Indulge your cravings at CTRL cereal and coffee bar

Cereal is a staple food in most American households. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and comes in a variety of enticing flavors. The majority of people also share a common interest in video games whether they be mobile, PC, console, or retro style. CTRL coffee and cereal bar has combined society’s love for cereal, caffeine, and video games into one grand experience. On their website, they describe themselves as “a casual place to explore new tastes, meet friends, and spend pleasant time with a coffee, drink or your favorite cereal.” The description perfectly matches my experience with amazing cereal and coffee, a one-of-a-kind feel, and a very casual spot to enjoy with a small group. After the 25 minute drive from Papillion to downtown Omaha I arrived at my destination. 

Location 

CTRL is located on 1016 S Tenth St. and is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Monday, and is one block away from the Durham Museum and just around the corner is the train station. Walking into CTRL is a nostalgia right out of the ’70s and ’80s with a variety of retro game consoles, bright shades of teal, orange, and red on the walls, and the record player in the corner. All the seating is similarly colored and ranges from comfortable armchairs to metal dining chairs with colored leather upholstery. There is a wall decorated with painted and unpainted records and another wall with the word “love” spray painted all over it. The entire atmosphere of the place is an absolute blast from the past.

Initial feelings

When I first stepped foot into the building I was immediately welcomed in by strong smells, bright colors, and background music. The orange couch to my left was easily the most noticeable feature of the place, but once I adjusted to the onset of the space it didn’t take long to recognize the line of game consoles, gallery wall of historic icons, or the small local artisan booth. The group of other journalism students accompanying me showed up fairly quickly, and from there we all began drafting our ideas for our culinary masterpieces.

How it works 

After taking everything in and situating myself, I walked to the counter where I was met with a white laminated card and a mug of dry erase markers. This was how we were supposed to order our cereal. The card provided thorough instructions on choosing up to three cereals, two toppings, and a milk, and when finished taking your card to the register and making any drink choices from there as well. Crafting my cereal was overwhelming considering that I was given 33 different cereal options, 18 topping choices, and five different milk varieties, but with some discussion and very hard thinking I settled on a mixture of Cheerios and Froot Loops, topped with bananas and freeze-dried strawberries, and polished off with chocolate milk. The entire bowl cost me $6 and was a large serving size, making the price very reasonable. I made the executive decision to pair my creation with a Betty White coffee, also known as an iced white mocha with strawberry rose syrup. The strawberry in the latte and the strawberries in the cereal made a perfect pair and it felt good to get out of my comfort zone. After sitting down and enjoying my food and drink I noticed one of the girls in my group had customized her drink with an image on the top. Curiosity set in and I asked the guy at the counter how they were capable of doing this. After a brief conversation with the staff and researching it on my own, I discovered that using the drink ripples printer a design is chosen by the customer via the website or app. From there the printer gets to work using a colored, plant based extract to transfer the image onto your chosen drink for you to enjoy. The printing process takes roughly 10 seconds making it an absolute no brainer to take your drink enjoyment to the next level. They have several preset images like Betty White and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, or there is the option to upload your own image of whoever or whatever you like. 

Once I had obtained my cereal and everyone in the group had arrived, we took our seats on the couch and surrounding chairs to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Every one of the tables with a game console was taken, and the other seating options for small families or couples were also taken and wouldn’t fit our large group. In front of the couch was a small coffee table with a variety of board games, coloring books, and Calvin & Hobbes comic books to entertain yourself during your stay. My immediate thought once I sat down was how easy it was to feel like a kid again with the sugary cereal options, board games, and of course the game consoles. The 11 people in our group fit comfortably around the coffee table and quickly began comparing the different combinations created by one another. On the opposing side of my healthier creation was my peers’ mixture that could be summed up by chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. After comparing and indulging ourselves with our drinks and cereals we played an enjoyable game of Cards Against Humanity: Family edition which resulted in several laughing fits. We also explored the local artisan booth that sold a variety of different handmade goods ranging from crocheted keychains to resin earrings. 

Final thoughts

Everyone should visit CTRL at least once and experience the environment and unusual menu. The bright colors, game options, completely customizable food, and extensive drink menu make a perfect environment for people of all ages. The only downsides I found were the size of the building not being ideal for a bigger group with the seating capacity being roughly 30 people and the location being on the opposite side of town. For a quick brunch date, personal outing, or study session, it’s the perfect spot to be. It also provides adults the opportunity to be a kid again with the sugar-filled cereals and game consoles to play for as long as you please with no additional cost. Not only does it bring your mood up the moment you step in, but it provides a new way to explore your food and drink palette. A $6 meal and endless amounts of fun may seem  too good to be true, but I assure you it’s very real and very worth the trip.