Old Crown

Absolutely the best food in town. We love supporting local, and this place is so worth every dime and trip into the establishment. Coffee, the best! Service, top notch! Food, über yummy!

I like Crown Royal. I actually dated a boy by that name… like real government name… OK, back to the review ;-) Came here because I saw the light «Crown» in the window. A true Unilocaler Elite can’t pass something like that when exploring. I was hungry, need a drink and a patio, and Crown fit the bill. First, went inside to a cute coffee shop/​bar. It’s like a bar and coffee shop had a baby. The waitress came over and made sure I got food. The kitchen closed in 15 minutes upon my arrival, but the waitress ensured I was fed. I also got an Old Fashion, as I need something to do the job right. The waitress was willing to take my food and drink outside, then left me alone, which I needed.
Inside, I saw cute artwork on the walls for sale and the bartender having a class at the bar. Everyone and everything was on chill. Most of the customers knew each other and said goodbye with names. This is what I needed in this moment. A true chill spot.
Now outside, enjoying my food and drink, life is bliss. While the place sits off the street, the traffic was not too much. I had the Italian Grinder with the potatoes. Sooooo good. I thought I was not in the mood for a sandwich, but once I had the first bit, I was in love. All the food was fresh — bread, cheese, meats, greens — and you could tell.
Sometimes you need to get away to a chill spot and just «be». Crown is my new hideout in Da Fort when I’m in town. Dont change!

Reading the other reviews on Google, I just found out that this place doubles as a bar at night! Interesting!
Dunno about their beer and wine, but here goes about their coffee!
Two years ago, my sister and I were on a cross country trip through the Midwest. Our travels took us through many states and wherever we stopped, I’d google, «coffee shops near me» as I have a strong aversion to chain coffee shops.
We’ve never wanted to live in Indiana before that first sip of our Old Crown espresso drinks! What amazing taste! The miles between our homes and this coffee shop almost seemed worth the prize at the end of the road to come back!
Throughout the intervening two years, the name and location of this coffee shop were lost in the fog of memory. Having been to several coffee shops during the 10-​day jaunt, we couldn’t remember details but we’d reminisce every once in a while about the amazing coffee shop somewhere out east.
We could picture the surrounding, confusing parking lots where none connected to the other, the wrought-​iron around the front of the place and the small barrels of coffee beans immediately inside… could see the cool, artsy interior in our mind’s eye.
Fast forward two years and I’m once again on a cross country trip — with my children this time. We’ve been staying in Central Indiana for the last week and are heading to Michigan. Briefly the mental fog cleared and it seemed to me that the fabled coffee shop might reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Leaving Anderson, I put «coffee shop Ft Wayne IN» in my GPS and got about 9 hits. The minute I saw the name Old Crown, I knew I’d found it. I hoped I’d found it! I remember making an association with «old crown» and «old dominion,» the nickname of Virginia!
Now, why in the world I could remember those word associations vs. the name and location itself? Who knows. I’m old. My brain short circuits frequently!
And so I found myself once again getting lost in the parking lots, turning into the wrong one (the same wrong one as two years ago), snaking my way back out and into the right lot (two years ago, we pulled into a second wrong parking lot). I spied the wrought iron enclosure and knew that I’d come home.
As I walked into the interior and saw the small barrels still on display, I took a picture and texted it to my sister with a message that was a thinly veiled, «Nanner, nanner boo boo!»
Time and memory have not overstated the amazing espresso drinks they serve. If my experience with Old Crown were a fishing story, my fish wouldn’t have grown by leaps and bounds… in reality, I caught a whale!
All I can tell you is… you’ll never forget it. And it’s worth the 15 minutes off the highway to get here!

I haven’t had the food or alcoholic drinks but I’ve had the coffee. Whenever I drive by I have to stop and get coffee. Super hipster and trendy if that’s what you’re looking for. They can keep that part. Not to excited about that, especially if I need coffee. High five someone else. Best part-​Pinball machines in the back! \./

Got an excellent ham & swiss wrap here for lunch. Very tasty. Aside from my wishing it were a buck or two cheaper (and why do they charge you a dollar to toast it??? that should be standard), it was perfect.
PS. This place has a pretty cute interior, if you’re into that kinda thing.

