Tuscany At 360

Always helpful, very quick arrival time counter and extremely nice outside sitting area but gas lines can be kinda long.

Bad experience #141, prompting another review.
I work in the area and visit this store a few times a week. The convenience store portion is full of passive aggressive employees (who can blame them right, they deal with Westlake people and people who work on the HOMES of Westlake people all day).
1.) POS selections don’t work properly, if you select Debit/​Credit before the cashier has a chance to ask you if you’d like Credit/​Debit the transaction fails and they become even more unhappy with their lives, except now it’s your fault.
2.) Even if the POS works properly, you’ll probably receive an obligatory snipe from your hispanic cashier as you finish your transaction, just to make sure you know they hate serving you (I suspect this is just a racism thing, again I blame the location).
Long story short, if you’re in a tolerant mood, get in and out quickly. If you’re in a homicidal mood, it’s probably best to wait for the next gas station, it’s the only one out here and they know you don’t have any other options.

Convenience store with Austin Java, 30 different types of beer and a larger wine selection than most grocery stores? You know you’re in Westlake…

Tuscany is closed… And under construction or something. Now, it’s the Austin Java on the patio. Come in through the convince store and you will see it.

I learned of this location from a friend when I was looking for a coffee shop with a nice couch. I was having a coffee date with a few friends and we wanted to be comfortable. We arrived to find we were the only ones out on the patio. We arranged the couch so we had a beautiful view of the sunset while being able to enjoy each others company in a somewhat romantic fashion.
The location is inside a gas station but don’t be fooled. Go out back and enjoy the scenery on the outdoor balcony with the leather couch and small intimate tables.

Good mocha. Bathroom filthy. What good is a classy convenience store with granite counters and whatnot, if all of it is dirty? And I mean everything… toilet seat, sink, counter, floor even had dust bunnies as if it hadn’t been mopped in quite some time. Please clean the place so we can enjoy our coffee without being grossed out!

Who woulda thunk this little gem was hiding out right off of 360!
Apparently they brought back the comfy seating and great atmosphere.
You’re not allowed to drink beer or wine on the balcony, but we settled for a lovely chai tea and hot chocolate (it’ was summer time but we’re silly kids).
Anywho, the main convenience store is open until midnight, or 11? It’s got quite a variety of wines and several ciders and beer. The coffee shop is open until about 7 in the summer. The outside porch doesn’t really have any fans (they’re really slow) but it’s still a wonderful place to watch the sunset.
I can’t wait to cuddle up with a warm drink when it gets chilly outside. :)

This is a very preliminary two star, down from four. This morning (12÷3÷11) when I came in for breakfast and chai, I found that the new owners removed all the great furniture on the back patio as well as inside that has made this such a great place to hang out. Instead, there are a few cheap-​looking and less comfortable tables and chairs. I hope they have something much better than this planned for the long term, or they’re going to see a rapid drop in business.

Espresso: very good at its best, but inconsistent; latte microfoam could use some work
Wi-​fi: very good
Outlets: good
Seating: very good comfortable chairs and tables
Café: quite nice pseudo-​Tuscan feel, with indoor and semi-​outdoor seating; beautiful views!
Baristi: very friendly and competent, but I’m not a fan of the push-​button automatic espresso machines (a la ‘Bucks)
Notes: yes, it’s a gas station/​convenience store, but if you’re looking for wonderful views of Austin hillsides and forests, with a clean workspace, this is a great choice

Tonight, I had a great experience at this coffee shop and store. It was 5 min. before the coffee shop was closed and Billy, the barista, greeted me like I was the first customer of the day. I ask if they were still open and without hesitation he said «Sure, what can I get you.» I ordered, «An iced, caramel awesome caffeinated beverage.» Billy was more than happy to make it up quick and it was absolutely the best iced coffee I’ve ever had. As he described, it tasted like the caramel candies I used to eat as a kid.
Will go back!
And the gentleman working the register in the «Wag-​a-​bag» portion of the store was equally as outstanding.

The coffee/​tea/​wine selection is good to great.
The attendants in the store and café are friendly and attentive.
The fly in the ointment is the parking and getting in and out for gas. It can be a tad tight and because of the beautiful view and convient location off of 360, people like to meet here. This makes parking a bear!!!

I was looking for some caffeine, and a view while I did some studying, and Tuscany at 360 delivered.
I was not expecting a gas station to be this nice. The coffee was decent, better than your average gas station. But on a day with nice weather, the patio is a great place to hang out.

Sometimes on a hot summer afternoon I just have to have a coke slurpee. So today we were on our way home driving on 360, and stopped in at Tuscany just to see if they had them. I told my husband I’d always been curious about this place anyway, as there are always cars out front.
Not only did they have coke slurpees, but the nice cashier told us about the great deck out back, and said that during football season they show the games on the television screens out there. Wow – what a view!
The little café had the basics, but it looks like a great place to be for a light breakfast on a cool morning, or for a glass of wine on a warm evening. We definitely plan to return!

