Fox in Snow (New Albany): Nice

The real show is the bakery. Don't hesitate for a short trip, especially to take home some galette!

Beware of foxes.

Overall Rating: 9.83/15

Food & Beverage: 2.05/3 (pro: delicious bakery, con: not much outside baked goods)

Service: 2.9/3 (pro: let us stay late, con: none really)

Ambiance: .95/3 (pro: classy, con: hard)

Bathrooms: 1.7/3 (pro: spacious, con: cold)

Other: 2.17/3 (pro: easy to get to, con: closed on boxing day)

EZ's Review: The food was good but I had a strawberry croissant (strawberry delight) that had a filling that was only good with a bite of the crust (which was annoying) with it. And the thing my mom got was an egg sandwich with bacon which was good but it came warm so then I couldn’t have it for a minute until it cooled down a little bit.

The hot chocolate was good and creamy and all, but one problem was that it was just one big marshmallow. It would be better with small marshmallows then you can get some in every sip. With a big marshmallow you just have to let it dissolve and you don’t get a bit in every bite. The flavor - for some reason - felt like it had some cinnamon flavor but this is based on the reader’s point of view.

The bathrooms were not fancy - just modern. There were two bathrooms and I thought there was a men’s room and a women’s room. But they were just two vacant/in-use bathrooms.

This would probably not be a good place to have a party. First of all, not many bathrooms. Second of all, it just wouldn’t feel right inside… all the little details could annoy the people at the party (the hard chairs, the sticky tables). It would probably be good for like when you’re feeling a little thirst, but not for a water, and want a to-go drink.

You should try a croissant or baked good. Without one, you’re not fueled for the day. And you don’t have a taste of sweetness to wake up!

Overall (conclusion) there was a coffee show that was probably 2.80/3.00 that had an egg sandwich that was yummy and good hot chocolate.

Mom's Review: Let’s start with what really matters (and what really puts Fox in Snow on the map) the bakery. To be honest, this is not my first time here. The New Albany location, which we visited, as well as the Italian and German Village spots, are heavy on my rotation for work meetings. And, as far as the baked goods are concerned, I’ve never missed.

Usually I opt for the Ham & Cheese as my go-to, which is so rich and so buttery that the pocket-square sized bite satisfies like whole meal. But we showed up today about 45 minutes before closing, so choices were more limited. I tried the egg sandwich and instantly fell for the bread. The outside was nice and crunchy, the inside soft and warm. A light dijon cream blended into the melty cheese. The souffle egg was fluffy and fresh, unlike the freezer burn you’ll get at the chains.

EZ’s Strawberry Delight was also spot-on… there was a tangy custard hiding under the glazed berry that made for a surprising texture change. If for nothing other than the bakery, we both highly recommend.

That said, this is not a cafe designed for lingering. The chairs are hard and jammed in tight. WIth no cushions or carpets, the walls echo and sounds bang around. And there’s little stimulation for the littles (no art, no games, no intrigue on the other side of the windows). I’m tempted to say this palace is suited for business meetings, but really, it doesn’t seem all that welcoming there, either. The absence of wifi is noticeable in this day and age. There’s no lounging areas for a slower pace, and the family-style dining tables amplify the high-traffic feel with pretty routine guest turn-over.

There are some kid-friendly perks worth shouting out. They have high-chairs stacked by the back, which is perfect for the toddler crew. And the changing table in the restrooms is always a nice reassurance that the parents were considered.

Aesthetically, I’m always a sucker for the little details that make a place unique. The live trees growing between the tables (and the overabundance of live greens) seemed to be their “thing”, and I appreciated it. But there wasn’t much else to really differentiate the cafe from others in its price range.

The coffee is solid, always fresh. They have a rotating cast of beans, but no seasonal specialties or mixed brews. The only cold coffee feature is the New Orleans, which I like but have had a hard time nailing down flavor-wise (a quick google search suggests that my chicory instincts are correct).

Overall, it’s perfect if you’ve got 20 minutes and a light hunger. But I wouldn’t plan to bring kids for an extended stay.