There’s nothing restrained about Unicorniverse, the newly opened plant-based, European-inspired bakery and cafe in Round Rock. While the strip-mall facade may be unassuming, once you cross the threshold, you step into a space that would not be out of place in the palace of Versailles.
Teal flowers drip from the ceilings, gold-framed art hangs on the wall, and the tables are flanked by pale-teal velvety chairs and banquettes. The space is luxe and feminine, making a visit feel like a very special occasion indeed.
Unicorniverse is first and foremost a bakery; owners Eve and Hunter Sexton started the operation as a pop-up out of their home with plant-based macarons. They gradually expanded their offerings to pastries, cupcakes, and custom cakes. After selling their baked goods out of Dear Diary vegan coffee shop for a while, they opened their brick and mortar on Friday, July 21.
We arrived around 11:30 on Wednesday morning and the pastry case was nearly empty, which was both a bit of a bummer and also a testament to the cafe’s early popularity. I chose a couple of cupcakes (both tiny works of art in themselves), a half-dozen macarons, and a couple of cake balls; I hadn’t been planning to dine in, but called an audible and ordered a blackened tofu sandwich from the cafe menu.
My almost-vegan friend ordered a chocolate croissant (there were only a few croissants in the case; the bakery has a wide variety of danishes and other pastries), macarons, and cake balls, and chose a vegetable omelet made with Just Egg for her lunch.
The sandwich was tasty, although I’d prefer a much thicker slice of tofu and omit the hummus and vegan cheese in favor of some lettuce and tomato. The omelet was very tasty, if a little wet, and we got a kick out of dining off of bespoke, Unicorniverse-branded dishes. (My friend ordered a latte just so that she could drink out of one of the fancy cappuccino bowls.)
The cake ball was chocolatey and dense, and my peanut butter chocolate cupcake was rich and flavorful. I love that the cupcakes come with a mound of frosting topped with glitter and tiny macarons and other fun garnishes. According to the staff, everything in house, including the cups of ice water, are made with a little bit of magic. (Note: The pastries and desserts are made with almond milk, so these treats aren’t safe for folks with tree-nut allergies, despite the presence of magic.)
It’s only been open a week, and there are a few kinks to work out in terms of service, but the Unicorniverse experience will definitely appeal to vegan diners, kids, and folks looking for a whimsical yet luxurious way to enjoy a plant-based breakfast or lunch, and leave having been transported to a place where unicorns are definitely real.
Unicorniverse
2400 S I-35 Frontage Rd #130, Round Rock, 512/330-4001
Open daily, 6am-2pm
This article appears in July 21 • 2023.