My first visit here involved a complicated order of an apple pie loaf, a double, espresso, and a glass of pinot. The apple pie loaf was a bit disappointing, but the espresso and the pinot were both just fine. The view from the back patio is stunning. On my way out, I bought a couple scratch off lotto tickets. I didn’t win.
Truly, this is the best café-​bar-​gas station I’ve ever been to.

I got a tall black coffee, tall double vanilla latte, and a breakfast taco for about $ 6.50. BEAT THAT STARBUCKS!
I went through the drive-​thru. Easy, prompt, pleasant experience. My taco (egg, cheese, and potato) wasn’t that great, but I ate the whole thing nonetheless.
On Fridays they give you an extra shot for free. :)

«Let’s meet at this gas station I love.» she said.
We scratched our heads. It was a glorious day, there are hundreds of outdoor patio options in town at which to meet, why on earth would she suggest a gas station?
Nevertheless, it was close to our home, we were fired up to meet and discuss the next steps in the rebuilding of our home/​lives, and we always look forward to her company, so we ventured out.
Holy crap. It IS the most unreal gas station /​convenience store in Austin, perhaps the country.
Walk past the racks of «like new» golf balls and bags of pork rinds, to find a wonderfully secluded, spacious covered patio overlooking the Texas hills. Facing west, no less, perfect for relaxing and watching the big gas ball wane.
We sat on comfy couches and chairs, almost alone the entire time, viewing plans, drawings, and schedules. Reasonably priced glasses of wine kept appearing with regularity.
We ended up calling friends and telling them they HAD to come see this gas station. Their reaction over the phone was much as ours had been, and likewise, upon arriving they had their «holy crap» moment.
Staying until the darkness had come, we decided that Tuscany at 360 needs to be on our list of sunset spots for visitors. No more grumbling visits to that paean to excess and crap food named the Oasis. This place is close, has a spectacular view, and the people who run it are nice.
A finer late afternoon I cannot imagine.

Completely love this place! My perfect pit stop after dropping my son off at school and heading off to work. Since the downturn in the economy I started making my coffee at home or occasionally stopping at McDonalds for a McCafe Mocha (I know I know… not exactly the best espresso). But since finding this place I’m back to my $ 4/​day coffee… much to my husband shagrin.
Coffee/​espresso is great!, yummy muffins and breakfast tacos, comfortable seating, the most splendid view from the patio ever… I just love sipping my coffee or wine while looking out over the Texas Hill Country. Everything is great about this place… except…
Except for the coffee lids!!! They crack right at the sipper before I even make it to work (less than 5min) which has caused a number of dry cleaning excursions over the past few weeks.
Other than that… loves it!

Wine tasting event.
12 wines + appetizers + great patio + good friends = $ 10
Best combo gas station/​convenience store/​coffee shop/​wine bar in all of Austin.
Need I say more?

One of my new favorite perches to work from. If you’re looking for a good latte and a cozy spot to settle in for awhile, this works. The pastries come in fresh every night, so if there’s not much left you got there too late! Rolling hills view from the huge Italian-​tiled deck, two large screen TVs outside, comfortable tables and sofas. There’s not much room inside for bad weather lap-​topping and it doesn’t have the keep-​it-​weird funk I crave for coffee shop inspiration, but how can you say no to this view? (see pictures) There’s a drive-​through if you’re in a hurry, and they have wine tastings — ask to sign up and they’ll send you the dates.
Update Nov 2o12: Tuscany no longer serves wine in the coffee shop or on the balcony.

What I have seen here:
1. They have their liquor license, and they are using it: I was served a glass of wine while sitting on the back deck enjoying free wi-​fi and the million dollar view. By far the best «bar» that is not a bar.
2. Gas prices are down, and this includes my favorite gas station:
1÷05÷09 update:
1.499 Regular
1.649 Plus
1.799 V-​Power
2.199 Diesel
10/​12/​2008
3.199 Regular
3.359 Plus
3.499 V-​Power
3.759 Diesel
3. The large back deck with the million dollar view is a great place for large gatherings. Seating for 34: Boyscout troop #1234 came to listen to a presentation by their troop leaders. About 20 boys and about 3 leaders and then 6 – 7 other parents. I was sitting inside watching them and i felt sorry for the gay one. He thought he was in hog heaven.
4. A big smile on my parent’s face as they walked through the doors to the million dollar view at 9:00 at night. with a glass of wine in their hands. and they thought we stopped for gas.
5. A women’s book club meeting (about 12) all seated around a large table and drinking wine.
What I have not seen here:
1. Real food. How about an Italian meal served with a glass of wine?
2. Any semblance of respect for the original architect’s design: retail has indeed taken over. The steel metro shelving appears cheap and temporary and it is the first thing you see upon entering. Initially, they had the front doors open to a wall fountain across the room, however, this axis has been abandoned for a metal shelf full of fig newtons and Big Jims.
3. New signage: Seattle’s Best is going to become Austin’s Best or somesuch alteration that has us embrace the local coffee shop.
Here’s a toast… to Hog Heaven!