Serj Books & Local Food

They have a good latte. They have some cool books. I really enjoyed their selection. Their joke of the day was a great touch as their tables ready to be used for painting/​coloring. Yes, you read that right. The best thing about the place was the staff. Super friendly.

The owner is very personable and funny as he tells you the joke of the day and then takes your order. The atmosphere is nice and a bit quirky. The food options are solid and we found the sandwiches to be tasty and creative. The kale/​cranberry slaw was a nice surprise.

Good food, good drinks, good wifi, friendly and helpful staff. The tables in the front room have papers tablecloths and crayons are provided, in case you’d rather doodle than work. Or for an impromptu game of tic-​tac-​toe. Downtown Dallas could use more places like this.
They’ve got some books on mini-​shelves on the walls for sale here, which certainly helps imbue the café with an even more literary feel than the typical café.
It’s conveniently located steps away from the free M-​line trolley, so if you’re on, step off and check it out.
The grilled veggie sandwich I tried was good, but lacked something, so next time I’d probably try another one of their sandwiches. The soup was yummy.

Everything is great here. My favs are turkey chili, spicy brisket sandwich and the coleslaw. Service is excellent and who doesn’t want to hear the joke of the day?
Highly recommend.

Looking for some lunch or coffee in downtown Dallas? Then be sure to drop by Serj. You’ll have to look hard in order to find it, but you’ll be rewarded when you do. With its quirky interior and equally quirky (and very friendly) owner who has a new joke to tell you every day, you’ll feel comfortable right away. Their coffee’s great and worth a visit on its own, but if you feel hungry, any of their soups, salads or sandwiches will fill you up while being a delight to your tongue. And if you’re so satisfied that you want to stay longer, Serj sells books to keep you company. Needless to say, we’d be here a lot if we lived in Dallas; we arrived hungry, but left satisfied and smiling.

I think he was the owner– but he was very sweet!
He knew that I was in town for a few days and gave me a lot of recommendations for a few bars + museums + shows to see in the area! He also told me to take the free M-​train to look around Dallas! :)
Anyway, besides the great and kind service– I really enjoyed the Chai Tea Latte (it was very sweet and tasted… very good! I don’t know what they put in it… but yum!) and I liked looking around at the small selection of local books that they had here!
Would definitely recommend this coffee/​tea shop =) And I’m looking forward to coming again whenever I visit!

I can’t think of any other coffee place in town that has the right combination of excellent coffee, delicious baked goods and food, character, and cause without any pretense. They even have no sugar added soy milk among regular milk options. The owner and baristas are knowledgeable about their coffee as they are accommodating to customer requests. They really try to get to know you as you become a regular of the establishment.
I highly recommend Serj if you’re in the downtown area. There is meter parking on the streets or park at lots nearby and walk to explore. Downtown is pretty safe during the day.

Great place for artwork, books and coffee and lunch. Corny jokes but fun atmosphere. Hidden gem I think.

Coffee was not good. No less then an eighth of an inch of grounds on the bottom of the cup. The dark roast coffee did not appear to be dark at all. Poorly made? Bad beans? either way bad. Cool spot liked the way they displayed the books. The art on the walls seemed a bit needed. «oh please like me, we’re funky». The employees were all nice and I like the silly joke they tell when conducting your transaction. Anyway, the most important thing is the coffee and it was gross. I was the first customer of the day and the coffee was already bad. Not a great way to start.

Incredibly over priced. I got a small cup of broccoli cheese soup and was charge $ 6.50! I don’t even think I was served a full cup! The guy taking orders doesn’t even tell you the amount total for your order. I’ve been here several times, now that they’ve added sandwiches the wait is much longer and much pricier.

