Dish & Drink KC: Triple-dip at Third Space Coffee, Ten & Two, and Quentin’s BBQ & Sides in Bonner Springs
Pretty in Pink at Third Space Coffee.// Photo by Lauren Textor
Third Space Coffee
Third Space Coffee, like so many Kansas City businesses, is part of a greater love story. Married couple Amy and Bill opened Third Space in 2017 to create a community space for people to meet and spend time together outside of work or home. Unfortunately, Bill died in a motorcycle accident in 2020, but Amy was able to keep their business open with the help of the community they gathered together.
At Third Space, items are baked in-house with locally sourced ingredients. There’s a bookcase of free-to-read literature, and it only costs $1 to take home. Local artists, including Bonner Springs illustrator Grace Aldrich, are featured on the walls. There’s even a small play space with a child-sized picnic table and kitchenette—perfect for entertaining toddlers while working remotely.
This year, Third Space has some sweet events on the horizon and a special drink menu for the lovers in your life.
Their Valentine’s Day-themed specials include the Hunka Hunka Burning Love (a strawberry mocha), the Pretty in Pink (a mocha cold brew topped with strawberry foam and chocolate shavings), a Maple Brown Sugar drink that can be hot or iced, and the ACV Tonic (apple cider vinegar, cayenne, cinnamon, and ginger honey mixed in a pepper health tonic).
The foam atop the Pretty in Pink ($5.75) is unexpectedly thick—almost like a layer of strawberry cream cheese. It’s surprising but not unpleasant. However, if the texture gives you the ick, simply let your drink sit for a few minutes until the foam dissolves into the chocolatey goodness below.
Third Space is teaming up with Vesta Joy Floral to offer “Love You a Latte.” Until Feb. 1, you can pre-order a coffee and small bouquet combo for Valentine’s Day pickup. It’s $13 for one drink with flowers or $20 for two drinks with flowers.
There’s no shortage of confectionary delights in Bonner Springs this month. The downtown area is hosting a free chocolate crawl on Feb. 8 from 4-7 p.m., where participants can fill a goodie bag with sweets from local businesses. The sip and shop begins at Perry & Trent Law Office at 123 Oak St. Can’t make it? No worries! Historic Downtown Bonner Springs hosts a sip and shop monthly.
Third Space Coffee is located at 226 Oak St., Bonner Springs, KS 66012.
Drunken Mocha at Ten & Two Coffee. // Photo by Lauren Textor
Ten & Two Coffee
Ten & Two inhabits the 100-year-old building formerly known as the Tiblow Mill alongside a colorful cast of local businesses. These include The Fuel House (an automotive country club), Outfield Beer Co., the Olde Mill Ice Cream Shop, Grip’N’Rip KC (virtual golfing and collectibles), and Quentin’s BBQ & Sides. Ten & Two serves coffee, cocktails, house-brewed beer, and… coffee-cocktails.
Are they uppers? Are they downers? Does it matter?
The $8 Drunken Mocha is basically a dessert. If you find me ordering this, assume I’ve clocked out for the day (although I will continue to take Dish-and-Drinkable photos regardless). While I could still taste the alcohol, it was mostly swallowed up by the flavor of chocolate—this is my definitive preference. After half, I started telling my mom, “Let’s just go home and take a nap now.”
Boozy Boba at Ten & Two Coffee. // Photo by Lauren Textor
For $9, you can add a shot of your choice to a boba drink. I highly recommend a combination of Malibu and passion fruit, which is dangerously smooth and delicious. It’s perfect for sipping while watching the kids play lawn games in the space provided next to the outdoor patio.
Inside, the lounge has a small stage for the live music acts that often play throughout the week. There’s a pool table, arcade games, and a nook that serves hand-dipped Blue Bell ice cream.
Ten & Two Coffee has three locations at 611 W. 2nd St., Bonner Springs, KS 66012, 712 1st Terrace, Lansing, KS 66043, and 15309 NW Brink Meyer Rd., Parkville, MO 64152.
BBQ Nachos at Quentin_s BBQ & Sides. // Photo by Lauren Textor
Quentin’s BBQ & Sides
While you’re more than welcome to devour your BBQ at the patio tables outside, Quentin’s is more of a takeaway place. It’s a walk-up system, and, luckily, the order window is mostly shielded from the wind by siding. It’s not the prettiest, but it’ll keep you semi-warm.
In addition to the standard BBQ staples, whole pizzas are available to order. I decided to stick with one of the “fan favorites”: BBQ nachos ($13).
I ordered mine with pulled pork, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, and Sweet BBQ sauce with sour cream on the side.
Any time I hear the word “pickled” associated with a vegetable, my immediate instinct is to shy away. But I’m often rewarded when I push through, and this was no exception. I found them to be far tangier than spicy, and I’m okay with that.
I enjoyed the sweet sauce, but when I tasted the BBQ baked beans ($3.50 for a single or $8 for a pint), I was disappointed. I’ll eat salt and vinegar chips all day, but this was too vinegary even for me, and the sauce had the texture, thickness, and flavoring of ketchup (minus the exaggerated tartness). I’d come back for the nachos, but give this sauce (and the beans, which I found to be similar to canned quality) a miss.
Quentin’s BBQ & Sides is located at 611 W. 2nd St., Bonner Springs, KS 66012.
