Profile

Begun in the late 70s as a wholesale coffee store catering to down-and-out Soho artists, the Cupping Room Café now serves a well-to-do crowd of locals and shopaholics, along with the occasional errant celebrity. Though the idea of community may be a little stronger than the actual communal feel here, the interior has plenty of character. You can enter from storefronts on two streets; both lead to a cavernous dining room in back. Exposed-brick walls, an antique potbelly stove, and high tin ceilings provide a rustic—if not cozy—feel. Breakfast and brunch are the big draws, with a menu long on familiar American standards: French toast, pancakes, waffles, and omelets and benedicts. The fluffy, filling French toast is made with thickly sliced brioche baked fresh on the premises. And as a former wholesaler, the Cupping Room knows coffee; strong, dark-roasted Columbian beans punctuate the morning meals. The Mediterranean dinner menu is less successful and more expensive, but one of the signature burgers will do the trick. They’re hearty and juicy, and served with thick fries. If you’re planning on coming Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday night, know that the bar, which hosts live Mediterranean and jazz music, is hopping with a 20-something crowd. — John Vorwald

Monday and Tuesday nights from 6 p.m.; three-course dinner for $16.95.

French toast, $10.95; omelet with broccoli and brie, $14.95