I lived in Dallas for a year, with this place across the street from my apartment. I miss this place so much! Good coffee, delicious cookies, and snort-​worthy jokes. I used to work around the corner, and groups would take daily trips to Serj. They expanded their menu to include delicious sandwiches, and oh that grilled cheese is to die for.
It’s a bit on the pricier side, but it’s because they source high quality local food. This place was my best way of supporting local business. They have an array of tasty teas that you can get hot or iced and customized to your sweetness level.
You can get a cuppa coffee and hang out here all day. They recently opened up the back room, which has 3 large tables, a bunch of chairs, and two projectors. We’ve had a work conference or two here, and many walk and talk meetings. There’s wi-​fi, ice water, and ample seating. Oh, and if you have a good joke to share, he’ll take your name and share it with the world.

You must go here! I will be recommending it to everyone I know. I travel a lot for my job and wherever I go, I always scope out a local café to retreat to during my stay. Fellow Unilocalers did not steer me wrong.
Service is top notch. Everyone makes you feel at home and they go out of their way to give you a good experience.
I was recommended the black currant tea which was amazing! Their tea blends are truly unique and are quality! They even confirmed with me the steep time of the tea. I like my tea with no sugar, so I can taste the tea blend purely, and the black current is highly recommended! No artificial taste! That tea is in my top five, for sure!
I also got a ginger molasses cookie on my way out, for a sweet ending. Wow, another good choice. I just don’t think you can make any bad choices here.
So do you feel like going somewhere for a nice treat, like a coffee, tea, dessert, or food? How about a place where you get treated with kindness? Well, don’t wait another second. This is the place you gotta go!

Pretty much the coolest bookstore café ever. Delicious fresh, local ingredients and a simple but versatile menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, baked goods, coffee, and tea. Great baristas who will greet you with a smile and the «joke of the day,» then advise you to «stay out of trouble, okay?» on the way out. Their coffee is as good as the service, plus they offer almond and soy along with cow milk and cream.
I got the grilled vegetable salad with chicken breast and their homemade sweet orange vinaigrette, and it was delicious in addition to being fresh and leaving me energized and not heavy-​feeling.
There are books all over the walls to peruse, plus the bookstore itself I’m addition to the café, making this place a true gem. I’m so glad I found it during my short trip! I’ll definitely be back if I return to Dallas.

Coming to Serj Books was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect coming in, all I knew was that I was extremely indecisive, hungry for something healthy, and in absolute need of some caffeine. I walked in and was immediately addressed with «Hi, welcome to Serj Books! Want to hear a joke?» And after my super stressful 8am-​11pm shift the night before. I could definitely use some cheeriness so I replied with a yes, and that was the start of an absolutely amazing new beginning.
Their menu consisted of many sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and also BBQ, but they tried to accommodate me because I’ve been trying to stick to my diet again and avoid fatty breads and entrees. I ordered The Other Salad with chicken and it was so good! It came with spinach, almonds, strawberries, peppers and an orange vinaigrette. The vinaigrette was not overly sweet and fit perfectly with the other components and I had a nonfat Vanilla Latte that was strong and smooth!
I spent a while studying for Psychology here, and occasionally John (not sure if he was the owner or just an employee) would check on me. He asked me how I was doing and if I was having fun, I replied «uhhh not really I hate studying…», so he told me a psychology joke «How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb» «Just one but the lightbulb has to really want to change.» HAHA!
I had such a wonderful experience here, and after studying I looked at their unique collection of books, and every one of them seemed to have an effect of making me stop and go through them. They were definitely hand selected to capture customer’s attention.
They have two sections, one that is kind of a dark loungey area, and one section that is very cute, quaint and slightly hipster. I liked the little area because it had a kids section, which since I’m such a kid at heart, I will be back to color and dine over there, but this time i sat at the wooden tables to study.
I also noticed some men come in that weren’t from around town, and John took the time to make them a list of places to visit. He formulated the list based on their personal interests by asking them what they like to do, if they drink, what they like to eat, etc and I thought that was such a nice thing to do.
This is one of the best cafes I have gone to, and I’ve been to a lot! I love their quirk, style, and customer service, and I definitely will be back! Best quality in my opinion was their personalities! Jokes are kind of their thing and I think that their jokes are cheesy, yet adorable. Thanks for the wonderful experience John and other employees, and thanks for brightening someone’s day!