Full bar with the best craft cocktails in town. Everyone that works there has always been 100%! Great, healthy food. Keep up the good work mike!

Good coffee at a great price plus unlimited refills! The food is also a good value while also being fresh and wholesome. No junk food served here!

Best all around establishment in Fort Waybe. Great coffee, superb food, fantastic cocktails. The staff is very knowledgeable.

This place is great. Weather you want a tasty sazerac, or a cup of fresh ground, they have you covered. The wraps were great. Pinball machines fun. The only thing I’d change is the fact that there is one guy/​girl on doing both coffee and alcohol. It got sort of backed up while I was there because of this. Other than that I’ll be going back soon.

Thank you for making our study group comfortable. I ordered a vegetable stew which was delicious… and nice man helped me figure out what beer i would like. Once I sat down to enjoy my stew an angel came out from the kitchen and asked me if I wanted fresh baked bread with my stew… Yes, please!

Best long island I’ve ever had. Also stellar coffee beans & brews. Amazing environment as well!

Old Crown was adorable. I was visiting Fort Wayne for work and we hit up many coffee shops while there (the fuel of the working class, no?). I really liked the eclectic interior and I would probably work here often if I lived in Fort Wayne.
I did have a couple of hiccups while I was there, though – nothing horrible, but the service flow at the counter can get pretty slow (there’s no streamlined process of where you put in your order and then follow through to pay) and they made my espresso con panna wrong and kind-​of sort-​of argued with me about what it was. They served me espresso with steamed whipping cream foam, which is *not* what it is, but the woman behind the counter was not receptive to me telling her that it was made incorrectly. She seemed like she might be new so I let it slide to lack of training; she wasn’t rude, she just didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to tell her. I decided not to drop the «I was a barista for three years so I know what that is, miss» line on her and just drink my espresso macchiato. She seemed a little stressed out and I didn’t want to add to it.
To be totally fair to their service, they did brew a whole new pot of iced tea for my friend and even let him pick the flavor. So they’re not super rude or anything. Just a bit under-​trained, maybe.
Still, it’s the kind of independent coffee shop where the hiccups don’t really affect the overall experience, if that makes sense at all. It feels homey in a cool kind of way. I don’t even mind that they’re a coffee shop/​bar/​restaurant, and usually that isn’t my thing at all.
This may not sound like a ringing endorsement for Old Crown, but if you think about it, if I have a fondness for this coffee shop despite being served the wrong drink and having to wait for a long time, there must be something special here, no? I’m looking forward to my next trip to Fort Wayne so I can stop in!

Obsessed. I was a die-​hard Firefly fan (and still am), but when I want an awesome cup of black coffee or a to-​die-​for latte, this is the place. Besides the tremendous coffee and coffee concoctions, the atmosphere and service are stellar. A must go-​to. Also, the food is amazing. Awesome wraps. Sometimes they have 3 Floyd’s Zombie Dust, and that also makes me happy :) Go immediately. And then go every day after for your daily caffeine fix (or your daily tea fix — they make the most amazing almond milk chai tea).

Old Crown catches you off guard. Is it a coffee shop or a bar? Well it is both! (YAY!) I greatly enjoy their brews and usually stick to the house brew or whatever brew of the day they have going. Staff is very knowledgeable about the coffee and they offer beans to sell. Looks like they have a stellar selection.
As far as the menu goes, I have not ventured out past the wraps. They have a wide variety. I always feel healthy when ordering lunch or a snack here. The wraps do not come with a side– i wish they did– even just a pickle would be awesome!
Free wifi and you won’t be the only person lap toppin’ away for a few hours if that’s what you are looking for. I would post up a lot in between classes at IPFW, usually accompanied by a strong coffee and tears from 30 page papers. Okay maybe not visible tears but they were there. Great coffee shop for the student or professor to break away from campus.
I have heard Old Crown is a super cool spot for a Sunday Funday. I look forward to experiencing that side of this hot spot in the North Anthony Corridor.

