rachel, and Joey probably hung out here. I had the avocado toast. The svicado was very fresh… the eggs were perfectly poached and ran nicely. The chai latte really hit the spot and the decoration stayed in place even after I drank it! I’m almost ashamed to say how amazed i was by that. Anywho… cool spot to hang study and/or eat
Jenny C.
Place rating: 4 Dallas, TX
Came on a Saturday afternoon and was expecting it to be more of a coffee shop, but it is definitely more like a full service restaurant that specializes in coffee. The brunch menu looked amazing! We mistakenly had lunch next door at Meddlesome Moth, but I was really impressed with their brunch menu and the salads looked really fresh and delicious. Definitely not a study place and not a typical coffee shop, at least on a weekend. I came for their slow bar coffee, which is just another method of making coffee but takes longer to come out, hence the«slow». My boyfriend got a macchiato. The waitress made sure to point out that the macchiato is not the starbucks type, which I thought was hilarious. I definitely made that mistake when I went to a legit coffee shop vs Starbucks.
Evve K.
Place rating: 5 Dallas, TX
I really love coffee houses with great atmosphere and coffee that doesn’t rate burned – I know, quite the low bar – but Ascension definitely fits the bill and then some. In an area with several coffee places(chain and unique alike), they stand out with their service, atmosphere, and quality drinks along with food. I have to say I haven’t actually eaten here because I love the coffee so much. The cold brew coffee is amazing and their iced coffee is very smooth and not bitter – which to me seems harder because cold coffee seems to show off any taste imperfections more so than hot! Enjoy a cuppa joe here. You’ll thank me.
Desi W.
Place rating: 4 Washington D.C., DC
Who doesn’t love a good coffee shop!!! Not to mention one that offers wine and frittatas! With good amount of seating and table space I could see spending a good amount of time here if needed. People had laptops and meetings going which added to the working coffee shop idea. If in the area this is a cool and chill spot for breakfast drinks or frittatas!
Desiree H.
Place rating: 3 Irving, TX
I must admit, I thought this was going to be more of a lounge type atmosphere instead of a quaint brunch spot(I visited on New Year’s day morning). The servers were very sweet and we didn’t have to wait long to be seated. I kind of felt like I was the only one in there who hadn’t visited before. oh well… I had the lavender latte… it was delicious! i think i was hoping to just go in and sit in oversized couches and drink coffee all morning but there was way too much hussle and bussle from the brunch crowd for that. which, i should have done a little more research and not assumed what the atmosphere was going to be like. anywho. cute spot… idk that i HAVE to go back but if i were in the area i wouldn’t mind.
Julie P.
Place rating: 4 Dallas, TX
Ascension Coffee is definitely at the top of my list for the best coffeeshop in Dallas! I love everything about this place. Granted, I am a little bit of a coffee snob so their coffee isn’t the best, but for Dallas, it’s pretty good. I just love the atmosphere here, I usually like to come here to wind down with some wine hahah I also love that they have live music here from time to time which is a big plus! Their trendy and hip wooden interior is lovely and I am a total sucker for cafes with big windows for beautiful lighting!
Ai Vy N.
Place rating: 3 Dallas, TX
I decided to stop by here before heading to North Park mall for some last minute Xmas shopping, since the weather was super nice out. Lucky me it wasn’t too busy when I arrived, so finding a spot to park in their tiny parking lot was easy. I was gonna order a latte with almond milk, but according to the barista, it could be pretty bitter(that was the first), due to the type of coffee they use and almond milk wouldn’t cut it. So I went with a cappuccino with almond milk instead per his recommendation. They have very limited in house flavor syrups. Probably a good thing when they didn’t have hazel nut syrup. My drink could have been much sweeter. I was very happy with the flavor. Just a hint of sweetness, exactly how I prefer it(without requesting), the coffee was thick n strong. It’s much smaller in size compares to most places I have been to however. Their patio area is small and nice with only a handful of tables. So once I was able to grab one for myself, felt a lil bad about taking a whole table just to drink my coffee, I asked the waiter if I could see the menu. He wasn’t too happy about it for some reasons n decided to ignore me the rest of the time without bringing me a menu. I could have gone n gotten the menu myself but didn’t want to lose the table. Maybe you are supposed to order everything at the counter? I’m not too sure. If that was the case, y having servers walking around if it wasn’t a full service place? Anyway, now I can check this place off of my coffee shops to visit list. It’s a nice place to come for some coffee, wine, or even food, but the first impression I got wasn’t too good, so I probably won’t be back.
