Bite Club: Spring preview | Coffee, plants, and a peaceful escape

ONTARIO — Ohio gave us one of those mornings again. The kind that coaxes you outside without a coat, convinces you winter is finished, and almost makes you forget what month it is.

I know this false spring won’t last, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy it.

So I went looking for greenery and caffeine, and a coffee flight inside Arbor Creek Gardens and Floral makes it surprisingly easy to believe warmer weather is on the horizon.

🍔 Bite Club Quick Take

Go if: You want coffee, plants, and a place to slow down.
Order this: The coffee flight. Berry in Love, if it’s available.
Perfect for: Catching up with friends, a first date, or quiet time alone.
Vibe: Peaceful garden escape.
Worth the drive: Yes, for the coffee and destination experience.
Address: Arbor Creek Gardens & Floral is located at 3052 Mabee Road in Ontario.

Coffee worth slowing down for

Coffee flights promise novelty. Rarely do they deliver nuance. Arbor Creek does both.

Served in mini glasses, I tried several drinks from the February menu, though flavors rotate regularly with seasonal offerings.

Berry in Love surprised me most. It tasted exactly like biting into a chocolate-covered strawberry, bright, juicy fruit layered over rich mocha. The strawberry comes through fresh and sweet, balanced by deep chocolate that keeps it from tipping too sugary.

Love Bomb followed with a softer touch. The raspberry shows up gently on the finish, subtle and smooth rather than overpowering, adding just enough brightness to the creamy white mocha base.

French Kiss is a classic. Warm vanilla and caramel blend into something smooth, rich, and comforting, the kind of drink that feels familiar but elevated.

Bunny and Jeanne, named for two grandmothers who inspired it, offer cozy notes of chocolate and hazelnut, warm, nutty, and quietly indulgent.

I paired the flight with two pastries from Bella’s 220 in Ashland, a local bakery that supplies Arbor Creek with fresh-baked goods.

The orange cranberry muffin was bold and bright, packed with tart cranberries and topped with a light, cream cheese-style icing that added sweetness without overwhelming the citrus.

The blueberry muffin was soft and loaded with fruit, every bite bursting with berries. A subtle citrus note lingered in the background, while a crumbly streusel topping added texture without weighing it down.

The menu is intentional.

Many of the drinks are designed to reflect the space itself, with flavors that mirror the seasons, the garden environment, and what’s growing around you. Think maple, strawberry, or floral notes that shift throughout the year.

It’s another way Arbor Creek ties the experience back to what they do best: growth, seasonality, and connection to nature.

More than a coffee stop

The interior is expansive and filled with light; a fireplace glows along one wall, and greenhouse space is just steps away. The retail shop is stocked with goods from local makers, reinforcing the business’s focus on community connection as much as atmosphere.

If you stop in around lunch, Arbor Creek also partners with Doc’s Deli to offer sandwiches and sides.

When I visited mid-morning on a Friday, regulars stopped in for drinks while others settled in with coffee and conversation, the quiet movement of people simply enjoying their time.

A space built with intention

That sense of calm doesn’t happen by accident.

Arbor Creek Gardens & Floral opened at its new location at 3052 Mabee Road in November 2024, though the business itself dates back decades.

Owners Darrell and Kristin Arnold built their foundation in landscaping, operating Arnold’s Landscaping for more than 35 years before expanding into a garden center.

“People come in and sit by the fire, work on a puzzle, have a cup of coffee, have a conversation,” Kristin Arnold said. “People come in on their lunch hour from the hospital and say, ‘This is my happy place.’ That’s what we want. We want this to be people’s happy place, truly.”

That idea shaped the space itself, including the coffee bar.

“I always thought, I just want a cup of coffee while I walk around,” Arnold said. So they built one.

For the plant killers

There’s a reason it took a coffee flight to get me in the door.

I love plants. I just can’t keep them alive.

Kristin’s response was simple: come anyway. Staff will help customers choose plants suited to their space and walk them through care step-by-step. Even plant killers have hope.

Bite Club verdict:

Arbor Creek Gardens offers something simple but increasingly rare, a genuinely good cup of coffee in a space that invites you to stay awhile.

So go for the coffee flight, grab a pastry, and take your time. Whether you’re chasing spring, meeting a friend, or just needing a quiet moment, this is the kind of place that makes you linger a little longer than planned.

Spring may not truly be here yet.

But inside Arbor Creek, it already feels like it.