Unilocal Review: Old Crown 2015-​10-​09
On Friday, October 9 2015 I checked in on Unilocal at Old Crown on North Anthony. It is safe for me to say that I have crossed a culinary threshold or gone through what one may call an epicurean epiphany: my mind is blown.
Old Crown is one of the best kept secrets of Fort Wayne Indiana. Located on North Anthony Boulevard near the Belmont Beverage, Firefly Café, and the natural foods store, Old Crown has the triumvirate of taste delights that one must simply come and enjoy to truly appreciate:
1) best coffee in Fort Wayne (I will be writing a separate review for this)
2) excellent food at prices that are incredibly reasonable – «incroyable!» as the French would exclaim.
3) easily the best bar drinks and THE BEST bartending skills I have ever witnessed.
My review will focus on the bar first and then the food.
The Power of Passion: the Bar
When I was dining at Old Crown, I sat at the bar. There are two things I enjoy doing as a diner: I like to watch the bartender work; additionally, I like to watch the kitchen staff work – if there is an opportunity to watch the chefs work, I do it (it makes me nostalgic about my time cooking in a kitchen a long, long time ago). On this particular night, I watched Chris (I hope I am spelling his name correctly) do his bartending.
Before I begin my critique of Old Crown, I would like to expound on my frustrations with bartending. Unfortunately, idiotic movies such Coyote Ugly or so-​called «bartender championships» have reduced bartending to the form of flailing and flipping of bottles rather than the art that it truly is. Similarly, too many bartenders nowadays are simply are waiters who have moved themselves up behind the bar to make more money by mixing drinks and getting «tipped out» or by simply gaining customers’ tips by over pouring drinks with the intention (and the encouragement of the patron) to send their customers to a happy state of inebriation at the sacrifice of the refinements and flavors of a truly mixed drink.
In complete and utter contrast, Chris at Old Crown is a craftsman in all aspects of what he does. The drinks that are served there are pretty much originals and they are good: we were listening to the names of the drinks being made and reading the specialty drink menu and then trying to reference them to some of the bartending recipe websites and found – not to our surprise – these are unique and original to Old Crown.
That said, Chris’ meticulous attention to detail was impressive to me. Drinks were made correctly: things were measured out; the correct tools were utilized; the precise amount of «shakes» of the handmade and craft-​made bitters were employed accordingly; the chilling of the correct glasses was done precisely; the cutting and preparation of the garnishes, zest, and fruits were done on a cutting board and shaped; tools – like the twisted spoon – and the all-​important shaker were employed. I have not seen anyone bar tend with this level of precision, consistency, and care for the product as was the case here. My recommendation is that anyone who reads this review and enjoys the subtleties of crafted mixed drinks should go to Old Crown and enjoy what this bar and this bartender have to offer.
I think what set this apart to me too was that the restaurant was exceedingly busy on the night I was in there and yet – to my utter surprise – the bartender (as well as the chefs – because I watched them too) never once cut a corner. Drinks during «the rush» were just as measured out and specifically refined as they were when things were not as frantic. In the restaurant industry, this is an admirable aberration and it makes Old Crown worthy as the best bar in Fort Wayne.
We had a «Bourbon Sprawl» (pictured below) which was excellent. I also tried a «St. Elmo’s Vesper» as well which was refreshing and delicious. They also make a limoncello in house (pictured below as well).
The Bourbon Spraw
Limoncello
I was also very impressed with the liquor selections. I had two drinks served «neat» (basically served straight and meant for direct sipping). The first was a «Hibiki,» a Japanese whiskey that was so smooth and delicious. The second was Lock, Stock, and Barrel whiskey which became smoother and smoother as I reached the bottom of my glass. Any liquor (of any sort) connoisseur should come to Old Crown and explore the «spiritual» experience offered there.
The Constant State (and opportunity) of Change: the Food
Disclaimer: if you are the type of diner that goes to a place over and over again because they always have the same things – they always have «old reliable» dishes that you can fall back upon just in case you are not sure, Old Crown is NOT the place for you. On the other hand, if you are the type of person who appreciates diversity, experimental freshness, and a focus on creating great food with what is on hand, then Old Crown is EXACTLY the place for you. Rest assured, Jeremy, the chef, will make whatever