Jordan N.
Place rating: 4 Dallas, TX
Still one of my preferred coffee shops in Dallas — more so for the mood(when it is not so busy) than for using the space as a study/work spot. If you’re wanting to use this as a study/work spot, be aware that the lighting at night is pretty bad, even with the candles. But during the day, it’s great. But yes, the place can be crowded during peak hours, and parking is a hassle(there’s valet and there’s limited street parking). Service is friendly, food is tasty(even though it is overpriced), and coffee is great. Hopefully its new location in Uptown will be more accessible and will carry over the same vibe.
Julie M.
Place rating: 3 Excelsior, MN
The three is because I got no discount for a kind-of expensive cup of coffee when I brought my own cup. I will also say that the staff was efficient, but didn’t make me feel like I wanted to make it my second home(ok, maybe they don’t want me to). I love the atmosphere and the outdoor seating. That’s enough for me to stop back when I’m in town just to try the food – everything I saw looked great!
Ryan H.
Place rating: 4 Dallas, TX
«Is Russell in today?» «No, he’s in Papua New Guinea right now.» Or maybe it was Nicaragua… Either way, these are the types of things I overhear while studying at Ascension. The owner flies directly to small farms growing coffee beans, and they also roast it themselves. As much as I love the locally roasted coffee in North Texas used by other coffeeshops, this speaks volumes to the degree to which Ascension gives attention to every detail in the process. Their pourover is the best in town, their single origin espresso top tier, and the Kyoto brew is to die for(seriously try this). The parking is an issue during busier hours. The food is a little overpriced. The seats aren’t the most comfortable. The hours could be better(and don’t expect to be able to study after sunset). But despite any of these negatives this STILL is easily where I will choose to go. Their coffee is just that good.
Stella c.
Place rating: 5 Garland, TX
Awesome as ever! First time to have wine here! The Malbex was extremely excellent! Chad did recommended the Gougenheim Malbec Real Thanksgiving treat. Bread pudding is awesome as usual:)
Sarah R.
Place rating: 5 Fort Worth, TX
Quality coffee. Had the cortado which was 5 star. The Guatemala from the slow bar was incredible. Kudos to the server that was so sweet even though we didn’t order any food. They were busy and I could see how that could be frustrating for a server. Next time I will have to get breakfast… those ricotta pancakes sounded incredible.
Lin G.
Place rating: 4 Dallas, TX
Drinkers beware, you will feel its effects. I had a medium coffee and… after a margarita elsewhere… had to take a nap in my car. But later that night, I stayed up ALLNIGHT! And not b/c I was at awesome rave dancing with colorful candy bracelets feeling the effects of molly. No. I was turning in sweating sheets in my TV room feeling the effects of the medium coffee. 3am came and I was rolling through FB posts from friends in different time zones who I don’t keep in touch with regularly, then I sunk into a deeper state of no-sleep by looking up exes and their new paramours, clicking through each photo like. FUCK! Ascension Coffee! What have you done to me?!! But earlier that day, I was loving it. Cute, modern space. STRONG coffee. Good, prompt service. Enjoy now and possibly pay for it later(or just get decaf).
Shemylah H.
Place rating: 4 Houston, TX
Great ambiance, great food, and great coffee! My fiancé and I were in the area looking for a coffee shop to sit down at and get some wedding tasks done, and this buzzing place seemed like the perfect spot. We stayed past dark, and the coffee shop transformed into the perfect date night spot, complete with fresh flowers and candlelit tables. Drinks: Espresso drinks are my specialty, so of course I ordered a latte. Speaking to one of the friendly waiters, I found that their beans are locally roasted just five minutes down the road. Smooth and balanced, my cup was adorned with some of the cutest latte art I’ve seen in the Dallas area. My fiancé ordered their Wild Flower Iced Tea. There were too many flavors going on for my palate, but my fiancé said he enjoyed the it at a great pace. On to the food: We only tasted the hummus, but it was some of the best hummus I’ve ever ordered. A dollop of their jalapeño pepper pesto was the perfect kick to take it over the top! I will definitely be back for lunch or dinner to try a few of the unique house made items on their menu.
