Next let’s talk about customer service. I was greeted by a sweet lady at Cardinal who was super helpful. I could tell that she was a bit nervous, but she went out of her way to help me find what I needed and I really appreciated it. At Nervous Dog, I was greeted by two kind, humorous and knowledgeable gentlemen. They were able to help me navigate the menu well and made sure to explain things to me if I was confused. Though their attention was divided and they didn’t inform me that they were only accepting cards until after I made the order, I feel those were very minor issues.  Overall, based on their customer service, I am going to go with Nervous Dog. 

Both cafes had excellent variety. Nervous Dog’s drink menu had unique names and some fascinating choices, not the average coffee shop selection, and it kept me interested. The food and bakery section was minimal and not incredibly diverse, so I was bummed. Cardinal had a pleasing selection of ordinary coffee shop staples, with a separate board of new seasonal drinks and foods that did not fail to impress. Cardinal also has a vast selection of baked goods and they all looked so good. Based on the variety, I believe Cardinal takes this one. 

Next let’s talk about the layout and flow of the cafés. Cardinal’s location is easily accessible, and easy to navigate, but they have a very small parking lot that they share with other businesses. They serve their drinks out of a separate serving window, though, and that makes it easy for people to order and wait for their items without getting in the way. That window also leads into a separate room, perfect for studying or hanging out. 

Nervous Dog is in Montrose, which tends to be very busy, but the cafe has a larger parking lot to work with. Inside, customers order on one side of the bar, the baristas make the order in front of them, and it comes out on the other side. The flow works and everyone goes in one continuous direction. However, there could be a backup of people waiting on drinks that could result in confusion due to Nervous Dog’s smaller space. Also, there is seating surrounding the line for ordering and where the drinks are served, and it might bother some seated customers to have others shuffling and talking nearby. Overall, I prefer how Cardinal navigated this. 

Let's talk about taste. I first got a regular house blend coffee from both establishments (with cream and sugar). Cardinal’s was a bit stronger and tasted good, but Nervous Dog’s was smoother and had a better flavor. Nervous Dog’s blend was my favorite. 

I then got a chocolate muffin from both establishments. Nervous Dog’s was light and fluffy and had white chocolate chips within the batter, which was very pleasant and blended well with the chocolate flavor. Cardinal’s presentation was impressive compared to Nervous Dog’s. The muffin itself was super chocolatey and richly indulgent. I had to go with Cardinal on this one, but I really enjoyed Nervous Dog’s creativity on such a common baked good. 

Lastly, I asked both places for a drink that expresses them in a cup—something they're known for, something that is unique to them, something crazy, a fan-favorite—and they met the expectation. Cardinal served me a “Cardinal Cappuccino,” which was a raspberry, caramel and coffee beverage. It was unexpectedly pleasant, with an interesting blend of flavors, not too sweet, and quite good.

Nervous Dog served me a “Chihuahua”, which was an espresso, dark chocolate and chili drink. It was an adventure of flavor: an initial chocolatey flavor, then the chili bite, then a coffee aftertaste. The drink was not as sweet as I expected, but still interesting. I really appreciated the diverse and creative flavor profile, but I don’t see it as something I would order again. Overall, based on the taste of the items, I liked Cardinal more.

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar and Cardinal Cakes & Coffee are two cafes that have taken the Copley-Fairlawn area by storm with their fantastic flavors and varieties of baked goods and drinks. They both serve as nice places to relax, get some coffee, study and more. I have an immense appreciation for local businesses like these, and they both truly impressed me. Cardinal has the flavors of their menu down well, yet Nervous Dog is killing it with creativity. 

It was a close call, as I really enjoy both of these places, but the overall winner based on ambience, customer service, variety, restaurant flow and taste is Cardinal Cakes & Coffee. I was very impressed with the flavors they offered, and I love the feel and location of their shop. I highly applaud and recommend both of these cafes though, as they both proved their strengths and left me astounded and craving more. Go support your local coffee shops!

Cardinal Cakes & Coffee

265 S Cleveland Massillon Rd

Copley, OH 44321

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar

3763 W Market St, Suite C

Fairlawn, OH 44333