Old Crown is not terribly easy to find. Some employees are friendly and some were not. Service was slow. It was a bit confusing when walking in because there is one place to order and another to pay and then a full bar. We weren’t sure whether to seat ourselves or oder at the counter. The wraps were very good and so was the coffee. The coffeehouse/​bar vibe just wasn’t for me. Plus I think they are way overpriced.

Oh yeah! Score another one for Unilocal!Came up to Fort Wayne for our daughter graduation. We are having family in from a far. And having a couple of hours to kill decided to check out Unilocal. We were needing a place close to the coliseum.
My wife and I arrived in town early to check some place out. We selected Old Crown. Tried it for dinner and it was awesome. Food was great had the NY strip YUM YUM! My wife desired the bread pudding, so we had to have it. After 33 years of marriage. What can I say and yes the bread pudding was awesome!
It is kind of a hole I the wall, that said the ambiance is unique and quant. The aroma that filled the room when someone poured the coffee beans into a hopper was erotically divine, you have to love coffee to appreciate!
Defiantly worth the stop!

This quaint little gem of a coffee bar, full service liquor bar/​deli was a delightful lunch experience. The wrap I had was bar good and modestly priced. The atmosphere was really cool and the place had a great aroma of coffee. Service was nice, but once again found my self having trouble paying my Bill when I wanted to leave. I think they were just under staffed the day I went, I have half a mind to go back and have a cocktail tonight.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a reuben sandwich that was truly bitey enough (most places tend to sell bland kraut, which is truly a sad thing) and had the texture of corned beef that got that «just right» feeling. My first reuben at Old Crown today (simple– no sides, just a delightfully toasted sandwich for $ 6.45) was AMAZING. I was totally happy with the consistency, balance of flavors and subtly crunchy rye bread. By the time I finished, I realized that there had been a subtle spiciness to the sauerkraut and meat that made the overall experience very warming. Big thumbs up!
I’ve been going to Old Crown for the past couple years on and off, since it’s located adjacent to the IPFW campus and provides a lovely environment for studying, writing papers or reading. The coffee has always been good– and since they roast their own beans for sale regularly, there is often a delightful smell hanging in the air.
From the outside, the place is small and fairly nondescript– unless you know what you’re looking for, as an unaware traveler passing by you would never know it was there. some reviews have cited this as a negative aspect, but I’ve always found it charming. The inside is laid out well and features warm burnt tones– earthy themed orange/​yellow. There are plenty of small tables available for people to get work done, and although there are constantly conversations and music playing, it is one of the few coffee shops where it isn’t overwhelming or distracting– I rarely put headphones in. This is a pretty big deal, since I can rarely do homework at Starbucks without getting annoyed by the music.
My favorite recently has been the Bourbon infused chai– I strongly recommend trying it! the bartenders/​baristas are always very helpful in suggesting things to try without being 1) annoyed by your uncertainty or 2) condescending. They offer straight up ideas that have invariably turned out to be high on my list of favorites.
I could keep going on, but I think it’s best not to get overly wordy– just do yourself a favor and make Old Crown of Fort Wayne a destination spot!

Old crown coffee roasters is a small one story building with a blue and yellow awning near Belmont Beverage and the Jamison Meats store. They sell a small selection craft beer by the bottle and on tap– yes at a coffee house. They also sell food and T shirts. Chris and Mike are the beer guys. The beer in the bottle in hidden in cold cases behind the counter and there is also a couple taps.
They were pretty busy when I came in– I guess with that selection you really have something for everyone. The building is hard to find since there is not a clear sign– I had to call to make sure I was at the right place. Plenty of parking and nice service.