Charlotte J.
Place rating: 3 Dallas, TX
My experience at Ascension was just okay. Maybe I visited at the wrong time. I came on a warm Friday afternoon, I’d gotten off of work a little early and was hankering for a cold brew, so I decided to give them a try. First of all, parking is a nightmare. If you’re not willing to valet park(and I’m usually not, because I hardly ever have cash on me and I don’t want to subject the valet to driving my car if I can’t tip them) then be prepared to circle the block over and over looking for viable street parking. I lucked out and found a spot on my third time around. Once I got inside, I could see that the place is popular! It’s a cute little place, smartly decorated, and you have the option of grabbing a menu and seating yourself for table service or ordering at the counter. Since I was just coming in for a coffee, I ordered at the counter. The staff was quite polite. I ordered the cold brew with some almond milk. They served it to me in a pint glass with a red straw, without the almond milk, and then pulled a carton of Pacific brand almond milk out of the fridge and said I could put it in myself. I had to take a few long sips of the full glass of coffee in order to make room, and the flavor was very odd. Sort of sweet, not very strong. I poured in a generous amount of almond milk, and it sort of congealed in the coffee, which I’ve never seen almond milk do before. I took my coffee outside and sat on the patio, which has a view of the parking lot and Oak Lawn ave. Neither the patio nor the interior seating area is very conducive to reading or getting any work done, since both are fairly loud. It’s a good place to visit with friends, though. Ultimately, I give them points for a cool space and a friendly staff, but take some away for terrible parking and odd coffee(at least the one I had). I’d like to try their food sometime, and come back on a less hectic afternoon. It’s such a popular place, I feel like I must just be missing something.
Eric T.
Place rating: 3 Fort Worth, TX
Ascension had been burning a hole in my Unilocal bookmarks for the longest time, so today was the day. Located in the heart of the Dallas design district, Ascension met certain expectations on being the upscale coffee venue that it is, yet had me asking more questions after leaving the establishment on what it was perceived to be as well. The décor= chique. The customer service= excellent. The product= not bad. The parking situation= meh. The Wifi= interesting. This pretty much sums up my visit. Though not all bad, the two hits of expresso could have been less bitter. The granola & fruit bowl was tasty and with flavor, which was actually surprising(usually bland). The water was an absolute nice touch, much more than expected. The WiFi kept going in & out, which was interesting. I would normally expect that from a smaller coffee place, yet not this one. I assume that there were several PC users uploading & downloading World of Warcraft for the entirety that I was there, over & over again, for 90 minutes(rolling eyes). While the décor & customer service were superb(never better), the parking seems limited. I noticed two people awaiting for me to depart so that one of them may swoop in and take my space. All of the parking spaces to the hair salon next to Ascension, which was interesting, considering that the salon wasn’t even open at the time. Altogether, this is now a location that I’ll have to revisit once again to update this review. In all fairness, I would give Ascension a 3.5, yet I feel that its missing something to make it a solid 4. Just being honest. I was satisfied with the price($ 16 w/tip). Final impression of the place was that it was a mixture of a restaurant & café under one roof, which is unique. Definitely not your typical coffee café. I’ll certainly return to try Ascension again. For now, its okay.
Vicky G.
Place rating: 5 Washington, DC
Love love love! So the fact that you get your own filtered glass bottle of water right when you sit down is already great news for me the girl who inhales water like a camel. Next arrives my latte at the perfect temperature with a balanced flavor, then comes the joyful sight of outlets outlets galore, and lastly comes the satisfaction of knowing I found a solid place to post up for the next few hours. Soundtrack sports artists like Arctic Monkeys & décor includes suspended lightbulbs — this place is the real hipsta deal. There’s a big table if you’re in the laptop/gotta get werk done crew and quite a few smaller tables if you’re in the breakfast/brunch crew. Hopefully I’ll be in the latter category next time; the food looked tantalizingly delicious every time a waiter walked by with it. My waitress wasn’t outright unfriendly but didn’t provide the warmest service either(maybe I’ve been too spoiled by other independent coffee shops). Dude baristas seemed more chill though. Parking…well you’ll deal. Nothing like a lil bit of walking and location in the Design District is pretty prime anyways. Plus this place was poppin’ the whole few hours of the random weekday morning I was here, so you won’t be the only one who knows Ascension is worth the trip.