Nice people, and the owner was ready with a joke very early in the morning.
Coffee was above your average Starbucks, but didn’t have the complexity of flavor to make it exceptional.

This is really a cool, quaint and quirky café! I love that its in the heart of the city, and has sunlit seating, but I LOVE the customer service! They tell jokes (corny, but funny) & they are super sweet! I had a glorious pb&j and it was truly glorious! I now make all my pb&j sandwiches like they do lol
They have a lot of small books on artists and famous historical events that you can check out & tables that you can draw on during your stay.

Coolest little bookstore and coffee shop! The owner was friendly, helpful and funny.
Eclectic and fun… I enjoyed the espresso and book small, interesting book selection.

Serj is a book store, coffee shop, event space and café all rolled into one. And is freaking fabulous! The space is right downtown and I stumbled upon it while coming from lunch next-​door at Madhatter’s Café (also a great find). As as I was outside debating whether I was going to go for a mid-​afternoon espresso drink, a patron nudged me to check out the space saying «It’s a great spot. Worth checking out.» I obliged. He was spot on. For a couple of bucks I had one of the best dirty chais ever, not too sweet and well-​balanced.
To top it off, the community vibe here was remarkable. The counter has a sign that advertises «coffee and jokes» and the owner will greet you and tell you at least one or two cheesy but funny jokes. It’s so simple how a little laugh can really make a difference. We made small talk and he informed me that they have been open since last Fall. They have books shelved throughout, tables covered in paper with crayons and markers on display to «leave your mark.» and pastries and sandwiches for a quick bite. In the back is an intimate space that the owner told me is reserved for small book clubs, jam sessions, etc. They are even hosting a small wedding there this summer! He allowed us to go in the back and explore, even though some of it was still under construction. The mural was really cool.
Serj is the definition of a great local business. Great service, awesome biz owner, beautiful inviting space and local products. I can’t wait to return and support.

As you can easily derive from its name, milk is a key factor in creating the ideal latte. The texture and taste can make or break the drink, and can set one coffee shop’s latte miles above the rest. If you’re searching for a quality $ 4 latte in Dallas, Serj Books uses fresh milk from a farm in Waco, and does not disappoint!
Serj Books has something for everyone. If you are stopping by to relax or hang out with friends, some of the tables are covered with white paper and a cup of crayons for you to doodle with, and there are shelves around the space with fun books to read (mostly about art). If you’re hoping to study, the shop offer free wi-​fi and a quiet, chill atmosphere. As an added bonus, the owner offers everyone a solid punny joke of the day when they walk in.
I don’t live in Dallas, but I’ll keep returning whenever I’m in town.

The brick 1960 Hartford building in downtown Dallas houses a dowdy uninspired food court of cheap cafes for the business day crowd. Cramped next to a grimy busy train stop doesn’t help the atmosphere, but maybe «Serj» will pave the way for more interesting retail flora downtown.
«Wanna hear a joke?» The owner lovingly coddled with a schticky geekiness.
«Sure» I engaged.
He went on patiently pleased with a few jokes until I actually got one. Then we chatted for about 15 minutes about New York (where he’s from), Dallas’ current evolution as a city, art, and his plans for his coffee shop which he runs with his peaceful bright wife.
This guys a character, warm and smart with his wife playing the «straight man» to his easy to love extroversion.
Serj has a cool logo, with the interior wallpapered in raw lumber and coffee filtered to order in mini Chem flasks. A few art books are on display and the back room is under construction as a combo art gallery, debate arena, and music stage. He claimed their food was locally sourced, although I couldn’t find a posted menu, or a trash can.
He has a vision. This place feels unfinished and it is, but that’s ok. With his purported 20 year lease — they will have time to grow.
«People are afraid to talk here.» He explained referring to Dallas and his interest in conducting public debates in the space.
Serj has something to say, and I’m listening.